EC commissioner cautions alcohol health-warning labels may breach EU rules, impact business

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan has expressed several concerns about the planned introduction of health-warning labels, including cancer-warning labels, on alcohol beverage containers. The Department of Health is drafting regulations for these labels, but the European Commission (EC) will need to review their potential impact as a trade barrier before they can be introduced, and Hogan has warned that the labels may be in breach of European Single Market rules. Hogan stated that the new rules haven’t been “well thought out on the impact they will have on small businesses.” The commissioner also contended that many producers may not wish to print specific labels for the Irish market, and may choose to abandon it instead.

Source: Spirits Europe