TOS 131, MARCH 2012 - the full article is available for logged in subscribers.

After a long and cumbersome process the EU has finally taken a decision on standards for organic wine. On 8 March the new wines rules were published in the EU Official Journal under the name of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 203/2012.

The main issues for discussion have been the sulphur content allowed in organic wine. In the end these levels were set at 100 mg per litre for red wine (150 mg/l for conventional) and 150 mg/l for white/rosé (200 mg/l for conventional), where the residual sugar is lower that 2g/litre.

The new legislation applies to all winemaking taking place after 31 July 2012. Wine produced before that date can be sold with the organic EU-logo if it can be proved that the production process fulfilled the requirements for wine processing in the new legislation. If it cannot be proved that the winemaking process fulfils the requirements of the new legislation, wine produced before 31 July can be sold as ‘wine made from organic grapes’ until stocks are exhausted, but it cannot bear the EU-logo.

Eva Mattsson