AN ASSOCIATION THAT represents wine companies within the European Union has filed a formal complaint to the EU Commission against Irish labelling rules, claiming that the country is breaching EU laws and EU single market rules.
New labelling laws, from the Department of Health, will now require warnings to be placed on alcoholic drinks which inform the consumer of the link between consuming alcohol and liver disease and fatal cancers. According to Drinks Ireland, who represent members from the Irish alcohol beverage sector, in addition to displaying branding and product descriptions, pre-packaged alcoholic beverages must label the alcohol strength if it contains over 1.2% alcohol.
“It’s almost 5 years since laws were passed to provide for health information labelling of alcohol product and despite ferocious opposition from global vested interests,” said CEO Sheila Gilheany. Gilheany said that these “delaying tactics” are from the industry’s “playbook” who, according to her, “has sought at every opportunity to delay, dilute and derail” the implementation of the Public Health Alcohol Act.