COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
of 2 May 2012
on the inclusion of vine varieties in Appendix IV of the Protocol on wine labelling as referred to in Article 8(2) of the EC-US Agreement on trade in wine
(2012/275/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Decision 2006/232/EC of 20 December 2005 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the United States of America on trade in wine (1), and in particular Article 3 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
The United States of America have requested that Appendix IV of the Protocol on wine labelling as referred to in Article 8(2) of the Agreement between the European Community and the United States of America on Trade in Wine (2) be modified to include vine varieties that were notified by the United States to the Commission on 27 October 2011. This request was made in accordance with point 3.6(b) of the abovementioned Protocol.
(2)
The notification refers to the final rule adopted by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and published in the Federal Register of 27 October 2011 (3) amending the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regulations by adding a number of new names to the list of grape variety names approved for the designation of American wines.
(3)
The Commission has informed the United States within 60 days of the date of receipt of the notification that the vine varieties ‘Montepulciano’ and ‘Blaufränkisch’ can currently be used only for wines from certain Member States, pursuant to Article 62(3) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 607/2009 (4).
(4)
The Commission should therefore confirm that the Union agrees with the proposed modifications of Appendix IV to the Protocol on wine labelling, except in respect of the vine varieties ‘Montepulciano’ and ‘Blaufränkisch’.
(5)
The Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets has not given an opinion within the time limit set by its President,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
In accordance with Article 11(5) of the Agreement between the European Community and the United States of America on trade in wine, the Commission shall confirm that the Union agrees with the proposed modifications of Appendix IV to the Protocol on wine labelling, except in respect of the vine varieties ‘Montepulciano’ and ‘Blaufränkisch’.
The amended text of Appendix IV, as accepted by the Union, is set out in the Annex.
Article 2
The Director-General for Agriculture and Rural Development is hereby authorised to forward the written response to the United States of America.
Done at Brussels, 2 May 2012.