Understanding EU digital wine labels. A simple guide for wineries

Understand the new EU regulations on digital wine labeling with our simple guide and see how the platform wine-elabels.eu ensures compliance with real-time updates and efficient management of wine information.

At first glance, the complexity of EU wine label regulations can be a challenge for wineries. However, with the right approach and the right tools, you can easily comply with the requirements while improving your corporate presentation. This guide will simplify the basics of EU wine label regulations, focusing specifically on how the digital wine label platform wine-elabels.eu can help you meet these standards effectively. Understanding digital wine labels is the purpose of this article.

Denial of responsibility

This text is an interpretation of the existing legislation and a collection of reliable legal opinions regarding the nutrition declaration and the declaration of ingredients for wine. Get legal advice from a professional for the most up-to-date information. This information is also subject to change.

Overview

Effective December 8, 2023, wineries must comply with Regulation (EU) no. 1306/2013 and Regulation (EU) 2021/2117, which require detailed information about the wine that does not fit on physical labels and must therefore be provided in a digital format, accessible via a QRCODE.

Key information for wineries to know:
  • Compliance deadline and who is affected: Any wine produced in the EU after 8 December 2023 or imported after that date is subject to the latest EU wine labeling requirements.

 

Mandatory labeling requirements:

  • Physical tags: The net amount of product in mL, sugar content, expiry date (for de-alcoholized or partially de-alcoholised wines), batch number, basic nutritional information, allergen declaration and energy value.
  • Electronic labels (via QR codes): They need to provide more detailed information that cannot fit on physical labels, including comprehensive nutritional information, detailed ingredients & additives.

Benefits of digital labels:
  • More information: Digital labels can include much more information than can fit on a physical label, providing more detail about the product.
  • Real-time updates: Instantly update information associated with QR codes, ensuring consumers always have access to the latest and most accurate data, without the need to reprint physical labels.
  • Accessibility: Consumers can increase the text size, use screen readers and access the information.
  • Local language translations: Compared to physical labels, digital labels can easily provide information in any language, ensuring accessibility for all EU consumers.
  • Sustainability: Reduces the need for printed materials.

The platform wine-elabels.eu offers wineries a seamless solution to meet regulatory requirements, improve corporate presentation and comply with evolving regulations.

The new EU rules for wine labeling in detail

From 8 December 2023, important new EU rules on wine labeling come into force. Since then, all wines made or sold in the EU must list all their ingredients and nutritional information on the bottle, according to Regulation (EU) No. 1306/2013 and Regulation (EU) 2021/2117. This applies to all wines and flavored wines, including those with a reduced alcohol content.

Instead of only listing allergens and energy values, producers must now ensure that detailed ingredient information and nutrition declarations are included on both physical and digital wine labels. Here's how you can comply:

Essential requirements of EU wine labels

Natural label

The wine packaging-physical label includes all mandatory or optional elements set out in Articles 119 & 120 of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013.

  • Product description
  • Grape varieties
  • Product type
  • Country of origin
  • Importer, bottler and producer
  • Geographical indications
  • Year of production
  • Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
  • Net amount in milliliters
  • Sugar content
  • Name of importer (in case of imported wines)
  • Sugar content (in the case of sparkling wine)
  • Minimum expiry date for de-alcoholised or partially de-alcoholised wines with an actual alcoholic strength by volume of less than 10%
  • Lot number
  • Net amount of wine
  • Nutritional information
  • Declaration of allergens
  • Energy Value (denoted by an “E” and similar to counting calories)

Electronic label (accessible via QR code)

Electronic tags should provide easy, direct and universal access to information in a manner comparable to the
the presence of the indications on the packaging or on the attached label.

Providing highly specialised or unusual means of accessing information does not meet the objectives of e-labelling and is not considered appropriate as a supportive tool for providing information to consumers.

The provision of other additional optional information on the label (including electronic labels) is regulated by Article 118 of the CMO Regulation, according to which the labelling of wine products may not be supplemented by additional indications unless they meet the requirements of the FIC Regulation. In particular, Article 36(2) of the FIC Regulation states that the information on foodstuffs which
provided on an optional basis, do not mislead the consumer as referred to in Article 7 of that Regulation; and are based, where appropriate, on relevant scientific data.

Electronic wine labels should present the full nutrition declaration and list of ingredients & additives

  • Nutritional information:
    • Energy
    • Fat
    • Saturated fat
    • Carbohydrates
    • Sugars
    • Proteins
    • Salt
  • Information on ingredients:
    • Grape, Sucrose, Grape must, Corrected concentrated grape must, Concentrated grape must, Tirage Liquor (for sparkling wine),
  • About plugins:
    • Acidity regulators: Tartaric acid (L(+)-), Malic acid (D,L-· L-), Lactic acid, L(+)-Potassium tartrates, Potassium bicarbonate, Calcium carbonate, Calcium tartrate, Sulphate calcium, potassium carbonate
    • Preservatives and antioxidants: Sulfur dioxide, Potassium bisulphite, Potassium metabisulphite, Potassium sorbate, Lysozyme, L-ascorbic acid, Dimethyl pyrocarbonate (DMDC),
    • Complexing agents: Charcoal for oenological use, Selective plant fibers,
    • Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation activators: Microcrystalline cellulose, Ammonium monophosphate, Ammonium sulfate, Ammonium bisulfite, Thiamine hydrochloride,
    • Yeast autolysis products: Yeast cell walls, Inactivated yeast, Inactivated yeast with guaranteed glutathione content,
    • Clarifying agents: Edible gelatin, Wheat protein, Pea protein, Potato protein, Ichthyocolla, Caseins, Potassium caseinate, Egg albumin, Bentonite, Silica gel or colloidal solution, Kaolin, Tannins, Chitosan derived from Aspergillus niger fungus, Chitin -glucan derived from the fungus Aspergillus niger, Yeast protein extracts, Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone, Calcium alginate, Potassium alginate,
    • Stabilizers: Potassium tartrate, Calcium tartrate, Citric acid, Tannins, Potassium ferrocyanide, Calcium plant, Metatartaric acid, Gum arabic, D, L-tartaric acid or its neutral salt with potassium, Yeast mannoproteins, Carboxymethylcellulose, Polyvinylimidazole-polyvinyl copolymers urolidone (PVI/PVP), Potassium Polyaspartate,
    • Enzymes: Urease, Pectinoliases, Pectinmethylesterases, Polygalacturonase, Hemicitarinase, Cellutarinase, B-glucanase, Glucositase,
    • Gases and packing gases: Argon, Nitrogen, Carbon dioxide, Oxygen gas,
    • Fermentation agents: Wine yeasts, Lactic acid bacteria,
    • Correction of defects: Copper sulfate pentahydrate, Copper citrate, Chitosan derived from the fungus Aspergillus niger, Chitin-glucan derived from the fungus Aspergillus niger, Inactivated yeasts,
    • Other practices, Chalepian pine resin, Fresh lees, Sugars and molasses, caramelized, Allyl isothiocyanate, Inactivated yeasts

Using a QR code, wineries can provide comprehensive product details digitally. This ensures compliance without compromising the aesthetics of the label.

Why digital wine labels are essential

The dynamic nature of QR codes allows wineries to capture the most up-to-date ingredient information and nutrition declaration at the post-wine production stage. This ensures accuracy and compliance, as pre-printed labels may contain outdated information due to changes in the composition of the wine during production, bottling or storage.

By switching to digital labels, wineries can ensure:

  • Ensure accuracy: Update ingredient information in real time.
  • Avoid penalties: Comply with new EU regulations and avoid fines or product recalls.
  • Maintain brand integrity: Provide accurate and current information, enhancing consumer trust.
  • Accessibility of information: Ensuring consumers have easy access to detailed product information.
  • Local language translation: Automatic translation of label information into consumers' local language.
  • Sustainability: Reducing the need for printed materials, contributing to environmental sustainability.

The choice of platform wine-elabels.eu means adopting a more efficient way of managing your wine labels, ensuring compliance with new regulations while strengthening your market presence. The platform wine-elabels.eu transforms the way you connect with your consumers and comply with EU regulations effortlessly.

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