MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on imitations of top quality wines made in Italy
16.11.2015
Mara Bizzotto
B8‑1249/2015
Motion for a European Parliament resolution on imitations of top quality wines made in Italy
The European Parliament,
–– having regard to Rule 133 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Italian wine symbolises the reputation for excellence enjoyed throughout the world by products that are ‘made in Italy’; whereas in 2015, having produced 48,8 million hectolitres, Italy holds the world record; whereas, of the 112 top quality sparkling wines produced in the world, 95 are Italian;
B. whereas a number of northern European Members are now recklessly seeking to undermine European quality wine production by requiring producers of the very many different wine varieties to use standard containers with anonymous labels containing health warnings regarding the consumption of wine, such as those to be found on cigarette packets;
C. whereas southern European wine production is being seriously compromised by the abolition of the compulsory indication on labels of the place of origin, thereby making it easier for third countries to market more imitation 'made in' products, given the very few restrictions actually in force with regard to this practice;
1. Calls on the Commission to act without delay to block the proposal to apply compulsory and counterproductive packaging and marketing standardisation rules to the European winegrowing sector;
2 Calls on the Commission to take steps to protect more effectively the high standards of European wine-production in the Mediterranean Member States, this being of primary importance for the economic recovery of the EU.