DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING
Presentation on the re-accession to the
international organisation of vine and wine
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
24 June 2004
Presenters: M E Mogajane, W Jonker and J Rathebe
Departmental structure
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
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Intenational Organisation of vine and wine (OIV)
BACKGROUND
 OIV is an intergovernmental organisation of scientific and technical nature
 Established in 1924
 South Africa has been member since 1963
 Discussion on the review of the old OIV started in 1996 at a General
assembly in Cape town, South Africa
 The resolution to review the old OIV was approved in 1997
 This led to establishment of new treaty on 3 April 2001
 So far 35 member countries has ratified the treaty
The purpose of this discussion is to request parliament to give support and
approve South Africa accession to the treaty of April 2001 and termination
of the membership to the old OIV.
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WHY A REVIEW OF OLD OIV
 The old OIV was dominated by French interest with Eurocentric
approaches
 Working language was predominantly French
 All previous Director Generals were French
 Decision making was dominated by weighted votes in favour of large world
producers
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BENEFITS OF THE REVIEWED OIV
 There will be enhanced participation as a result of usage of 5 languages
•
English, German, French, Italian and Spanish
 Technical decisions will be based on sound scientific evidence
 Decision making on scientific resolutions – consensus based
 Voting will be used for budgetary matters and elections of presidents of
Commissions and Sub-Commissions
 Increased transparency especially on budgetary and administration of the
organisation
 Agreement has been made to formulate a strategic plan for the next 3 years
•
Strategic plan supported by annual operational plans
 South Africa has a small research capacity thus continued membership will
beneficial as it provides a formal platform for exchange of information for
researchers
 Upgrading of website will ensure better and easier access to information
 Communication will be enhance through –Press office
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International Organisation of vine and wine (OIV)
 Establish international norms and standards on wine and vine products
 Set guidelines on
• New wine making practices and techniques
• Product definition and labelling
• Food safety principles(especially public health matters)
• Harmonise standards on wine and vine products
 Facilitate trade
 Promote collaboration and sharing of scientific research
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Working proceedures
 The OIV work through
• General assembly (constituted by all member countries)
• An executive committee meeting
• Commissions, sub-commissions expert groups etc
 Important for South Africa to participate at all levels of standard setting
 Expertise lie in both government and industry
 The treaty shall be reviewed if two thirds plus one of members approve a
request to that effect
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AGREEMENT
OBJECTIVES
 To inform its members of measures taken on wine and vine where
concerns of producers, consumers and other players are taken into
consideration
 To inform and guide other international organizations with standards on
wine and vine
 To contribute to international harmonization of existing practices and
standards
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Main activities
 To promote and guide scientific and technical research
 Draw a framework of recommendation in the following fields
• Grape production
• Oenological practices
• Definition and or description of products
• Informative labeling and marketing conditions
• Methods for analysis and assessing vine products
 Submitting proposals to member states on
• Guaranteeing the authenticity of vine products –consumers especially
with regard to information provided on labels
• Protecting geographical indications especially wine and vine growing
areas
• Improving scientific and technical criteria for protecting new plant
varieties
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Main activities (cont)
 To mediate between countries upon request
 To monitor, evaluate and inform member states in good time on scientific or technical
developments
 To help protect the health of consumers and contribute to food safety
 To foster technical cooperation between member states
 To take account of specific features of each member systems for producing vine
products
 To contribute to the developments of training networks relating to wine and vine
products
 To contribute to the promotion or recognition of the world vine and wine growing
heritage
 To gather, process and disseminate information and communicate it
 To re-assess regularly the effectiveness of its structures and working procedures
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IMPLICATIONS
Renewal of membership has no additional financial burden
OLD OIV
 NEW OIV
 South Africa had 4 votes
 Cost per unit were determined annually
by General assembly
 Votes that a country will have is
dependant on its position in the
vitivinicultural world
 For 2003 cost per unit were 12 070
Euros meaning that SA paid 48 280
Euros per annum
 SA will have 2 base votes (all member
countries have 2 base votes) and 1
additional vote
 Cost will be calculated according to
mutually agreed formula as indicated in
Annexure 1 of the agreement (this is
based on a formula calculated from the
countries position in the vitiviniculture
world
 Total contribution amounts to 45 000
euros per annum
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The biggest market for South Africa
T o t al V o lume o f W ine exp o rt ed p er co unt ry
120000000
United
Kingdom
Netherlands
100000000
Germany
80000000
Sweden
60000000
Australasia
40000000
Belgium
20000000
0
Denmark
2003/2004
France
Canada
12
America
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Total liters of liquor exported
Million litres
400
300
02/2003
200
03/2004
100
0
Total liters approved
Total liters rejected
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Finally
 Important that South Africa participate in standard setting of wine and vine
• To safeguard our own interests
• To ensure standards are not Eurocentric but are scientifically based
 South Africa should participate in the discussions on the formulation of the strategic
plan
 Form a strong partnership with industry to
• Promote trade
• Deal with food safety issues
• Create sustainable employment
THANK YOU
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
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