Press release from the President of RECEVIN, Angelo Radica, following the vote held by the SANT Committee – Committee on Public Health of the European Parliament, as part of the report on the implementation of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan
The vote is particularly relevant for the wine sector, notably in relation to the debate on the approach to alcohol consumption and issues concerning consumer information, labelling, promotion and prevention.
Following the vote, RECEVIN President Angelo Radica made his position public, stressing, among other aspects, the importance of distinguishing between consumption and harmful consumption, as well as the need to recognise wine also in its cultural, economic, territorial and identity-related dimensions.
The process will continue in the European Parliament, with a plenary vote scheduled for November.
PRESS RELEASE
“We consider the outcome of the vote held in the European Parliament on the Cancer Plan to be positive. Although this is far from being a decisive stage, as it concerns the monitoring of the implementation of the Plan, it is important that, with regard to wine, an approach that had already been approved was reaffirmed, namely the distinction between moderate consumption and abuse. This approach is therefore substantially opposed to the demonisation of the product,” said Angelo Radica, President of the National Association Città del Vino and of the European Network of Wine Cities – RECEVIN.
Radica emphasises:
“The Italian and European Wine Cities would consider it unfair and unjust to condemn wine consumption as a whole, without distinguishing between use and abuse. An uncompromising approach by the European Parliament could have led to such an absurdity which, through provisions on labelling and advertising, would have seriously penalised a product that carries very significant economic weight in many countries.
“Similar measures had already been rejected by the European Parliament four years ago and, furthermore, scientific evidence tells us that abuse and moderate consumption cannot, under any circumstances, be equated with regard to their effects on health.
“We must therefore focus our efforts on tackling abuse, by supporting and promoting education and information programmes aimed above all at young people.
“Wine must also be protected as an expression of the culture and identity of territories, the result of work and tradition, as well as for the environmental and landscape value it conveys. It would be a major mistake to consider and treat it simply as an alcohol-based product.”
Despite the concerns expressed on the eve of the vote, yesterday’s vote in the SANT Committee of the European Parliament maintained the distinction between consumption in general and “harmful” consumption.
Not all alcohol consumption is harmful to health.
These are the conclusions expressly enshrined in the text adopted by the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health concerning the implementation of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.
In addition to excluding concepts such as “no safe level”, the text recognises the progress made by the wine sector — the only alcoholic beverage sector to do so — regarding consumer information on ingredients and nutritional values, as well as digital labelling.
The proposals under the BECA Plan concerning restrictions on marketing and promotion at sporting events are limited to potential exposure to minors. With regard to labelling, the focus remains on nutritional values and ingredients.
Another victory for common sense.
The next step will be the plenary vote in the European Parliament in November.
Angelo Radica
President of RECEVIN