Ukrainian wine exported to 49 countries in 2022 - ministry
MOSCOW. July 14 (Interfax) - Ukrainian wine, exported to 49 countries in 2022, received 37 awards at international exhibitions; at the same time, the Ukrainian winegrowing industry needs changes in legislation for its further economic development, Ukrainian media outlets quoted Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Nikolai Solsky as saying at a meeting with representatives of the wine market.
"The winemaking industry has suffered considerable losses. We managed to export Ukrainian wine to 49 countries last year. Our goods were represented at a number of international exhibitions, and our country received 37 awards at the world's largest wine competition Decanter World Wine Competition 2023. We resumed our membership in the International Organization of Vine and Wine. The potential of our industry is highly praised internationally, but, undoubtedly, this sector needs legislative changes and support of the state for its further economic development and the establishment of trade relations," the press service for the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food quoted Solsky as saying.
During the meeting, representatives of the wine market named amendments to the law "On the development and state support to small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine" among the necessary ones for the development of the industry. It will enable giving state support to primary wine making enterprises, which do not bottle products into consumer packaging, do not sell them to the final consumer, but are a link in the production process.
In addition, it was proposed to amend the Tax Code of Ukraine to reduce the sparkling wine excise tax, cease labelling them with excise duty stamps and exclude table wine from the list of goods subject to the excise duty, as it is the practice in a number of the European Union states.
According to market operators, it is important for the development of winemaking to support small producers and endorse the bill "On amending several legal acts of Ukraine on the development of wine production and facilitation of the operation of small wineries."
The document will facilitate minimizing the requirements for material and technical resources of small wine producers, granting them the right to purchase raw materials, namely, grapes, fruits, berries, and honey, of the Ukrainian origin and permitting them to package wine in metal cans made out of food-grade aluminum and kegs out of aluminum and stainless steel.
In order to harmonize the legislation of Ukraine with the European Union's one in accordance with the Regulation EU 2021/2117 of December 2, 2021, market participants also consider it necessary to endorse the bill envisaging, among other things, the creation of the single state information system Register of Winegrowers and Winemakers and the introduction of requirements for production and circulation of wine.