EUROPEAN STANDARD FOR WINE LABELING

Starting from 8 December 2023, it will be mandatory to include the list of ingredients and the nutritional declaration of wines on the label in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/2117 published on 2 December 2021, which modifies the labeling rules for wines and flavored wines. ZANASI inkjet marking technology adapts perfectly to the new coding needs of the wine sector.

The wine industry has been discussing new labeling requirements for some time and, at the end of 2021, it had a turning point with the introduction of a new European regulation, in which wine bottles were equated to any other food packaging. For this reason, wine producers are committed to providing increasingly detailed information to consumers.

With the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2021/2117, as early as 1 January 2023, wine labels must contain additional information, including environmental indications, such as instructions on the correct disposal of the empty bottle in its various parts, in order to be correctly recycled.

Furthermore, starting from 8 December 2023, wine labels will have to include nutritional values ​​and a list of ingredients. This information will provide consumers with a better understanding of the wine they are consuming, allowing them to make more informed and confident purchasing choices.

All these changes fall within the guidelines of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), defined by the European Council for the period 2023-2027. The objective of the CAP is to promote sustainable agriculture, thus representing a significant step towards promoting transparency, sustainability and consumer protection in the wine sector.

These changes will benefit both producers and consumers: the former will work towards a more sustainable and ethical future, the latter will have important details available that will guide them during their choice.

To comply with European labeling standards, wine producers are obliged to indicate on the physical label, in addition to the current information on the label:

• the presence of allergens;
• the energy value of 100 ml of wine, specifically indicated by the symbol E.

To help companies comply with the legislation, European industry organizations have developed a collective platform, www.u-label.com, which allows them to use digital channels to communicate the ingredients and full nutritional information of wine products. This information can then be published on an electronic label, with a QR code printed on the back label of the product, allowing manufacturers to communicate an unlimited list of information, which is difficult to print on the back of the label.

The platform allows the creation of product sheets, as well as the translation of regulatory information into 24 EU languages. By scanning the QR code on the label, consumers can access the information contained on the electronic label in their preferred language.

To facilitate the introduction of the legislation, products labeled before 8 December 2023 will be able to continue to be placed on the market until stocks last.

When it comes to printing the code directly on the label or on the reel in the line, efficiency and speed are the key to guaranteeing the quality of the marking and perfect traceability of the product.

Zanasi inkjet printers are able to print batch, expiration, variable data, barcode and QR code scannable directly on any substrate, in keeping with the graphics of the packaging, while respecting and enhancing the company brand.

CIJ.Z – the modular small character system

The CIJ.Z system is the world’s first configurable and reconfigurable printer designed to respond to production changes. The CIJ.Z small character system is extremely flexible for marking numerous types of containers with flat, curved, even and uneven surfaces. The versatility of the printhead allows it to be positioned in different points on the production line to clearly code the production data at high speed, even on small areas, such as the cap or label.

Z1 and Z4 – The TIJ multi-cartridge solution

The TIJ multi-cartridge solution for a clean, fast and high-resolution coding of QR code and variable data with a wide range of printheads to meet different marking needs. The version with the Bulk Ink Distribution System, suitable for high production volumes, provides a tank that automatically refills refillable cartridges without interrupting the printing process, therefore no production line disruption.