Beverages, spirits and vinegar – Morocco

The notified draft Decree establishes specific provisions with respect to the the definition, production, designation, composition, labelling, and presentation of wines, which include the following:• lowering the minimum alcoholic strength of 'table wines' or 'ordinary wines' from 12° to 11.5°;• lowering the maximum volatile acidity from 0.98 g/l to 0.90 g/l;• introducing the designation 'superior quality wine' (VQS) for Moroccan wines with an alcoholic strength of 12° with a mandatory declaration of production;• introducing 10 cl, 18.7 cl, 25 cl, 37.5 cl, 50 cl, and 75 cl containers for ordinary wines and table wines, which may be packaged in either glass or PVC bottles;• introducing 18.7 cl and 100 cl containers for superior quality wines, selected wines, aged wines, and wines bearing an appellation of origin, packaged in glass bottles;• introducing 12.5 cl, 18.7 cl, 20 cl, 37.5 cl, 75 cl, and 150 cl containers for sparkling wines;• introducing 10 cl, 20 cl, 37.5 cl, 50 cl, 75 cl, 100 cl, and 150 cl containers for liqueur wines and vermouths, packaged in glass bottles;• introducing the designation 'dealcoholized wine';• assigning responsibility for the procedure for granting winemaking approval to the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) and the Customs and Excise Administration (ADII) of the Ministry of Finance.