Agenda: CETA Committee on Wines and Spirits

March 18, 2025 (4:30 am to 12:00 pm EDT / 09:30 am to 5:00 pm CEST)

Location: Brussels and Videoconference

• 1. Opening remarks and committee business
• 2. Performance of bilateral trade
• 3. Amendments to the 2003 Agreement on trade in Wines and Spirit Drinks: Status of the ongoing amendment, overview of pending Geographical Indications (GI) applications and discussion on next steps
• 4. Geographical indications
  • 4.1 Canada federal measure referring to ‘Champagne’
  • 4.2 Enforcement under Canada’s Trademarks Act
• 5. Low and de-alcoholised wines – overview of market situation and regulatory developments in the European Union (EU) and in Canada
• 6. Various EU labelling initiatives
  • 6.1 Implementation of changes to Regulation (EU) 2021/2117
  • 6.2 Health warning labelling
• 7. Vi-1 related discussions
  • 7.1 Correction of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/273 as amended by Regulation 2019/840 as regards the import of wine originating in Canada (Plan/2024/2643)
  • 7.2 Vi-1 certificate questions from Canadian Competent Bodies
  • 7.3 Vi-1 integration into the Electronic System for Agricultural Non-Customs Formalities (ELAN)
• 8. New varietals
  • 8.1 New varietals for Canadian wines
• 9. Canada-EU cooperation on shared global challenges
• 10. Mark-ups and taxes in Canadian provinces
  • 10.1 Ontario – Tax for wines and spirit drinks sold in on-site winery stores and duty-free stores
  • 10.2 Québec – Tax rates for in-province brewers, small wine makers and craft distillers
  • 10.3 Alberta – Wholesale mark-up for small manufacturers
  • 10.4 British Columbia – Wholesale mark-up rates for small in-province distillers
  • 10.5 Nova Scotia – Mark-up rates for in-province craft distillers
  • 10.6 New Brunswick – Mark-up rates for in-province distillers and producers of cottage wines
• 11. Access to certain market outlets in Canadian provinces and territories
  • 11.1 British Columbia – Wholesale mark-up for direct deliveries of local products to restaurants, bars and private retailers
  • 11.2 Ontario – Alcohol modernisation
  • 11.3 Multiple jurisdictions – Direct delivery and e-commerce
• 12. Other distribution and retail practices in Canadian provinces
  • 12.1 Ontario – LCBO Terms and Conditions Section 14
  • 12.2 Ontario – Differential payment terms
  • 12.3 Québec – Ban on overpackaging
  • 12.4 Ontario and Québec – Lightweight glass bottle policies
  • 12.5 Guidance to the amendments to the Charter of the French language introduced by Bill 96 in Québec
• 13. Any other business
• 14. Time and venue of next meeting