Decree approved for the production and taxation of dealcoholised wines in Italy

Give the green light to the production of dealcoholised wines in Italy. It was finally launched the inter-ministerial decree (Mef-Masaf) that defines the tax regime and excise duties for the production of dealcoholised wine. The main focus of the measure is the taxation of alcohol obtained from dealcoholisation processes.

This is a much-awaited measure by Italian producers who, in many cases, have already ventured into this market segment, which, by the way, is growing strongly, especially abroad. However, until now, Italian entrepreneurs, precisely because of the absence of a regulatory framework, were forced to carry out delcolation operations abroad, primarily in Germany or Spain. They had to bear the associated transport costs.

The measure passed yesterday is also very important for the various producers who have invested in recent months in setting up dealcoholisation plants in Italy but have so far remained on standby while waiting for the fiscal framework. "With this decree," commented the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Francesco Lollobrigida, this afternoon, "we are giving the wine sector a clear regulatory framework to be able to produce dealcoholised wines and thus offer new opportunities to companies in the sector. Masaf is at the side of producers and this is demonstrated by the interventions made over the past year. Today we are defining the excise tax regime for the production of dealcoholised wine. I am certain that our producers will be able to achieve positions of excellence in this sector as well.

The measure allows entities, which also operate as tax warehouses for intermediate alcoholic products and wine, to carry out wine dealcoholisation processes within certain quantitative limits. The measure also regulates the issuance of authorisation for the production and storage of the product, covers administrative requirements and regulates the handling of the product.

"We welcome the decree that defines the fiscal management of the hydroalcoholic solution obtained from the dealcoholisation of wines," said the president of Federvini, Giacomo Ponti. "This is a long-awaited measure that provides the sector with a complete regulatory framework to allow this production to take place in Italy as well.