WINE AGREEMENT: DECLARATIONS

Joint Declaration

on the production of wine from non-Vitis vinifera varieties 

The Parties agree to put on the agenda of the first meeting of the Joint Committee referred to in Article 19 of the Agreement the question of vine varieties not belonging to the species Vitis vinifera aimed at identifying, on the basis of objective criteria and in addition to the varieties listed in Point III to the Protocol, those varieties which are not suitable, or alternatively, suitable for the production of wine.

Joint Declaration
on the partial removal of volatile acidity through reverse osmosis processes 

South Africa agrees to use reverse osmosis based processes for the partial removal of volatile acidity only on an experimental basis until the OIV investigations in this regard have been completed and their resolutions have been published. However, the wine produced on an experimental basis shall not be exported to the Community. Thereafter, the conditions for the future use of these processes will be agreed between South Africa and the Community following the procedure laid down in Article 6 of the Agreement. Further, if the Community accepts this practice for use in producing wine in the Community, the Community is willing to include this practice in Annex I of the Agreement.
 

Joint Declaration
on Community assistance for the restructuring of the South African
wines and spirits sector referred to in point 6 of Annex X to the TDC Agreement

 The Parties agree that the South African Department of Trade and Industry will prepare the terms of reference and request resources from the Community Delegation in Pretoria for recruiting technical assistance to formulate a programme for the use of the EUR 15 millions set aside for the restructuring of their wines and spirit Industry. The financial support for an agreed programme could take the shape of a targeted sector support programme if the South African Government so wishes.

Joint Declaration
on Article 9 to the Agreement

The Parties understand the provisions regarding Port and Sherry that the starting date of the transitional periods referred to in points 2 and 4 of the Attachment to Annex X of the TDC Agreement is 1 January 2000.

Joint Declaration
on the exchange of registers

Both Parties consider that the obligation stipulated in Article 7(8) of the Agreement to proceed to the examination of trade‑marks before 30 September 2002 on the basis of an exchange of registers necessarily requires the European Community and South Africa to communicate the registers within a time‑limit which enables Article 7(8) to be implemented.

Joint Declaration 

The Parties agree to call as soon as possible a Joint Committee referred to in Article 19 of the Agreement to consider all the technical issues raised during the last rounds of negotiations for which one of the Parties has expressed some concerns, and in particular the following issues:

1.      The use of non Vitis vinifera varieties, 

2.      Sulphur dioxide limits for certain wines originating in the Community, 

3.      Analysis of gas pressure for sparkling and semi-sparkling (perlé) wines, 

4.      Rules of the description and presentation of wines, 

5.      Addition of concentrated grape must or rectified concentrated grape must to increase the natural alcoholic strength of grapes, grape must or wine for South African wines. 

6.      Partial concentration by physical processes, including reverse osmosis, to increase the natural alcoholic strength of grape must or wine for South African wines.

Declaration by South Africa
on Article 8 of the Agreement

South Africa hereby declares that it maintains its position in principle that the majority of names of Member States of the Community can not be protected as geographical indications in terms of the TRIPs Agreement.

Declaration by South Africa
on the use of sucrose, concentrated grape must or rectified concentrated
grape must referred to in Annex I, point 2(32), to the Agreement

 South Africa agrees to allow the use of sucrose, concentrated grape must or rectified concentrated grape must for Community wines marketed in South Africa in order to increase the natural alcoholic strength of grapes, grape must or wine, under the condition that these additions will only be made in terms of the Community regulations that apply on the date of the commencement of the Agreement.

Declaration by the Community
on the use of sucrose, concentrated grape must or rectified concentrated
grape must referred to in Annex I, point 2(32), to the Agreement

The Community takes note of the South-African position on the use of sucrose, concentrated grape must or rectified grape must but has to reaffirm its right to amend the present system on an autonomous basis.

Declaration by the Community
on the use of vine variety names for describing South African wines

 The Commission of the European Community agrees to amend Annex IV of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3201/90, not later than three months after the Agreement comes into force, to replace the vine variety names in point 1 "SOUTH AFRICA" by the following names which are currently approved in South Africa:

NAMES OF VINE VARIETIES APPROVED IN SOUTH AFRICA

Cinsaut
Cinsaut blanc
Cinsaut gris
Clairette blanche
Colombar	Colombard
Colomino
Cornifesto
Crouchen
Donzellinho do Castello
Donyellinho do Gallego Durif
Emerald Riesling
Erlihane
Fernao Pires
Furmint
Gamay noir
Gewürztraminer
Grachen Graciano
Grenache	Rooi, Red Grenache
Grenache blanc	Wit, White Grenache
Harslevelü
Henry Bouschet
Kanaan	Belies, Canaan
Kerner

Malbec
Merlot
Meunier
Morio Muscat
Mourisco tinto
Mourvédre	Mataro
Muller-Thurgau
Muscat d'Alexandrie	Hanepoot
Muskadel	Muscadel
Muscat de Hambourg
Muscat Ottonel
Nebbiolo Nouvelle
Olasz
Palomino
Pedro	Valse
Pedro Ximines
Petit Verdot	Verdot
Pinotage
Pinot blanc	Weissburgunder
Pinot gris	Pinot Grigio
Pinot noir
Pontak	Teinturier male
Raisin Blanc	Gros vert
Roobernet
Ruby Cabernet

 

Sangiovese
Sauvignon blanc	Fumé Blanc
Schönburger
Semillon	Groendruif
Shiraz	Syrah
Souzào
Sultana	Sultanina, Thompson's Seedless
Sylvaner Tannat
Therona
Tinta Amerella
Tinta Barocca
Tinta Francisca
Tinta Roriz
Touriga Francesa
Touriga Nacional
Ugni blanc	Trebbiano
Verdelho
Viognier
Weisser Riesling	Riesling
Weldra
Zinfandel

Declaration by the Community
on blended South African wines

The Community declares that until the specific implementing rules for labelling third country wines produced by blending different geographical origins are adopted, the Community shall authorise the import and marketing of wines referred to in point II of the Protocol to the Agreement provided the term "Mixture of wine from South Africa and other countries" appears on the main label in lettering which is clear, legible, indelible and sufficiently large and clearly distinguishable from all other writing and designs on the label.
 

Declaration by the Community
on "Retsina"

 1.      The Community considers that for the purpose of securing protection on the South African market, the importers of Community "Retsina" in South Africa should register the name "Retsina" as a certification trade‑mark under South African law.

2.      In the light of this action, the Community will request under the appropriate procedures that "Retsina" be included in the duty free tariff quota, which has been established on the South African market for wines originating in the EC.