- Minor treaty action
Amendment to the Agreement Establishing the International Organisation of Vine and Wine
Minor treaty actions
3.1Minor treaty actions are generally technical amendments to existing treaties that do not significantly affect the national interest. They are presented to the Committee with an explanatory statement and are published on the Committee’s website unless a request for confidentiality is received and agreed to by the Committee.
3.2The Committee can choose to formally inquire into these treaty actions or accept them without a formal inquiry. Once considered, they are incorporated into a report of the Committee at the next opportunity.
Referral of the proposed minor treaty actions
3.3On 19 July 2023, the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon Tim Watts MP, referred the Amendment to the Agreement Establishing the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (25 October 2021).
Background
3.4The Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) is an intergovernmental wine organisation that is comprised of major wine producing countries. Australia has been a member of the OIV since 1978 and is a member state to the OIV Treaty (April 2001) which entered into force for Australia on 1 January 2004.
3.5The OIV ‘provides grape and wine producing and consuming countries with information to develop regulations, minimise barriers to trade, promote sustainable production and protect consumers’. The OIV is an intergovernmental organisation made up of Member States. The Agreement of 2001 was signed by 35 Sovereign States and today the OIV is made up of 50 Member States. Member countries include the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
3.6The main objectives of the OIV are to:
- Inform its Member States of measures concerning producers, consumers and other players in the vine and wine products sector.
- Assist other international organisations, especially those which carry out standardisation activities.
- Contribute to the international harmonisation of existing practices and standards, improving the conditions for producing and marketing vine and wine products, and helping ensure that the interests of consumers are taken into account.
Proposed minor treaty action
3.7The Government notes that the OIV adopted a protocol on 25 October 2021, amending the Agreement to relocate the OIV Headquarters from Paris to Dijon, France.
3.8The amending Protocol will enter into force thirty days after two-thirds plus one of OIV member states have deposited their instrument of acceptance, approval, ratification or accession to the amending protocol. OIV member states are required to deposit these with the Government of France.
Justifications
3.9The Government notes that this is a minor technical amendment.
3.10The Government advised that Australia’s acceptance of the amending Protocol will not significantly impact Australia’s national interest and will have negligible financial and legal impacts. The change in the location of the OIB headquarters would not involve any additional member state annual contributions or additional costs for the OIV.
3.11The Government has said that ratification of the amending Protocol would be in keeping with Australia’s motivation to contribute to the effective functioning of the OIV as well as to ensure that there was no possibility that Australia’s participation in the OIV would be curtailed.
Legislative changes
3.12There are no legislative changes that are needed to implement the proposed treaty action.
Conclusion
3.13The Committee agreed the Amendment to the Agreement Establishing the International Organisation of Vine and Wine be endorsed as a minor treaty action.
Mr Josh Wilson MP
Chair
18 October 2023