Canadian wine exporters to directly benefit from new agreement
August 1, 2015 – Ottawa, Ontario
International Trade Minister Ed Fast and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Gerry Ritz today announced Canada’s ratification of the World Wine Trade Group (WWTG) Agreement on Requirements for Wine Labelling. The agreement was signed by WWTG participants, which include Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Georgia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States, in January 2007.
The labelling agreement reduces the compliance costs for producing labels that meet the different requirements of various export markets. As most Canadian wineries are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the reduced costs will help to make them more competitive in the global marketplace.
The agreement also enhances the protection of authentic Canadian icewine, the flagship export of the Canadian wine industry, by requiring that wine labelled as icewine be made exclusively from grapes that have been naturally frozen on the vine. This protects the traditional production method of icewine and its reputation as a premium product.
“Our government continues to be at the forefront of adopting internationally recognized standards that facilitate trade and open new markets for Canadian exporters, including our SME's.
“This agreement helps the Canadian wine industry by reducing the red tape associated with wine labelling, which in turn reduces costs.
“Canada’s world-class icewine producers will directly benefit allowing them to compete and succeed on the international stage.”
— Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade
Max Moncaster
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
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Jeff English
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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