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Amendment to Act on Viniculture and Viticulture No. 321/2004 Coll. applicable since 1^st April 2017 has significantly affected the market with wine, in particular sale of barrel wine as well as bulk wine imported from abroad.

Adjusting the system of import and sale of barrel wine, the amendment prevents, inter alia, its undesirable anonymization. The previous system failed to fight effectively against frauds with wine sold that way.

The assessment of CAFIA inspections carried out one year after the amendment had come into force showed that both the total number of non-compliant samples and the number of adulterated wines decreased.

 “I am glad that we succeeded in introduction of an effective enforcement system applicable on the wine market and that the Ministry of Agriculture initiated and enabled a platform where interests of all involved parties could be taken into account to protect interest of consumers and honest operators as well,” Minister of Agriculture of the ČR, Miroslav Toman, stated.

“Current results of inspections show that the amendment to Wine Act was the right step,” Director General of CAFIA, Martin Klanica, added.

In 2018 CAFIA inspectors assessed the total of 1,300 wine samples, out of which 311 samples failed to comply on the spot or in the laboratory. This number comprises 24% of the assessed samples. In 2017 CAFIA inspectors assessed the total of 1,531 wine samples, out of which 279 (18%) failed to comply.

These results of CAFIA inspections carried out in 2018 and 2017 show significant drop in the number of detected non-compliant samples of wine as well as the proportion of samples out of the samples assessed during comparison with previous years. In 2016 CAFIA inspectors assessed 1,436 wine samples, out of which 561 failed to comply with legislation requirements (39%), in 2015 1,536 samples were checked and 531 failed (35%), in 2014 1,041 samples were checked and 452 failed (43%), and in 2013 1,134 samples were checked, out of which 415 (37%) were non-compliant.

Also inspections focused on adulteration (especially serious violation of oenological procedures) showed the same significant decrease. In 2018 inspectors detected the total of 23 samples of adulterated wines which represented 1.8% of all assessed samples. In 2017 inspectors proved adulteration in case of 18 samples (1.2%). In 2016, 34 samples (2.3%) of adulterated wine were concerned compared to 83 samples in 2015 (5.4%), to 74 samples in 2014 (7.1%), and to 121 samples in 2013 (10.6%).

The amendment did not cause decrease in the number of wine shops, which was concern of certain operators. Quite the opposite, the number of wine shops registered at CAFIA increased and now CAFIA registers 6,123 wine shops. In 2017 there were 5,704 wine shops registered, 5,149 wine shops in 2016, and 4,665 wine shops in 2015.

CAFIA currently upgraded its laboratory by nuclear magnetic resonance equipment with 600 MHz frequency. This equipment will complement the present equipment with 400 MHz frequency. Introducing new types of analyses, the efficiency of consumers’ protection will be enhanced as well.

Article by: Pavel Kopřiva, CAFIA Spokesperson, + 420 542 426 633

27^th February 2019