Skopje, 6 March 2024 (MIA) - The Parliament on Wednesday wrapped up the general debate on the draft law on wine, concluding that it is acceptable and can be forwarded for second reading. The bill, for the first time ever, provides for setting the production cost for wine grapes per kilogram, no later than July 15 of the current year, for at least two of the most common varieties.

According to the bill, the aim is to protect the interests of producers.

The calculation of the production costs for a kilogram of wine grapes on a certain area and of appropriate quality according to a given methodology will be carried out by a higher educational or scientific institution in the field of agriculture.

"The main purpose of passing the bill is its alignment with the new EU rules and the introduction of new products: organic wines, flavoured wine products. In addition, the part of the law that refers to the classification of wines, production, labelling and protection of wines with a geographical designation will undergo major changes in order to align it with EU regulations, and to protect wine originating from the Republic of North Macedonia on EU markets even before the country becomes a member state. The proposed solutions are particularly aimed at increasing and facilitating the export of wine and wine products to the EU market, as the largest export market for Macedonian wine," reads the bill. 

The Government, which proposes the law, notes that the Law on Wine currently in force is not fully aligned with the European provisions relating to the protection of the geographical designation and origin of wines, organic wines, as well as flavoured wine products.

"Given that the EU member states are the largest market for the export of wine from North Macedonia and in order to smoothly increase and facilitate the export of wine and wine products, a new law on wine is required," adds the bill. 

Photo: MIA archive