Agriculture Minister Maria do Seu Antunes said in Brussels on Monday that Portugal is working with other countries to ensure that Ireland does not label wine as unhealthy.
“We want to continue to work, namely with Member States that have a position similar to ours. We are working together to confront and protect what is best for our farmers,” the minister told reporters in Brussels at the European Union (EU) Agriculture Portfolio Holders meeting.
Maria do Seu Antunes also mentioned that she would do everything “to provide all the necessary information so that the Commission [Europeia] make informed decisions about the consequences of your proposals.”
Stressing that “this level of speculation through labeling” makes no sense, the minister recalled that wine, consumed in moderation, is part of the Mediterranean diet and “is a very important asset” to the Portuguese economy.
“We are very close to reaching one billion euros in exports, [o vinho] has a very significant impact from a social, economic and environmental point of view, namely on our most inland territories,” he added, recalling that “there are vineyards and wine not only in Portugal, or in France, or in Spain, or in Italy . which have large production. Today we find excellent quality wine all over Europe.”
This includes Ireland’s decision to place a label on all bottles of alcoholic beverages warning that their consumption is “unhealthy,” which Portugal and other member states are contesting.
In 2021, Portuguese wine exports to Ireland amounted to 6.3 million euros, up 39.5% from the previous year, according to the executive.
Ireland is the 23rd buyer of Portuguese wines in the world and 12th at Community level.