Unbelievable EU regulation fuels uproar among businesses in Baden-Württemberg
EU's Ban on Baking Soda in Wine Making Sparks Controversy Among German Winemakers
A recent decision by the EU Commission has sparked controversy among winemakers in Germany and Austria, as they grapple with the economic implications of using a new plant protection product, NatriSan, following the ban on the use of baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate) in wine making.
The EU Commission approved NatriSan as a plant protection product, citing it as the only viable option to mitigate the economic damage caused by the use of studies. However, winemakers in various regions of Germany are voicing their discontent about the price increase of NatriSan.
Winemakers have been using sodium hydrogen carbonate for decades to combat "true powdery mildew", a common issue in wine production. The ban on baking soda was mainly due to its impact on the sensory profile of wines, seen as incompatible with traditional European standards for fine wine.
The use of NatriSan comes with significantly higher regulatory requirements for safety, efficacy, and residue limits compared to sodium hydrogen carbonate. BIOFA, a manufacturer based in Baden-Württemberg, states that the high cost of NatriSan is due to these higher regulatory requirements.
BIOFA feels unfairly treated by the EU, claiming that the previous basic substance approval for sodium hydrogen carbonate was granted without its consent or compensation. Winemakers are criticizing the lack of additional value they are receiving with the higher cost.
The controversy stems from the EU's restriction of the so-called basic substance approval for sodium hydrogen carbonate. Winemakers in Alsace can still use baking soda, while German and Austrian winemakers cannot. Huschle, a winemaker from Offenburg, Baden, is expressing his displeasure about the situation.
Several one-star reviews have been left online, expressing disappointment with BIOFA's actions. BIOFA states that many statements are based on misunderstandings that it aims to clarify through transparency.
Alternative options provided to winemakers for acidity regulation and wine stabilization include using authorized acidity regulators that comply with EU regulations, relying on controlled fermentation techniques and temperature management, and other authorized food-grade additives permitted under EU law for acidity control and stabilization.
The price increase of NatriSan represents an over 550 percent increase compared to the previous price of sodium hydrogen carbonate. The price of NatriSan is 4.17 euros per kilogram, compared to the previous price of around 64 cents per kilogram for sodium hydrogen carbonate.
BIOFA is open to dialogue to clarify misunderstandings about the situation. Winemakers in Germany and Austria have a few weeks to adapt to the new regulations, and it remains to be seen how this change will impact the wine industry in the long term.
[1] European Commission. (n.d.). Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 922/72. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12427-Commission-Regulation-on-the-use-of-sodium-hydrogen-carbonate-in-wine-making
[2] European Commission. (n.d.). List of food additives authorised for use in the EU. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/food/additives/eu_list_additives_en
[3] European Commission. (n.d.). Wine law in the EU. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farm/food/specific-sectors/wine/wine-law-eu_en
Economic and social policy should be considered in addressing the concerns of German winemakers about the higher cost of the plant protection product NatriSan, as compared to the previous use of sodium hydrogen carbonate. The technology associated with the safety, efficacy, and residue limits of NatriSan contributes to its increased production cost, leading to the pronounced price increase.
