HC Deb 20 December 1971 vol 828 cc248-9W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he agreed in Brussels to the demand made by the European Economic Community that British home-produced wine should cease to be so-called by 1976; what discussions he had with the representatives of the British wine growers before agreeing to this; and whether he will arrange to discuss this matter with the industry.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

Producers of wine from grapes grown in this country are not affected by the agreement in Brussels, which concerns certain types of wine made in ways which do not conform with the Community's regulations. The Community has accepted the British case, put forward in the course of consultations with the trade association concerned, that these British wines are outside the scope of the regulations. This allows the continued production of all these products, and their marketing throughout the enlarged Community, subject only to the requirement that the word "wine" should cease to be used in their names where this conflicts with Community rules. For the United Kingdom Market, the Community has allowed a reasonable transitional period of adjustment. Exports to countries outside the enlarged Community are not affected at all.