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Wine Seminar : Surviving, Striving, Driving and Thriving - Build a Competitive Wine Sector

November 19 2015

Overview

Wine is a unique commodity, and its production - from cultivation of vines to bottling - a daunting business. Fluctuations in economy, fickle weather, length between bottling and selling make improving of quality, while controlling costs a challenge.

Despite harsh global competition, new suppliers enter the wine market, Japan amongst these. Recent introduction of the concept 'Japan wine' brings the definition of wine in Japan closer to the international definition in an attempt to improve product image. But which way should the Japanese wine rules develop in order to support the growth of the industry, and how is the EU promoting and developing its wine industry? How can government policies help the sector to thrive?

This seminar aimed at shedding light on those questions through presentations by experts and sharing best practices. The seminar attracted about 80 government authorities and professionals involved in the sector.

Programme

14:30-14:40

Opening remarks by Ambassador Viorel Isticioaia-Budura, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan

14:40-15:00

Presentation by Mr. Naoto Nitta, Deputy Director, MAFF Kanto Regional Office: "Current situation of production of grapes for Japanese wines and government assistance for producers"

15:00-15:45

Presentation by Mr. Rudy Van der Stappen, Deputy Head of Unit C2, DG AGRI: "EU's Wine Policy, Oenological Practices and Wine GIs"

15:45-16:05

Presentation by Mr. Takashi Iijima, Deputy Director, Liquor Tax and Industry Division, National Tax Agency: "Measures for promoting the alcoholic beverages produced in Japan – Development of wine labelling rules and revision of GI system"

16:05-16:15

Break

16:15-17:45

Panel discussion: Building a competitive wine sector. Guiding thoughts: Economic value of wine industry is of importance and interest to governments. But how responsive the policy makers are in accommodating industry needs and what can the responses for bringing added value to the sector be? Is there room for added cooperation in these matters?

Moderator: Prof. Teiji Takahashi (Board Member, International Wine Law Association)

 Panellists:

  • Mr. Rudy Van der Stappen, Deputy Head of unit, DG AGRI
  • Mr. Naoto Nitta, Deputy Director, MAFF Kanto Regional Office
  • Mr. Takashi Iijima, Deputy Director, Liquor Tax Division, National Tax Agency
  • Mr. Hiroshi Saito, Mercian/ Yamanashi Prefecture Wine Manufacturers' Association
  • Ms. Yoko Maki, Public Affairs Manager, MHD Moët Hennessy Diageo K.K. / Secretariat, European Business Council Liquor Committee

17:45-17:55

Closing remarks by Mr. Silviu Jora, General Manager, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation

Japan
Situation of Grape Production by Responsibilities
The European policy for the wine sector
Measures for promoting the alcoholic beverages produced in Japan (Development of wine labelling rules and revision of GI system)

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