OREANDA-NEWS. March 26, 2012. The licensing of the wine-making activity will be replaced with a new mechanism of recording the economic agents operating in this field, at the Wine-making and Wine-Growing Register, in line with the legislative amendments approved today by the government.

Agriculture and Food Minister Vasile Bumacov has told MOLDPRES that the licensing of this activity is not justified, since Moldova is a country that exports its wine production. The wine-making and wine-growing are not subjected to licensing in other EU counties such as France, Spain, Italy and Austria.

Bumacov also said that the mandatory licensing conditions were unjustified barriers in the launch of businesses in the wine making sector, hindering the access to small and medium-sized wineries to obtaining licenses, by imposing tough conditions.

At the same time, the draft law envisages a new management system of the wine-making sector and the financing of the economic development in this sector. Thus, the implementation of policies in this sector will no longer lay within the remit of the Agriculture and Food Ministry, but will be taken over by the National Wine and Grape Vine Office, subordinated to the ministry.
Thus, the above-mentioned office will deal with the administration and management of the protected geographical indexes and denominations. At the same time, the institution will be in charge of managing the country brand and of promoting the exports of quality wines. Similar mechanisms are applied in many states. At the same time, the draft law sets forth a new financing mechanism for the development of this sector, including of the National Wine and Grape Vine Office. Thus, 50 per cent of financing will be provided by the state, whereas 50 per cent- by the private sector.

To enter into force, the law should be adopted by the parliament.