SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING

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SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING

• Presentation on the re-accession to the
  international organisation of vine and wine

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 24 June
2004 Presenters M E Mogajane, W Jonker and J
Rathebe
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Departmental structure
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Intenational Organisation of vine and wine (OIV)

• BACKGROUND
• OIV is an intergovernmental organisation of
  scientific and technical nature
• Established in 1924
• South Africa has been member since 1963
• Discussion on the review of the old OIV started
  in 1996 at a General assembly in Cape town, South
  Africa
• The resolution to review the old OIV was approved
  in 1997
• This led to establishment of new treaty on 3
  April 2001
• So far 35 member countries has ratified the
  treaty
• The purpose of this discussion is to request
  parliament to give support and approve South
  Africa accession to the treaty of April 2001 and
  termination of the membership to the old OIV.

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WHY A REVIEW OF OLD OIV

• The old OIV was dominated by French interest with
  Eurocentric approaches
• Working language was predominantly French
• All previous Director Generals were French
• Decision making was dominated by weighted votes
  in favour of large world producers

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BENEFITS OF THE REVIEWED OIV

• There will be enhanced participation as a result
  of usage of 5 languages
• English, German, French, Italian and Spanish
• Technical decisions will be based on sound
  scientific evidence
• Decision making on scientific resolutions
  consensus based
• Voting will be used for budgetary matters and
  elections of presidents of Commissions and
  Sub-Commissions
• Increased transparency especially on budgetary
  and administration of the organisation
• Agreement has been made to formulate a strategic
  plan for the next 3 years
• Strategic plan supported by annual operational
  plans
• South Africa has a small research capacity thus
  continued membership will beneficial as it
  provides a formal platform for exchange of
  information for researchers
• Upgrading of website will ensure better and
  easier access to information
• Communication will be enhance through Press
  office

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International Organisation of vine and wine (OIV)

• Establish international norms and standards on
  wine and vine products
• Set guidelines on
• New wine making practices and techniques
• Product definition and labelling
• Food safety principles(especially public health
  matters)
• Harmonise standards on wine and vine products
• Facilitate trade
• Promote collaboration and sharing of scientific
  research

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Working proceedures

• The OIV work through
• General assembly (constituted by all member
  countries)
• An executive committee meeting
• Commissions, sub-commissions expert groups etc
• Important for South Africa to participate at all
  levels of standard setting
• Expertise lie in both government and industry
• The treaty shall be reviewed if two thirds plus
  one of members approve a request to that effect

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AGREEMENT

• OBJECTIVES
• To inform its members of measures taken on wine
  and vine where concerns of producers, consumers
  and other players are taken into consideration
• To inform and guide other international
  organizations with standards on wine and vine
• To contribute to international harmonization of
  existing practices and standards

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Main activities

• To promote and guide scientific and technical
  research
• Draw a framework of recommendation in the
  following fields
• Grape production
• Oenological practices
• Definition and or description of products
• Informative labeling and marketing conditions
• Methods for analysis and assessing vine products
• Submitting proposals to member states on
• Guaranteeing the authenticity of vine products
  consumers especially with regard to information
  provided on labels
• Protecting geographical indications especially
  wine and vine growing areas
• Improving scientific and technical criteria for
  protecting new plant varieties

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Main activities (cont)

• To mediate between countries upon request
• To monitor, evaluate and inform member states in
  good time on scientific or technical developments
• To help protect the health of consumers and
  contribute to food safety
• To foster technical cooperation between member
  states
• To take account of specific features of each
  member systems for producing vine products
• To contribute to the developments of training
  networks relating to wine and vine products
• To contribute to the promotion or recognition of
  the world vine and wine growing heritage
• To gather, process and disseminate information
  and communicate it
• To re-assess regularly the effectiveness of its
  structures and working procedures

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IMPLICATIONSRenewal of membership has no
additional financial burden

• OLD OIV
• South Africa had 4 votes
• Cost per unit were determined annually by General
  assembly
• For 2003 cost per unit were 12 070 Euros meaning
  that SA paid 48 280 Euros per annum

• NEW OIV
• Votes that a country will have is dependant on
  its position in the vitivinicultural world
• SA will have 2 base votes (all member countries
  have 2 base votes) and 1 additional vote
• Cost will be calculated according to mutually
  agreed formula as indicated in Annexure 1 of the
  agreement (this is based on a formula calculated
  from the countries position in the
  vitiviniculture world
• Total contribution amounts to 45 000 euros per
  annum

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The biggest market for South Africa  
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Finally

• Important that South Africa participate in
  standard setting of wine and vine
• To safeguard our own interests
• To ensure standards are not Eurocentric but are
  scientifically based
• South Africa should participate in the
  discussions on the formulation of the strategic
  plan
• Form a strong partnership with industry to
• Promote trade
• Deal with food safety issues
• Create sustainable employment
• THANK YOU