New standards for wines to control contents

Press, 15 April 1980, Page 2

New standards for wines to control contents

Wellington reporter i i New standards for grape, ' fruit, and vegetable wines ; and general alcoholic drinks ii are expected to be gazetted (i this week. I Under the amendment to;, the Food and Drug Regula-|< tions, minimum levels will be!, set for grape juice content,], and the dilution of wines with water will be strictly controlled. Announcing the new regulations vesterday, the Minis-; ter of Health (Mr Gair) said I. wines generally had a mini-i, mum grape juice content of ; 80 per cent. The regulations I, would alter this .figure and; set requirements according;, to the type of wine. ' ' i ’Wines labelled “premium.’ | "private bln,” or words of similar meaning, and ariyj, wines labelled with the grape, variety Would be required to I contain not less than 95 per ! cent grape Juice. ' '■ -“New Zealand is winning a reputation for the high and. distinctive quality of its bet- ] ter wines, most of which contain almost 100 per cent; grape juice. It is hoped that; the amended regulations will I help consumers to more 1 easily identify, top quality wines,” said Mr Gair. .Higher alcohol wines, such aS sherry or port, are fortified by the addition of spirit, and the new regulations allow for the reduction of grape juice by setting a minimum level at 60 per cent.

I For other Wine-based pro-, ducts, such as flavoured, !wines and wine liqueurs, the j grape juice content will be| .set at a minimum of 40 per' I cent. ! Mr Gair said similar standards would be introduced jfor fruit and vegetable wines. , A new standard for "general j alcoholic drinks” would replace existing standards for “other alcoholic drinks” and would govern their sale. The Health Department 'will introduce a monitoring ;and sampling programme to i ensure that the regulations (are adhered to by all wine(makers. i Other changes will also be ■made in the amended regulations, affecting food label- | ling requirements. Some , foods which have been . ex(empt from declaring food I colourings will now be re- ■ quired to do so. Restrictions on the size and colour of lettering on food labels will be eased. j Yoghurt packed in milk 'bottles will continue to be marked with the packaging ■date, but yoghurt packed in j plastic containers, will now ibe marked according to the minimum durability system, with the date when the contents must be used.