Health warnings on wine bottles
proposed by Ireland amount to an "unacceptable stigma" which
Italy will combat in consultation with other major producers
like France and Spain, Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Minister
Francesco Lollobrigida said Thursday.
Ireland plans to put labels on bottles of wine, beer and spirits
similar to those on cigarettes packs highlighting the potential
harm to the liver and cancer links of abuse of alcohol.
Lollobrigida, grand-nephew of the late screen diva Gina, said he
would liaise with Health Minister Orazio Schillaci on how to
block the Irish labels.
"Our position is clear. Any labelling that envisages stigma on
the effects of wine on human health is unacceptable. We want to
re-etsblish the truth. The Irish measure is not justifiable by
any scientific evidence," said Lollobrigida, who has previously
noted the positive health effects of a moderate use of wine.
He said Rome would "open channels with France and Spain" on this
battle.
Italian regional governments also said Thursday they were ready
to fight to defend their wines.
"We are the top wine producers in the world. It is one of our
top products and the Conference of Regions intends to defend it
to avoid damage to production and the international image of our
companies. We oppose the abuse of labelling on our wines," said
the President of the Conference of Regions Massimiliano Fedriga,
the governor of Friuli.
He said that Ireland's plans, which have been backed by the EU,
"must be strongly opposed".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA