The issues
Environment
CEPS plays an active role in identifying priorities and positions within the complex and wide ranging area of environmental issues. Our environmental working group focuses directly on areas of EU policy that have the biggest impact on the spirits sector. We are currently following a number of issues, for example:
Revised EU Waste Framework Directive
This revised Directive sets the basic concepts related to waste management and lays down waste management principles. It introduces a new category of "by-product" that would shelter industry co-products from some waste legislation requirements. We endeavour to ensure that the Commission's guidance as "what constitutes a waste" does not include distillers "by-products" and that a wide range of distillers co-products are defined by the Commission as a "by-product" and also appear on the Community Register of Feed Additives.
French "Grenelle" legislation
This legislation states that all consumer products in France, including imported spirits, will be required to exhibit environmental information for the consumer in 2012 such as carbon footprint, water impact and biodiversity. Much detail is still being developed by the French authorities and a methodological trial began in July 2011. At the moment 120 brands (none from the spirits industry) have voluntarily participated in this experiment. We are considering whether to notify the Commission of the trade implications of such a law.
FoodDrinkEurope driven EU Round Table
We actively support (through FoodDrinkEurope) the European Food Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Round Table whose aim is to promote and develop a robust and harmonised pan-European product environmental assessment methodology and ensure that the food and drink sector-led methodology is seen as the most appropriate for spirit drinks and that issues around labelling for matured products are addressed.
Energy Taxation Directive
In April 2011 the Commission outlined plans to impose an EU-wide tax on CO2 emissions from 2013 on sectors such as transport and agriculture, which are currently not covered by the bloc's EU cap and trade scheme (EUETS) as well as additional taxes based on the energy content). The proposal is being discussed by the European Parliament and the Council and is expected to enter into force as of 2013. It foresees, where appropriate, a gradual introduction of the new taxation system. CEPS communicated its position to the appropriate bodies namely that:
- We should press for a system of energy taxation that recognises member states’ existing schemes (no double taxation or regulation);
- Energy taxation should aim to be revenue neutral (revenues from energy taxes should be recycled into initiatives to improve energy efficiency and the development of low-carbon technologies);
- Installations already operating under the EU ETS should be exempt from any further measures;
- Sectors susceptible to international competition should be exempt from carbon taxation (exposure to international competition will drive cost-effective energy use as companies strive to minimise production costs) and
- Energy and emissions from renewable sources should be exempt from both the emission and energy use elements of the tax (which will create and incentive for the uptake of renewable energy).
Proposed energy efficiency Directive
The proposal brings forward measures to step up Member States efforts to use energy more efficiently at all stages of the energy chain, from the transformation of energy and its distribution to its final consumption.
CEPS submitted comments on the draft Directive to FoodDrinkEurope and received a satisfactory response. The final draft Directive was published in June 2011 and is currently undergoing the co-decision procedure.
Further information and links
EU Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC).
French Grenelle: website.
European Food SCP Roundtable website.
Energy Taxation Directive (amending Directive 2003/96/EC).
Proposed Energy Efficiency Directive (repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC).
Last updated 25 November 2011.
