Ireland 'irresponsible' over wine health warnings - agriculture minister

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 15 - Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said Wednesday that Ireland was being "irresponsible" with its drive to bring in health warnings on the labels of wine and other alcoholic drinks.
    "There is an attempt to stigmatize some products, wine in particular, by some nations, especially Ireland, that we consider to be totally irresponsible," Lollobrigida said at the opening of the Aquafarm fair in Pordenone.
    Lollobrigida has said the Irish health warnings on wine have split Europe and allegedly breach common trade treaties.
    Italy has made common cause with France, Spain and six other big wine producing countries against the new labels.
    The European Commission has given the green light to the warnings on wine, beer and spirits, even though this would require specific labels for products sold in Ireland and thus pose a limitation to the single market.
    Dublin is hoping to bring in the health warnings within months after informing the World Trade Organization of the new warning labels. (ANSA).