RESOLUTION OENO 19/2004

MAXIMUM CONTENT LIMITS OF METHANOL IN WINES

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

IN VIEW of Article 2 paragraph iv of the Agreement of 3 April 2001 establishing the International Organisation of Vine and Wine

UPON THE PROPOSAL by the Sub-Commission of Methods of Analysis and Appraisal of Wines,

CONSIDERING that the current limits of methanol in wines listed in Annex C of the Compendium of Methods of Analysis of Wines and Musts, that is 150 mg/l for white wines and rosés and 300 mg/l for red wines, are based on the observation of natural levels which are derived from grape pectins.

CONSIDERING that the Sub-commission of Methods of Analysis has re-examined the content limits at the 1998 session and have observed that only a few red wines could exceed these limits within a margin of about 10%.

CONSIDERING that a new oenological practice aimed at using Dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC) (OENO 5/2001) was admitted and that this practice can lead to an increase of the methanol content in the range of 100 mg/l for 200 mg/l of DMDC added.

CONSIDERING the opinion of the OIV experts group “Food safety”,

DECIDES to modify in Annex C of the Compendium of international methods of analysis of wines and musts, the existing contents limits for methanol by the following:

The content limit for methanol is set at:

• 400 mg/l for red wines
• 250 mg/l for white wines and rosés.