Professor of Food Technology at the universities of Valencia – at which she became the first female registered agricultural engineer in 1966 – and of Navarra, Professor Casp was known internationally for her work and publications in the field of food technology and safety.

A member of the Spanish delegation to the OIV, she presided the "Training" Expert Group in 2001-2007 and contributed greatly to the implementation of the database of international vitivinicultural training programmes. She was further involved in the university and research sector as President of the International University Association of Wine (AUIV), an OIV observer.

She will be remembered as a warm person with highly appreciated human qualities and recognised scientific competences.

The OIV shares in the pain of her husband and family.

After beginning his career in the automotive and road safety sector, he moved into the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux du Québec (Quebec Alcohol, Racing and Gaming Control Commission), where he was President-Director General. He was passionate about the wine sector and was an initiator of the creation of the Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada, over which he presided since 2006.

A recognised international taster, he was also involved in the creation of the World Federation of Major International Wine and Spirits Competitions (VINOFED), for which he was Secretary General, then President.

A veritable 'travelling taster' and host at all of the prestigious competitions on the planet, he was also passionate about long-distance cruises.

A member of numerous Bacchanalian fraternities – for which he also presided at the global meeting – Ghislain K.-Laflamme was a man of great culture and a lover of history, who was proud of his Breton origins and enjoyed sharing with humour many personal anecdotes from a life dedicated to law and wine.

The OIV shares in the pain of his family and friends.

Before the 123 Member States of the Codex Alimentarius – and within the framework of relations between the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other international organisations – Monika Christmann participated in the round table organised under the presidency of Dr Awilo Ochieng Pernet, President of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, regarding the collaboration between the Codex and other intergovernmental organisations, particularly within the field of sustainable development.

The OIV President emphasised that the OIV was participating in several Codex projects under way and that it was actively involved, particularly in discussions concerning the provisions relative to food additives that appear in the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA). She insisted on the need to ensure consistency among the standards of the Codex and those of the OIV, especially in relation to food additives used for grape wines.

Additionally, she declared that the OIV paid close attention to the work of the Codex as well as that of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in order to avoid the duplication of work and the establishment of divergent international standards.

With respect to sustainable development, the President indicated that the OIV had recently developed actions taking into account not only the agronomic aspect but also the economic and societal aspects.

The OIV President concluded that it was necessary to pursue cooperation and coordination with regard to activities of common interest to the OIV and the Codex.

On this occasion, Monika Christmann gave a presentation on the situation of the world wine sector and its main development trends.

She also addressed different subjects the OIV works on and that constitute such key issues for the future of vitiviniculture: environmental issues, sanitary concerns, labelling, etc.

The OIV President praised the good collaboration with AREV, which benefits from observer status within the Organisation.

The Assembly of European Wine Regions is an association that brings together the wine-producing regions in Europe (at a politico-professional level) and whose mission is to defend and promote European viticulture. It comprises 65 regions from 18 European countries.