The repression of fraud observed more than a third of “anomalies” or “violations” during samples and controls taken from wine professionals and spirits in 2022 and 2023, according to a large survey conducted on Wednesday.
The DGCCRF researchers (General Directorate of Consumer Affairs, Competition and Repression of Fraud) indicate that they have verified more than 7,800 establishments in two years, including about 1,600 in production and 6,200 in distribution.
“Most professionals agreed,” but we observed “in the production sector more than 30% of anomalies and in distribution more than 40%,” summarizes Marie Suderie, spokesman for the DGCCRF, which recalls that these controls are destined to “protect consumers”, “preserve confidence in the economy” and “defend French agricultural competence.”
In terms of production, in the more than 1,600 controlled establishments (cooperative wineries, harvest, merchants, manufacturers or even cooperators, a total of 470 samples were taken and then analyzed by state laboratories. 38% of the operators presented “deficiencies of different nature”.
Warnings, fines and mandates
Most of the observed anomalies have led to warnings or compliance mandates, but 15% of them have been subject to administrative fines or criminal procedures.
Fraud includes, for example, erroneous mentions of the degree of alcohol on labels, or the addition of unauthorized ingredients, such as water or dyes.
Investigations “have already resulted in criminal convictions”: therefore, in January 2023, a network in New Aquitaine was sentenced by the Francoization of 34,000 hectoliters of Spanish wine, ecological of prison terms and a fine of one million euros.
Educational approach
In the distribution, more than 6,200 establishments were reviewed (supermarkets, wine merchants, distance sale, coffees, restaurants) and 202 samples were taken.
“43% of controlled operators have presented anomalies”, ranging from an “omission of the origin of the wine” in the “replacement to consumer knowledge” of one wine for another “less expensive”, in rare cases.
For proven fraud, the DGCCRF reports “40 administrative fines and 80 criminal records, representing 3% of the consequences.”
The DGCCRF “initially an educational approach.” The idea is first “to ensure that professionals know the regulations, since it can be changing or complex, and then move on to more repressive consequences,” summarizes its spokesman.
Source: BFM TV
