“MK” warning: from 26 June to buy the wine will have a new way. The reason for that was passed in December of last year, the law on wine, the development of which the government worked with varying success for nearly 20 years. And finally, Yes not simple, but “Patriotic”: aims, such as the protection of Russian winemakers. Only here on Russian consumers, the authors of the document did not care: they are, according to experts, expects a narrowing of the range and rising prices, both times on domestic wine. Why — found out “MK”.
so, what’s new promises us effective wine law? First of all, instead of one window with wine should appear at least three: for “wines of Russia” for foreign beverages and “not wine.” The range of shelves with local wines at risk of the most poor, and the cost of one bottle will surpass many foreign analogues: from 1,5 thousand rubles and above. Buyers will have to forget the phrase: “take ours, it’s cheaper”. Continue to citizens with low incomes the direct road to the stands “not wine” and foreign drinks: there, their wallets will suffer not such a heavy blow. And even if the consumer is a desperate patriot, to help the ruble to domestic winemakers, he will be able to: family budget will not allow.
And some of our interlocutors paint a scenario, and abruptly: some retailers, in principle, refuse the sale of our wines, crates of sweet foreign wines throw under the wheels of bulldozers, and on the shelves across the country will remain a wine of only one domestic producer, who was able to lobby for such a law. But about all under the order.
In December 2019, the state Duma and the Federation Council adopted hastily and without a single amendment, although the discussion on the bill received about 180 comments, including from the government and state-legal Directorate of the President. In the first place they were not satisfied with the item prohibiting the use in the production of Russian wines foreign raw materials. As a result, under the new law, drinks with imported components will be marked in large lettering “is not wine.” Winemakers howled: Russian bulk buyer is not versed in the intricacies of the production of noble drink, and this stamp is simply scare. As a consequence, the sale collapses, trade collapses, many factories will close.
Although, of course, in front of the goal lawmakers have set a noble — to ensure the development of industry in the country. As stated in the explanatory note to the document: “the law aims to regulate the principles, constraints, and approaches to the production of wine products, which should strengthen the competitive advantage of products produced in Russia.” That’s just the authorities did not listen to the winemakers and experts of the market. As a result, Russian consumers may face reduced choice and higher prices of products, and winemakers themselves — with falling demand and dipping into debt. One of our interlocutors, the industry representative, who wished to remain anonymous, even called for entry into force document “a wine analogous to the “law of Dima Yakovlev”. The parallel is clear: they wanted to protect their own, the Russian, and the result can kill.
Good intentions, instead of raw materials
In Russia last year produced 33 million gallons still wines, sparkling wines — 13 million decaliters, nearly 30 million decaliters of wine beverages and 3 million decaliters of cognac distillates. Total: almost 80 million decaliters. But in our country the harvest of the grapes allows to get a maximum of 33 million decaliters of wine. The rest Willy-nilly, is made from imported raw materials. Well, not in Russia as many vineyards to supply all of the wine company homegrown berries. The law on viticulture and winemaking prohibits the use of foreign ingredients in the production.
meanwhile, the legislators decided not to stay only in the wine producers and strike other participants of the alcohol market. The law on wine, offer to extend to all wine products, brandy, brandy and grape vodka. But if Russia does not have enough of its raw materials to the wine, where it will take for everything else? A clear answer to this question is no, there is only wishful thinking.
“the Document will give impetus to the development of domestic wine production, and will reduce the proportion of defective products. It is in the interests of Russian producers and consumers”, — said the first Vice-President of “OPORA Russia” Paul Segal.
Industry experts disagree with this assessment. In their view, special attention deserves the question of the limitations of the resource base. Domestic consumption of wine is impossible to provide the current volume of the grape harvest, emphasizes the interlocutor of “MK” — the representative of the winery. According to him, the total area of vine growing and wine-suitable land in Russia, he may be able to resolve this issue, but not now, but in the range of 5-10 years and then provided a very intense landing of the vine. Meanwhile, there are serious doubts that Russian producers will be able to meet domestic demand alone. However, many Russian winemakers make good drinks using imported raw materials. But on June 26, their work is actually crossed out, and the law of supply and demand faces a significant increase in market prices for such products.
the existing wording of the law is also no mention of what to do with the products toAya already produced using raw materials from abroad and will be in retail after June 26. It is hoped that the retroactive law will not have and caught in one day outlaw bottle will not go under the bulldozers.
the patriot is not enough for a bottle
the Adherents of the new law say it is necessary to allocate the Russian wine from our grapes. And it’s not only about the inscription on the label and on a separate shelf, but also on price. Moreover, the selection will become. As estimated by experts, in the case of unconditional implementation of all provisions of the act the cost of this “exclusive” product could rise to 1.5 thousand rubles per bottle: hand-picking only their grapes, unique varieties — all this costs money.
the Fact that from June 26, will officially be called wine that is a drink, made from 100% domestic raw materials now are much more expensive than a good bottle of foreign drink. Many retailers are doing direct imports, removed unnecessary mark-up and offer a huge number of shares. Find quality import drink for little money has become simple.
“If the law will come into force in this form, 70% of the market of domestic products will be in a very unpleasant situation. The trading network may reject the sales of Russian wine for fear being fined for breaking the law. As they do not know a new and very sophisticated selling rules it is easier to do so,” warns the Chairman of the National Union of consumer protection Paul Shapkin.
According to him, the Russian consumer may be faced with a situation that was in 2006. Then in force a system of marking alcohol USAIS designed for state control over production and turnover of ethyl alcohol. So, then the store shelves for some time disappeared all alcohol: most manufacturers just don’t have time to go to the new system. “When you talk about wine, then left the name of only one manufacturer, which somehow solved all the problems of the transition period and was able to survive in the market without compromising yourself. And somewhere in the three to four weeks, while other winemakers did not resolve the bureaucratic issues, one, the wine took all the shelves in all the shops and restaurants in the country. So in the near future in connection with the entry into force of the wine of the law, consumers may be faced with the same problem,” — says the expert.
At the same time, the adoption of this law, contrary to its authors, will be beneficial to importers. If the network refuses to implement domestic drinks or people will not want to buy the budget “not wine”, all the shelves can be stacked with foreign bottle��I. But it is not without pitfalls. Several provisions of the act also applies to imported beverages. For sale will be forbidden wine, the production of which used a variety of overripe grapes, have accumulated a lot of natural sugar. This technique makes the drink sweet. For example, the world famous Hungarian dessert wine “Tokay” in danger of being banned. The law again does not explain what to do with it customs: send away, remove, destroy? And who, how and where to check the details of the production of the drink — again, unclear.
Many Russians love the sweet and sweet wines. In turn, the adherents of the law say: “No, wine can only be called a dry drink”. And require to stick on the labels of other bottles stamp: “it is not wine.”
And another from the new law generally disappeared, the concept of “fruit wines”. From June 26 to such drinks will not be called wine, not the wine too. What will be written on these labels and price tags — is unknown. Perhaps the inscription will look like this: “something alcohol made from fruit.”
wine — wine
the Most significant changes will occur in the marking of products and acceptable production technologies. From June 26 in fact, the range of shops will be a new category of wines — “wine of Russia”. A kind of integrated regional identity that retailers will have to isolate on the wine shelf, and manufacturers, respectively, to fix at production. Thus, the legislator forms the only possible layout and categorization for retailers, but does not specify exactly how it should look.
the Association of retail companies don’t understand exactly how to spread out bottle of domestic drink is on the shelves. When you consider all the requirements of the new law, the Russian wine will obviously be presented on one small niche, and the range will be about three times less than it is now. Bottles marked “not a wine” will occupy the other shelves. The consumer will look, think and, most likely, will buy “not wine”, though, because it will be cheaper. Maybe not immediately, but quickly enough, the buyer will understand that the quality of the product has not changed because of the new labels, and will continue to vote ruble for the usual drink, which suddenly, at the whim of legislators stopped in Russia to be wine. Another option — the choice will fall on a wine from Spain or Italy, which can be 3-4 times cheaper than ours, native. In the result, proud of the phrase “wine of Russia” will not provide any value for consumers.
“From the point of view of the average buyer a separate arrangement of one type of product may not becomfortable and unusual. Favorite wines from the same category from the point of view of the new characteristics of the law will be scattered in shelf space”, — stressed the Director of strategic development “APK Millstream-black sea Wines” Dmitry Vinnichuk.
According to him, possible risks are that the current structure of the sales retailers have not yet deployed in the direction of the “wine of Russia”. “We hope that retailers will be able to do it with minimal losses for itself, and to avoid possible risks, — says the interlocutor of “MK”. — The need for involved participation due to the fact that domestic wine for the first time on the shelves will be a little. Especially in the category of sparkling wines. Is the risk that, being in the minority and without the presence of popular brands, the category “wine” will be left without attention of the buyer.”
the expert warns that the category of “not a wine” will get about 40% of the range of Russian manufacturers on the shelf.
“Producers will be very difficult. The specifics of their production is associated with serious short-term costs. This relates primarily to packaging and labels: requires a minimum of 1-2-month period of transition to the new labeling,” says Vinnichuk.
major changes in legislation will inevitably lead to significant structural changes in the industry. Under the strongest blow will be companies that do not have own raw materials base. Those manufacturers that have long increased the efficiency of the second link of the production chain — filling in consumer packaging of the finished wine. The logistics and climatic features did purchase wine in bulk from abroad, the most efficient solution. Such manufacturers may be up to 20% of the total.
What is the result? Analysts believe that this year the sale of wine will fall by 10-12% over the previous year. The main reason is the decline in real incomes due to the economic crisis. Simultaneously, due to the adoption of the law the wine is more expensive.
Pavel Shapkin told “MK” about another threat looming over the alcohol market. In early June the state Duma passed another bill, which introduces some special stamps for all kinds of alcoholic beverages, including imports. Will issue a Net. In July, the document will pass its second reading. Experts do not exclude that the second reading of the law can be rules that can not meet the importers, as well as the rules of a moratorium on the issuance of such stamps. This can be done to limit of import. In this case, consumers will not leave a choice, or rather, the choice can only be limited by the “wine” and “wine” in Russia.
the Law was introduced with BLAgoy purpose — to protect Russian wine and to create a competitive advantage within the country. But, experts warn, we risk seeing the opposite: the depletion range, the disappearance of favorite foreign wines, the demand for expensive domestic drinks and as a result, mass bankruptcies of our wine production. Not seem to enter Russia in the ranking of countries producing great wines.
