WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2546/97 by David HALLAM to the Commission. Klein Constantia's Vin de Constance
C 102/58 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 4. 98 (98/C 102/81) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2546/97 by David Hallam (PSE) to the Commission (24 July 1997) Subject: Klein Constantiaís Vin de Constance Following receipt of your answer to Written Question P-1070/97 (1), I spoke to the British Wine Standards Board, who told me your answer was wrong because Article 70 of Council Regulation 822/87 (2) bars imports from third countries if they have a total alcoholic strength by volume, exceeding 15%. Can you tell me whether your original answer was correct, and there is some other legislation in force which permits the sale of Klein Constantiaís Vin de Constance in the European Union, and whether this is the reason why this wine is on sale in Denmark and Germany? (1) OJ C 319, 18. 10. 1997, p. 225. (2) OJ L 84, 27. 3. 1987, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (8 October 1997) On the matter of imports into the Community of Klein Constantia’ wine, the Commission would first of all like to point out to the Honourable Member that its answer to his written question P-1070/97 related to the labelling of wines. The Commission stands by that answer. The question now raised by the Honourable Member relates to alcoholic strength, which is covered by the rules on wine production and vinification. The first indent of Article 70(1)(b) of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 specifies that an imported wine may not have a total alcoholic strength of more than 15% vol (except for liqueur wines, which belong to a different category). However, an exception to this rule is possible for wines of high quality bearing a geographical designation and fulfilling special production criteria (for example wines produced from botrytis-infected grapes). Just such an exemption has been granted by the Council under various bilateral agreements for a number of wines from non-Community countries where there is a guarantee that the wine has not had its alcoholic strength boosted. As no agreement of this kind has been signed with South Africa, Klein Constantia’ cannot be admitted to the Community for sale under the name of áwine’ before or after 1 September 1997 unless it has an alcoholic strength of 15% vol or less. The Commission is conducting an inquiry into the issues raised by the Honourable Member among the Member States affected. (98/C 102/82) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2565/97 by Ursula Schleicher (PPE) to the Commission (24 July 1997) Subject: Framework water directive › missing annexes The European Parliament and Council have both criticized the absence of essential annexes to the framework water directive. The Commission has meanwhile put this down to too short a deadline set by the Council and Parliament for the submission of the framework water directive. It is understood that the Council has set up a further working group to draw up and add to the annexes in collaboration with the Commission