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Direct representation at the highest level by Riëtte Rust
The oenology commission is important because this is where most of the decisions resulting in world wine legislation are taken, says Andries. (The other two commissions are viticulture and economics.) His election gives the South African wine industry direct representation at the highest level, especially with regard to promoting the IPW goals. Andries, who also manages the IPW (Scheme for the Integrated Production of Wine resorting under the Wine and Spirit Board), says the goals are human safety and environmental friendliness of wine.
"This means we ensure, on behalf of the consumer, that products of the vine throughout the world do not contain undesirable chemical substances and that as far as possible, the environment is not influenced negatively." Attention is paid to all other matters that the new world wine countries want to promote in order to streamline international trade.
One of the president’s main objectives is to ensure that inconsistent standards, still prevalent in some of the world’s wine industries, are eradicated. This should level the playing field in all countries that import and export wine. An example of an inconsistency is the sanction or not of sugar or acid additives to wine.
The OIV has already initiated the levelling process. An example (introduced by the oenology commission) is the establishment and acceptance of systems of origin throughout the world. "This refers, for example, to the indication of vintage and origin on wine bottles. However, there are countries where this system has yet to be implemented."
His appointment was a surprise, says Andries. "I’m stunned that a South African was elected out of more than 40 member countries." The eventual result of the election was very close, the four candidates being South Africa, Portugal, Italy and America. He is looking forward to his task over the next three years. He certainly has sufficient experience to stand him in good stead.
Before Andries became involved in IPW, he was the controlling officer of the Liquor Products Act (No 60 of 1989), which deals with local legislation and the import and export of liquor products. He was therefore also the ex officio member who attended OIV meetings on government behalf between 1989 and 1998.
Andries says producers have no reason to be concerned that he might neglect his local IPW task. "It remains my first priority. I am still on the farmers’ doorstep." Instead his additional work gives him a broader forum from which he will be able to expand the IPW system to ensure the human safety and environmental friendliness of wine, not only here, but also in the rest of the world.
As far as Andries is concerned, his election to the OIV commission signifies that the older wine countries have faith in the South African wine industry and recognise the contributions of our scientists over many years. "My new task is, inter alia, to build bridges between the old and new wine worlds."
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Andries Tromp, the first South African to be elected president of the oenology commission of the OIV (Office International de la Vigne et du Vin), says his main objective is to direct the formulation of wine legislation on a technical level. By so doing the international trade in wine and wine products may be promoted. The OIV represents almost all wine producing and consuming countries in the world.
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