US criticizes EU restrictions on wine labels
US criticizes EU restrictions on wine labels
Apr 2, 2013 6(AFP) - The United States on Monday criticized the European Union's restrictions on wine labeling, saying they hinder US wine exports to the 27-nation bloc.
The US Trade Representative's office said the EU's policy of seeking exclusive use of so-called traditional terms such as tawny, ruby, reserve, classic, and chateau on wine labels had an undesirable effect.
"The EU's regulation of traditional terms severely restricts the ability of non-EU wine producers to use common or descriptive and commercially valuable terms to describe their products sold in the EU," the USTR said in a report on trade barriers.
According to the report, the EU may allow third-country producers to use the traditional terms if their governments forge an agreement with the EU regulating use of the terms in their markets.
While no US shipments have been blocked to the EU, the USTR said, "US industry reports that the regulation has deterred exporters from seeking to enter the EU market."
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