Chairperson, members, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, on 20 July 2010 the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries adopted the two agreements, namely the Agreement on Mutual Acceptance of Oenological Practices and the Agreement on the Requirements for Wine Labelling.
These are agreements governed by an informal World Wine Trade Group, WWTG, of which South Africa is a member. Among others, the WWTG promotes trading, reduces barriers in wine trade and allows sharing of information and collaboration in trade and production. The World Wine Trade Group, WWTG, is represented by both governments and industry.
At the centre of this body are the two agreements, namely the Agreement on Mutual Acceptance of Oenological Practices and the Agreement on the Requirements for Wine Labelling. All members have implemented the Mutual Acceptance Agreement, MAA, except for South Africa and Georgia, but today this Parliament shall make way for our government to be a full participant of this prestigious body. Also, the Labelling Agreement shall see us benefiting from such agreements.
The benefits thereof are the simplification of sport and logistics and the certainty as required by the WWTG. We look forward to meaningful changes in the South African contribution to the production of wine, where South Africa is currently at number eight, and also as an exporter of wine, where South Africa is ranked at number 10 worldwide. I thank you. [Applause.]
There was no debate.
Chairperson, I move:
That the Reports be approved.
Motion agreed to.
Agreement on Mutual Acceptance of Oenological Practices by the World Wine Trade Group (WWTG) accordingly approved.
Agreement on Requirements for Wine Labelling of the World Wine Trade Group (WWTG) accordingly approved.