Date: 2025-06-20Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2025/1244 of 19 June 2025 establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union with regard to certain resolutions to be voted at the 23rd General Assembly of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine
## Policy Analysis Report: EU Council Decision 2025/1244 Regarding OIV Resolutions on Wine Sector Standards
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes Council Decision (EU) 2025/1244, a decision establishing the European Union's position regarding resolutions to be voted on at the 23rd General Assembly of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). The core purpose is to ensure a unified EU stance on OIV resolutions that impact EU law, particularly those related to oenological practices and methods of analysis. Key findings indicate that the EU supports most draft resolutions aimed at international harmonization of wine standards, with one notable exception: OENOTECHNO 14540A concerning specific oenological practices for dealcoholized wine due to concerns about the allowed maximum level of glycerol E 422. The decision also provides flexibility for Member States to agree to technical changes during negotiations, provided the substance of the resolutions remains unaltered.
**2. Introduction:**
This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Council Decision (EU) 2025/1244, based solely on the provided text. The report will analyze the policy's objectives, rationale, key provisions, target audience, inferred implementation aspects, and expected outcomes within the European wine sector.
**3. Policy Overview:**
This is a *new* policy establishing the EU position.
* **Core Objective(s):** The core objective is to establish and coordinate the European Union's position regarding specific draft resolutions presented to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) that may have legal effects within the EU, especially concerning wine production standards and regulations. The goal is to ensure these standards align with EU regulations and protect fair competition within the wine sector.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
* **Likely Problem/Issue Addressed:** The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) establishes standards and practices for the wine industry. Because twenty Member States of the EU are members of the OIV and the EU is not (but has observer status), there is a need to create a unified EU position to make sure that any OIV resolutions that would have legal effect on the EU are thoroughly considered and that the EU's voice is heard through Member States acting jointly. This policy addresses the need for the EU to proactively shape international wine standards to ensure they are compatible with EU regulations, considering factors such as oenological practices, product composition, and trade fairness. The EU wants to influence the standards before Member States vote at the OIV General Assembly.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
* **Main Components, Rules, and Actions Mandated:** This decision establishes the EU's position on several draft OIV resolutions, specifying whether Member States should support or not support each resolution. The decision outlines the following:
* **Support:** Member States are instructed to support resolutions OENOMICRO 22713A, OENOMICRO 22713B, OENOMICRO 23739, OENOTECHNO 14540B (with a clarification on sweetening definitions), OENOTECHNO 23730, OENOTECHNO 23738, OENOSPECIF 21691, and OENOSPECIF 23728.
* **Non-Support:** Member States are instructed *not* to support resolution OENOTECHNO 14540A regarding specific oenological practices for dealcoholized wine, citing concerns about the insufficient scientific evidence on glycerol E 422 levels.
* **Joint Action:** Member States that are also members of the OIV are required to act jointly in the interest of the Union when expressing the EU's position at OIV meetings.
* **Flexibility:** Member States are authorized to agree to technical changes to the draft resolutions, as long as these changes do not alter the substance of the resolutions.
* **Postponement Mechanism:** If new scientific or technical information emerges, Member States are required to request a postponement of voting until the Union's position can be re-evaluated.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The primary target audience and stakeholders are:
* **Wine Producers:** Particularly those involved in the production of dealcoholized and partially dealcoholized wines, as the decision directly impacts oenological practices and substance limits allowed in their production.
* **Oenologists and Wine Technicians:** Those involved in the analysis, production, and quality control of wine, as the resolutions concern methods of analysis, oenological practices, and permissible substances.
* **EU Member States (Specifically Those in OIV):** They are responsible for representing the EU's position and acting jointly.
* **European Commission:** The Commission proposed the decision and will likely monitor its implementation.
* **Wine Importers:** Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 states that wine imported into the Union needs to be produced in accordance with oenological practices authorized by the Union or by the OIV, making importers stakeholders of this decision.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible agency/bodies mentioned?:** The Member States of the Union who are also members of the OIV, acting jointly, are responsible for implementing the decision by expressing the EU's position at the OIV General Assembly. The European Commission plays a role in proposing the decision, monitoring implementation, and potentially re-evaluating positions based on new information.
* **Any timelines or procedures specified in the text?:** The decision is tied to the 23rd General Assembly of the OIV, scheduled for June 20, 2025. Member States are expected to adhere to the decision during the voting process at this assembly. The procedure for handling new scientific information includes requesting a postponement of the vote.
* **Other Considerations:** The process includes some room for flexibility regarding non-substantive changes, which means that Member States need to coordinate and act with consideration for the spirit of the policy.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
* **Likely Intended Outcomes:** The policy aims to ensure that OIV resolutions align with EU law, thus maintaining consistent standards for wine production and trade within the EU. The intention is that the harmonization of wine standards promoted by the supported OIV resolutions will contribute to fair competition within the international wine sector. The decision to not support resolution OENOTECHNO 14540A demonstrates a commitment to consumer safety and the need for sound scientific evidence before adopting new oenological practices. The flexibility provision allows for pragmatic adjustments during negotiations.
**9. Conclusion:**
Council Decision (EU) 2025/1244 is a significant policy instrument designed to ensure that the European Union's interests are effectively represented within the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. By establishing a clear and coordinated position on key draft resolutions, the decision aims to promote harmonized international standards, uphold consumer safety, and foster fair competition within the wine sector. The inclusion of a mechanism for technical adjustments provides necessary flexibility, while the precautionary stance on glycerol levels highlights the EU's commitment to rigorous scientific evaluation in policymaking.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
International Organisation of Vine and Wine: An intergovernmental organisation dealing with technical and scientific aspects of viticulture and winemaking.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union, defining its scope and governance.
European Commission: An executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's day-to-day operations.
Regulation EU No 1308/2013: A regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products.
European Parliament: A legislative body of the European Union
Council of the European Union: A legislative body of the European Union consisting of government ministers from each member state.
Commission Delegated Regulation EU 2019/934: A delegated regulation supplementing Regulation EU No 1308/2013 regarding winegrowing areas, oenological practices, and other related aspects.
OENOMICRO 22713A: Draft OIV Resolution concerning Yeast cell counting using flow cytometry in grape musts and wines
OENOMICRO 22713B: Draft OIV Resolution concerning Yeast cell counting using flow cytometry in yeast cultures
OENOMICRO 23739: Draft OIV Resolution concerning Validation of a standard protocol to evaluate the fermentation properties of S. cerevisiae strains
OENOTECHNO 14540B: Draft OIV Resolution concerning Specific oenological practices for partially dealcoholised wine
OENOTECHNO 23730: Draft OIV Resolution concerning Limit of sorbic acid in wine
OENOTECHNO 23738: Draft OIV Resolution concerning Treatment of musts with fumaric acid for microbiological control
OENOSPECIF 21691: Draft OIV Resolution concerning Determination of tartaric acid L isotopic ratios 13C12C and 18O16O by isotope ratio mass spectrometry
OENOSPECIF 23728: Draft OIV Resolution concerning Determination of chitosan isotopic ratios 13C12C and 15N14N by isotope ratio mass spectrometry
OENOTECHNO 14540A: Draft OIV Resolution concerning Specific oenological practices for dealcoholised wine
Luxembourg: Location where the Council Decision was made.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/1244 20.6.2025
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/1244
of 19 June 2025
establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union with regard to certain
resolutions to be voted at the 23rd General Assembly of the International Organisation of Vine and
Wine
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43, in conjunction with
Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) will examine and possibly adopt certain resolutions (the
‘draft OIV resolutions’) at its next General Assembly to be held on 20 June 2025. The draft OIV resolutions, if
adopted, will have legal effects within the meaning of Article 218(9) of the Treaty.
(2) The Union is not a member of the OIV. However, on 20 October 2017, the OIV granted to the Union the particular
status provided for in Article 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the OIV.
(3) Twenty Member States of the Union are also members of the OIV. Those Member States have the possibility to
propose amendments to the draft OIV resolutions, and will be asked to adopt the draft OIV resolutions at the next
OIV General Assembly.
(4) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on behalf of the Union at the OIV meetings with regard to the
draft OIV resolutions in relation to matters within its competence. That position should be expressed at the OIV
meetings by the Member States which are also members of the OIV, acting jointly in the interest of the Union.
(5) Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council(1) and Commission
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934(2), certain resolutions adopted and published by the OIV will have legal effects.
(6) Article 80(3), point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that the Commission, when authorising
oenological practices, is to take into account the oenological practices and methods of analysis recommended and
published by the OIV.
(7) Article 80(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that the Commission, when laying down methods of
analysis for determining the composition of the products of the wine sector, is to base those methods on any
relevant methods recommended and published by the OIV unless they would be ineffective or inappropriate in view
of the objective pursued by the Union.
(8) Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that products of the wine sector imported into the Union
are to be produced in accordance with oenological practices authorised by the Union pursuant to that Regulation or,
prior to that authorisation, produced in accordance with oenological practices recommended and published by
the OIV.
(1) Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common
organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79,
(EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1308/oj).
(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934 of 12 March 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the
European Parliament and of the Council as regards wine-growing areas where the alcoholic strength may be increased, authorised
oenological practices and restrictions applicable to the production and conservation of grapevine products, the minimum
percentage of alcohol for by-products and their disposal, and publication of OIV files (OJ L 149, 7.6.2019, p. 1, ELI: http://data.
europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2019/934/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1244/oj 1/4EN
OJ L, 20.6.2025
(9) Article 9(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934 provides that, where the purity and identification specifications
of substances used in oenological practices are not laid down by the Commission, the specifications are to be those
referred to in column 4 of Table 2 of Part A of Annex I to that Regulation, which refer to OIV recommendations.
(10) Draft OIV Resolutions OENO-MICRO 22-713A and OENO-MICRO 22-713B propose a new method for yeast cell
counting in musts, wines and yeast cultures. Draft OIV Resolution OENO-MICRO 23-739 validates a standard
protocol to evaluate the fermentation properties of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In accordance with Article 80(3), point
(a), of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, those resolutions, if adopted, will have legal effects.
(11) Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 14-540B establishes specific oenological practices for partially de-alcoholised
wines. Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 23-730 introduces a maximum acceptable limit of sorbic acid
concentration in wine. Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 23-738 introduces a new oenological practice on the
use of fumaric acid for the control of the malolactic fermentation in musts. In accordance with Article 80(3), point
(a), and Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, these resolutions, if adopted, will have legal effects.
(12) Draft OIV Resolutions OENO-SPECIF 21-691 and OENO-SPECIF 23-728 concern methods for the determination of
isotopic ratios of tartaric acid and chitosan, respectively. In accordance with Article 80(3), point (a) of Regulation
(EU) No 1308/2013, and with Article 9 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934, these resolutions, if adopted, will
have legal effects.
(13) The draft OIV resolutions, which have been extensively discussed by scientific and technical experts of the wine
sector, should contribute to the international harmonisation of the wine standards and will set a framework which
will ensure fair competition in the trading of products of the wine sector. They should, therefore, be supported.
(14) Another draft OIV resolution producing, if adopted, legal effects on Union law which was submitted for adoption by
the General Assembly is Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 14-540A, which establishes specific oenological
practices for de-alcoholised wines, including the addition of glycerol (E 422) at a maximum total concentration of
50 g/L. The allowed maximum level has been proposed based on insufficient scientific evidence regarding the effects
on the product and on consumer health. This draft OIV resolution should, therefore, not be supported until a proper
assessment is made, in particular on safe maximum levels of glycerol (E 422) for the product category de-alcoholised
wine. In addition, the section on ‘Sweetening’, in particular the definition ‘Addition of sweeteners to de-alcoholised
wine’, should be interpreted as limited to the products listed in ‘Prescription’; the same should be noted in relation to
Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 14-540B.
(15) In order to allow for the necessary flexibility during the negotiations ahead of the next OIV General Assembly to be
held on 20 June 2025, Member States which are also members of the OIV should be authorised to agree to technical
changes to the draft OIV resolutions provided that such changes do not alter the substance thereof,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken on behalf of the Union at the 23rd General Assembly of the International Organisation of Vine and
Wine (OIV), to be held on 20 June 2025, is set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
The position referred to in Article 1 shall be expressed by the Member States of the Union which are also members of the
OIV, acting jointly in the interest of the Union.
Article 3
1. Where the position referred to in Article 1 is likely to be affected by new scientific or technical information presented
before or during the OIV meetings, Member States which are also members of the OIV shall request that the voting in the
OIV General Assembly be postponed until the position of the Union is established on the basis of the new information.
2/4 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1244/ojEN
OJ L, 20.6.2025
2. Following coordination and without further decision of the Council establishing the position to be taken on behalf of
the Union, the Member States which are also members of the OIV, acting jointly in the interest of the Union, may agree to
technical changes to the draft OIV resolutions referred to in the Annex to this Decision which do not alter the substance
thereof.
Article 4
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Luxembourg, 19 June 2025.
For the Council
The President
A. DZIEMIANOWICZ-BĄK
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1244/oj 3/4EN
OJ L, 20.6.2025
ANNEX
The Member States of the Union that are Members of the International Organisation for Vine and Wine (OIV) acting jointly
on behalf of the Union, and subject to any future review on the basis of new developments, shall support the following draft
resolutions at step 7 during the OIV General Assembly scheduled for 20 June 2025:
— OENO-MICRO 22-713A: Yeast cell counting using flow cytometry in grape musts and wines;
— OENO-MICRO 22-713B: Yeast cell counting using flow cytometry in yeast cultures;
— OENO-MICRO 23-739: Validation of a standard protocol to evaluate the fermentation properties of S. cerevisiae strains;
— OENO-TECHNO 14-540B: Specific oenological practices for partially de-alcoholised wine, subject to the understanding
that the section on ‘Sweetening’ and in particular the Definition ‘Addition of sweeteners to de-alcoholised wine’ should be
interpreted as limited to the products listed in ‘Prescription’;
— OENO-TECHNO 23-730: Limit of sorbic acid in wine;
— OENO-TECHNO 23-738: Treatment of musts with fumaric acid for microbiological control;
— OENO-SPECIF 21-691: Determination of tartaric acid (L+) isotopic ratios 13C/12C and 18O/16O by isotope ratio mass
spectrometry;
— OENO-SPECIF 23-728: Determination of chitosan isotopic ratios 13C/12C and 15N/14N by isotope ratio mass
spectrometry.
The Member States of the Union that are Members of the International Organisation for Vine and Wine (OIV) acting jointly
on behalf of the Union, and subject to any future review on the basis of new developments, shall not support the following
draft resolution at step 7 during the OIV General Assembly scheduled for 20 June 2025:
— OENO-TECHNO 14-540A: Specific oenological practices for de-alcoholised wine.
4/4 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1244/oj