Browse Data and Analysis

Systembolaget, Sweden’s government alcohol monopoly, now officially recognizes wines certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), allowing CSWA-certified wines to qualify for Systembolaget’s “Most Sustainable Beverages” label.

The Finnish Government wants to reform its alcohol policy to promote fair and open competition. It is therefore proposing that the alcohol monopoly ALKO and Finnish food retailers can sell alcoholic beverages online and deliver to a location indicated by the buyer.

The Netherlands is working towards a ‘sugar tax’. As a first step, the existing levy on non-alcoholic beverages (excluding dairy, soy drinks and water) was increased to €0.26 ($0.29) per liter starting January 1, 2024.

The EU adopted new rules for the labeling of organic pet food in the single market. Pet food can now be labeled with the EU organic production logo if 95 percent of its agricultural ingredients are organic.

Changes to UK alcohol tax rates were implemented on August 1, 2023. The UK government calls this an alcohol duty, but it is an excise tax charged at the point of production or importation of drinks of alcoholic strength exceeding 1.2 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) – the percentage of pure alcohol per liter of product.

On April 21, the European Commission proposed to update the marketing standards of select agriculture products such as fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, honey, juices, eggs and poultry.

The European Commission published a draft regulation outlining new rules for the indication and designation of ingredients for wine. The draft regulation also introduces a change to the VI-1 certificate. Stakeholders have until February 23, 2023, to comment.

The Government of Ukraine adopted new labeling requirements for country of origin or place of origin for selected food products on April 1, 2021.

On January 1, 2021 Poland implemented new taxes on soft drinks, small bottles of alcoholic beverages of up to 300 milliliters (ml), and energy drinks.

On December 3, 2020, the EU published the Agreement between the EU and China on geographical indications (GIs) in its Official Journal.

There were no new bilateral certificates negotiated in 2019.

Ukraine is a lower-middle income country in Eastern Europe. Its economy is rebounding after the political and economic turmoil of recent years.