(ANSA) – ROME, JANUARY 13 – The Minister of Agriculture and Meals Sovereignty, Francesco Lollobrigida, condemned on Friday what he described as “lies” within the well being warnings supplied in Eire on bottles of wine, beer and spirits.
Italy has mentioned it would enchantment to the European Fee towards the introduction of the labels, which warn that alcohol damages the liver and is linked to most cancers, and can ask the EC to carry the case to the World Commerce Group (WTO).
Cigarette-like warnings had been tacitly given the go-ahead after the EC failed to dam them.
“Lies significantly harm your well being,” Lollobrigida, great-nephew of display diva Gina Lollobrigida, advised a Brescia discussion board towards “franken meals.”
“We’ll help in each means, not solely the protection actions towards the aggression of false labels, however we will even perform all promotional actions to clarify in any respect ranges what are the advantages of the Mediterranean Food regimen, in its complexity, and of our nation’s merchandise,” he mentioned.
Overseas Minister Antonio Tajani mentioned on Thursday that Eire’s plan to place well being warnings on wine, beer and spirits corresponding to these on cigarettes was “absurd”, echoing protests from alcohol producers. Italian wine.
“Eire’s determination to introduce a (well being warning) label on all alcoholic drinks, together with Italian wine, is absurd,” the minister tweeted.
Tajani mentioned the choice was made towards opposition from the European Parliament, stressing that “this election ignores the distinction between average consumption and alcohol abuse.” He mentioned he would ask the European Fee to intervene by complaining to the World Commerce Group.
The European Union’s determination to not oppose Eire’s plan to introduce well being warnings like these on cigarette packs for wine, beer and spirits has sparked widespread anger in Italy.
Dublin is free to place ahead the warnings about well being dangers associated to liver illness and most cancers after it knowledgeable the European Fee of its plans in June 2022 and the EU govt raised no objections within the moratorium interval. six months later regardless of opposition from Italy, France, Spain and 6 different EU member states.
Italian winemakers worry the transfer would set a precedent that different nations may observe and have an effect on exports.
The Italian farmers’ affiliation Coldiretti known as it a “direct assault on Italy, the primary producer and exporter (of wine) with greater than 14 billion euros in (annual) income, greater than half of which comes from overseas.”
Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of the Italian Wine Union (UIV), mentioned the EU’s “consent by silence” to Irish spirits labels gave the inexperienced mild to a “harmful” transfer by a member state.
The Undersecretary for Agriculture, Meals Sovereignty and Forestry, Luigi D’Eramo, additionally expressed his dismay.
“Public well being is just not protected by criminalizing particular person merchandise,” D’Eramo mentioned in a press release Thursday.
“Wine for us is historical past, tradition, expression of our territories and is a part of the Mediterranean food regimen.
“It is about high quality and accountable consumption.” (The well being alert plan) is a harmful precedent that, if adopted by different nations, dangers damaging a number one sector of our agri-food system.
“Wine and beer can’t be in comparison with spirits and smoking.” Lollobrigida mentioned the EU’s determination to permit Irish labels was “extraordinarily severe”.
He mentioned that “we consider that behind this election, as soon as once more, the purpose is to not shield well being however to situation the markets, and that the push in that path comes from nations that don’t produce wine and the place high-content spirits are abused.” alcoholic. I need to equate wine with spirits, however wine, when utilized in moderation, is a wholesome meals.”
Veneto Governor Luca Zaia, whose area is a significant wine producer, mentioned the “absurd” determination dangers inflicting billions of euros in harm to the sector.
“It is a speculation I do not even need to take into account,” he mentioned.
(ANSA).
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