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The Irish government has submitted its plans to require health and warning labels on bottles of alcoholic beverages to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Despite concerns and comments from 13 member countries, the EU Commission had accepted the Irish drafts without amendment in the mandatory consultation procedure. This surprised even representatives of the Irish government, since, as they themselves said publicly, such individual actions by member states violate the rules of the EU's internal market. The WTO procedure is the last procedural step before Ireland can adopt legislation.
Last week, nine EU countries wrote to the EU Commission asking it to negotiate with the Irish Department of Health to prevent "barriers to trade in the single market". At the same time, Spain's Agriculture Minister Luis Planas has called on EU countries to lodge a joint complaint with the WTO. If Ireland does not respond, they will have to go to the European Court of Justice. Finally, the EU intends to present its own health warning labels valid for all member countries this year, as it recently declared in its four-billion-euro plan to fight cancer.
The new labels in Ireland are to warn against liver diseases in addition to a logo advising against alcohol consumption during pregnancy and to point out a direct link between alcohol and "fatal cancers". In addition, it is to contain a reference to a website for safe drinking.
(al / Source: winenews, independent.ie; Photo: 123rf)