Brazil Revises Wine Standards, Alcohol Content Deviation Reduced to 0.5%

On October 11, 2024, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply issued official document No 723, which involves important work on the revision of quality standards for wine and its derivatives. The amendment aims to update and clarify the relevant regulations to ensure better protection of the quality of wine products and the rights and interests of consumers. According to the revised content, the new standard will officially take effect from the date of publication.

In the revised content, it is first clarified that the alcohol content marked on the wine label should be expressed as a percentage of volume at 20 ° C, and the allowable error range is ± 0.5%. This means that manufacturers must ensure the accuracy of their measurements when labelling alcohol content to avoid misleading consumers. In addition, for certain types of wine, such as cognac or premium brandy, producers can adjust the alcohol content by adding the right amount of water to achieve the desired flavor and texture. At the same time, in order to meet the tastes of different consumers, producers can also use sugar to increase the sweetness of the wine, and use caramel color to adjust the color of the wine.

Secondly, the revised content also includes an update to the definition of several wines and beverages. For example, the alcohol content of cool wine drinks is specified as 3.5-7.0%, while Sangria is 7%-12%. The updating of these definitions helps consumers better understand the characteristics and classifications of different wine products. For alcoholic beverages containing carbonation, the revised standard requires that the following warning phrase must be displayed on the label: "Handle with care, there is pressure". This warning was added to remind consumers to exercise caution when opening such drinks to prevent safety issues due to pressure release.

More detailed information about the revision, can through the following link to view: https://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/portaria-mapa-n-723-de-9-de-outubro-de-2024-589495723. The release of this official document not only reflects the Brazilian government's attention to the quality regulation of the wine industry, but also provides consumers with more transparent and reliable product information, thus promoting the healthy development of the market.