Spring's Spirits News!
Already we find ourselves in May 2010 – so what has been happening in the last few months and what is around the corner? The latest draft of the WHO global alcohol strategy is about to be discussed at the World Health Assembly, the final EP vote on the Food Information proposal is in sight, EMCS is in progress and there are important new trade agreements on the horizon.
With global exports valued at over 6.5 billion euros in 2009, spirit drinks represent the EU’s most exported foodstuff. Over the last few months, as we continue to deal with the effects of the economic crisis, CEPS has been working hard to improve market access around the world. As a consequence of the economic situation, there has been little progress in WTO talks on the Doha Development Agenda. This is disappointing. Nonetheless there have been steps forward with regards to significant bilateral and multilateral agreements.
In each edition of the newsletter we focus on one of the following FOUR topics to give you an insight into some of the developments in that area;;
ALCOHOL & SOCIETY TRADE INTERNAL MARKET FISCAL AFFAIRS
Each edition will also contain a section entitled INDUSTRY INITIATIVES where you will find specific information on voluntary initiatives introduced by the spirits industry to help reduced alcohol related harm.
Lastly we will present a COUNTRY FOCUS on one EU Member State to give you an insight into this country’s industry and some interesting facts and statistics.
In THIS EDITION of the newsletter you will gain an insight into the TRADE world, then in the ISSUE FOCUS we will give you the lowdown on the Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) which was finally launched on 1 April 2010.
This month's INDUSTRY INITIATIVE takes a look at what one of the Eastern Member States - POLAND - has been doing to encourage its citizens to drink responsibly.
Lastly we will use our COUNTRY FOCUS to take a look at the spirits industry in IRELAND. A country both proud of its heritage and renowned for its whiskey, but at the same time very active in trying to reduce alcohol misuse and making sure its citizens know about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
The European Spirits Organisation – CEPS is the representative body for the spirits industry at European level. Its membership comprises 31 national associations representing the industry in 27 countries, as well as a group of leading spirits producing companies.