Indian Grape Processing Board working to regulate wine-making for identity of Indian wines in intl market
The Indian wine industry is in the process of formulating standards and coming up with a wine legislation for Indian wines. This move is not only expected to help Indian wines make a mark in the export market but also create an own indigenous identity in the wine market globally.
The Indian Grape Processing Board (IGPB) has been working on a comprehensive legislation to regulate wine-making and improving industry standards. The objective is to create an identity for Indian wines in the international market. India has accepted membership of the International Organization on Vine and Wine (OIV) and this would entail adopting wine-related international rules, regulations and laws.
The first meeting regarding the legislation was held at the office of the Indian Grape Processing Board (IGPB) with the government departments to discuss wine legislation was held in Pune. ? The Analogy and Viticulture Committee headed by PG Adsul of the National Research Centre for Grapes (NRCG) along with the other members will soon submit a draft on the wine standards for the Indian industry. A meeting is slated to be held with stakeholders in Mumabi on February 11 where this issue will be discussed and once the draft is cleared, it will be submitted to the centre,? Jagdish Holkar, chairman, IGPB said.
?At present, there are no laws or regulations regarding the manufacture of grape wine. This legislation will help bring laws regarding manufacture of wine, quality, brand and marketing. All wine-related practices ? manufacturing, agricultural, critical point analysis and food safety norms ? will come under the legislation,? he said.
?The legislation will include product definition like sparkling, carbonated, fortified, still, organic and herbal wines will also be decided. The label on the wine bottle will also include the name of the wine grape variety. The alcoholic proportion in different wines will also be decided,? Holkar said. ?Our major objective is to create an identity for the Indian wine in the world. We need wine-related rules and regulations to improve the standard of the Indian wine industry,? he said. The legislation will also help prevent dumping of cheap wines into the Indian market, he added.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), National Research Centre for Grapes ( NRC), International Codex, APEDA, Pune excise department, agriculture departments and the ministry of food processing industries, agricultural processed food products export development authority and All-India Wine Producers? Association (AIWPA).
