Significant changes to labelling requirements for the wine sector are expected through the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) No 251/2014 and (EU) 2021/2115 as regards certain marketing rules and sectoral support measures in the wine sector and aromatised wine products, and Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 as regards certain labelling rules for spirit drinks.
The proposal introduces substantial amendments to the EU legislative framework to modernise consumer information obligations through common rules for digital labelling and to enable innovation in low- or no-alcohol products by harmonising their labelling.
Reduced-alcohol or alcohol-free labelling
The proposal aims to respond to strong consumer demand for sparkling wine products with reduced alcohol content or no alcohol. To align this societal demand with the production requirements for these beverages, the regulation is being revised to adjust production systems for obtaining products with reduced or no alcohol.
Consumers are already familiar with the indications “0.0%” and “alcohol-free”; however, these terms are currently subject to different regulations across Member States. In this context, harmonising the use of these terms across the EU is necessary so that operators can communicate this information to consumers consistently and effectively.
Finally, it is also important to revise the regulation on the Common Organisation of the Markets (Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013) to establish harmonised rules so that aromatised wine products obtained from dealcoholised or partially dealcoholised wines can use the same descriptive terms in their presentation and labelling as wine products with the alcohol content they would normally correspond to.
In summary, the proposal sets out:
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“Alcohol-free” ≤ 0.5% vol.
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“0.0%” ≤ 0.05% vol.
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“Reduced alcohol”: when the alcoholic strength is at least 30% lower than the minimum for the category.
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Mandatory use of the term “produced by dealcoholisation”.
Digital labelling (e-labelling)
The proposal also seeks to take a further step on digital labelling by addressing the lack of harmonised rules on how to identify—on the packaging or on a label attached to it—the electronic means through which the ingredients list or nutrition information is provided. A common approach is pursued to avoid divergences in operators’ practices and in national authorities’ rules. Therefore, the Commission will adopt delegated acts supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 by establishing rules on how the electronic means are identified on the packaging or attached label, through which the ingredients list and nutrition information are presented to consumers in a harmonised manner, including via a system that is not language-based.
The Commission will be empowered to regulate:
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Identification on the packaging of the electronic means (common pictograms, symbols).
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Format, design and accessibility of digital content.
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Mandatory information obligations should appear only once per package.
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Extension of these rules also to aromatised products.
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Stocks labelled under previous rules may continue to be marketed until exhausted.
In conclusion, the proposed labelling changes represent opportunities for wine operators, providing greater flexibility for producing low- and no-alcohol wines, while simplifying exports and supporting the harmonisation of digital labelling.
