On Vine and Wine

On Vine and Wine
Document number	1438
Document issuer	Parliament of Georgia
Date of issuing	12/06/1998
Document type	Law of Georgia
Source and date of publishing	Parliamentary Gazette, 23-24, 30/06/1998
Registration code	340.050.000.05.001.000.368
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LAW OF GEORGIA

ON VINES AND WINE

The objectives of this Law are to support the development of viticulture and wine-making as the country's historic, cultural, and economic priority sector, the spreading and popularisation of centuries-old local, Georgian varieties, Georgian traditional methods of winemaking, the production and marketing of high quality grapes, wines and other alcoholic beverages of grape origin, the development of a competitive wine and other alcoholic beverage market in Georgia and the protection of consumer interests, and the maintaining and enhancement of the international reputation of the Georgian viticulture and winemaking sectors.

Law of Georgia No 1604 of 30 September 1998- LHG I, No 2, 26.10.1998 Art.17

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Chapter I - General Provisions

Article 1 - Legal bases of activities in viticulture and winemaking

The legal bases of activities in viticulture and winemaking shall be: the Constitution of Georgia, treaties and international agreements of Georgia, this Law and other normative acts of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 2 – Scope of the Law

This Law shall apply to natural and legal persons, whose economic activities include the production, marketing, storage, export and import of products in the field of viticulture and wine-making, including vine grafting material, vine planting material, grapes, grape must, pulp, husks and seeds of grape, fermenting wort, new wine, concentrated grape must, wine, beverages of wine origin, alcohol of grape origin and/or alcoholic beverages.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Chapter II - Definition of Terms

Article 3 – Definition of terms used in this Law

The terms used in this Law shall have following meanings:

a) ice-wine -wine obtained by incomplete fermentation of grape must, obtained as a result of pressing grapes naturally frozen on the vine;

b) flavoured wine - wine obtained by adding to the wine an alcoholic extract of a plant/plants, other natural flavours, ethyl alcohol, concentrated grape must, and/or sugar;

c) brandy – an alcoholic beverage of grape origin, obtained from the wine distillate for at least six months;

d) naturally semi-dry, naturally semi-sweet and naturally sweet wines - wines that are obtained through incomplete fermentation of the pulp or grape must

a vineyard - a vine plantation;

e) natural alcoholic content - the total amount of ethyl spirit by volume in 100 volume units of product at 20⁰C temperature before enrichment (grape must or concentrated grape must, before adding sucrose or ethyl spirit);

f) wine from overripe grapes - wine obtained as a result of full or partial alcoholic fermentation of grape must or pulp of overripe grapes, the total alcohol content and the natural alcohol content of which exceeds 15%, and the actual alcohol content is at least 12%;

g) wine with a protected appellation of origin - wine produced (grapes are cultivated and processed, wine is made) from grape varieties belonging to the type Vitis Vinifera in the viticulture zone, viticulture subzone, viticulture microzone or the combined area thereof (‘the geographical area’), special the quality and properties of which are completely or mainly determined by natural and human factors characteristic to the said geographical area, for the production of which only grapes grown in the said geographical area are used, which is assigned the name of the same geographical area and which is registered with Sakpatenti;

h) alcoholic beverage with a protected appellation of origin - an alcoholic beverage of grape origin, produced in the viticulture zone, the viticulture subzone or the microzone of viticulture, the special quality and properties of which are completely or mainly determined by natural and human factors characteristic to the said geographical area, which is assigned the name of the same geographical area and which is registered with Sakpatenti;

i) wine with a protected geographical indication - wine made of grape varieties belonging to the type Vitis Vinifera within the boundaries of a geographical area, determining its special quality, reputation or other characteristics, at least 85% of the grapes necessary for the production of which are grown in the said geographical area, which is assigned the name of the said geographical area and which is registered with Sakpatenti;

j) alcoholic beverage with a protected geographical indication – an alcoholic beverage made of grape varieties and produced within the boundaries of a geographical area, determining its special quality, reputation or other characteristics, at least 85% of the grapes necessary for the production of which are grown in the said geographical area, which is assigned the name of the said geographical area and which is registered with Sakpatenti;

k) distillate aging - the process of improving the quality of wine distillate or grape marc distillate in oak barrels or in contact with oak wood;

l) pulp - the crushed grape mass with or without stems;

l¹) dealcoholisation - partial removal of alcohol from wine using vacuum evaporation, distillation and / or membrane technique;

l²) dealcoholised wine - wine obtained by dealcoholisation with an alcohol content from 0.5% to 15%;

m) label - any information, including the name, trademark, illustration, graphical image, symbols printed, engraved or otherwise displayed on vessels and/or packaging for wines or alcoholic beverages of wine origin or attached documents;

n) genetic resources of the vine – an aboriginal vine species, an introduced vine species, and a wild vine species;

o) vine shoot- a part of a one-year-old shoot used for rooting or budding (grafting) materials;

p) vineyard - a land plot with vine plantations;

p¹) unified cadastre of vineyards - a database of vineyards and winegrowers compiled by a legal entity under public law called the National Wine Agency;

q) Vitis Vinifera - - a species of the genus (Vitis) of the vine family (Vitaceae), composed of cultivated varieties of Eurasian vines (Vitis vinifera L. Ssp sativa DC) and wild-growing vines (Vitis vinifera L. Ssp silvestris (Gmelin) Hegi);

r) inspection - procedure that is carried out by a legal entity under public law called the National Wine Agency to establish the conformity of the samples of alcoholic beverages or spirits to the lot submitted for certification;

s) clone selection - a set of measures aimed at the genetic improvement of vine varieties, when vine varieties resulting from a natural mutation are selected according to special features;

t) concentrated grape must - a non-caramelised grape must, in which sugar concentration through partial dehydration is increased to at least 58.2%, and its alcohol content does not exceed one percent;

u) liqueur wine - wine obtained by adding to grape must, pulp, fermenting must, fermenting pulp or wine alcohol of grape origin and/or concentrated wine must with actual alcohol content from 15% to 24% ;

v) lot - a batch of homogeneous products packaged by a wine company, at a certain period of time, in the same type of consumer packaging or placed in the same shipping containers;

w) lot number - a unique number allowing to identify the lot;

x) fermenting wort - grape must, in which alcoholic fermentation has started, the alcohol content of which exceeds 1%;

y) Machari - a young wine, with incomplete alcoholic fermentation;

z) viticulture zone - a part of the territory of Georgia with favourable agro-ecological conditions for vine cultivation;

z¹) viticulture micro zone - a part of the viticulture subzone with agro-ecological conditions that are different from those of other viticulture micro zones;

z²) viticulture subzone – a part of viticulture zone with agro-ecological conditions that are different from those of other viticulture subzones of the same viticulture zone;

z³) Mistelle - a product obtained by adding alcohol to the grape must with actual alcohol content from 15% to 22%;

z⁴) slightly sparkling wine - wine in which overpressure at a temperature of 20 ⁰C is more than 1 bar and less than 2.5 bars ;

z ⁵) small cellar - a wine company whose annual production does not exceed 40,000 liters of wine ;

z⁶) one viewing area - part of the surface (except for the bottom) of the container and/or packaging of a packaged alcoholic beverage, visible without turning the container and/or the packaging;

z⁷) grafted sapling – a vine sapling produced through the grafting of a bud ot on a rootstock and rooting, designated for vineyard planting;

z⁸) permitted vine species – vine species permitted for use in entrepreneurial activities in Georgia;

z⁹) neutral alcohol - ethyl alcohol obtained by distillation of raw materials of grape origin or of other origin with alcohol content of not more than 95%;

z¹⁰) potential alcohol content - volumetric content of pure alcohol in 100 volumetric units of the product at a temperature of 20 ⁰C, which may result from the complete fermentation of sugar present in the product;

z¹¹) recommended vine species - vine species tested for each zone and each sub-zone of viticulture in Georgia, recommended for use for the production of high-quality products;

z¹²) rectified concentrated grape must - concentrated grape must, the acidity and content of other substances of which are reduced using operations and substances permitted in the winemaking practice, with the sugar concentration of at least 82% and the alcohol concentration of not more than 1%;

z¹³) basic material - virus-free grafting material and planting material of the vine obtained by clone selection, the varietal purity and sanitary cleanliness of which falls within the responsibility of the plant breeder and producer;

z¹⁴) dessert wine - wine obtained by adding to the grape must, pulp, fermenting must, fermenting pulp or wine of alcohol and/or concentrated wine must, with the alcohol content from 12% to 17%;

z¹⁵) total alcohol content - the total of the actual and potential alcohol content;

z¹⁶) root seedling – the vine seedling obtained as a result of rooting of the annual shoot of the vine;

z¹⁷) industrial vineyard - a vineyard the grapes or grafting material of which are used mainly for industrial purposes;

z¹⁸) consumer packaging - packaging in which products of grape origin are packaged for delivery to consumers;

z¹⁹) amateur vineyard - a vineyard the grapes of which are not used for industrial purposes;

z²⁰) grafted mother plant - vine plantations intended to produce grafted material for vine reproduction;

z²¹) wine aged under a yeast film - wine, the main properties of which are determined by aging under a yeast film formed on its surface as a result of alcoholic fermentation;

z²²) Sakpatenti – a legal entity under public law, National Intellectual Center of Georgia called ‘Sakpatenti’;

z²³) rootstock – a shoot of phylloxera-resistant grapes intended for grafting;

z²⁴) a mother plantation of rootstocks - a plantation of phylloxera -resistant hybrid vine varieties for producing rootstock materials for vine reproduction;

z²⁵) state control - procedure carried out by a legal entity under public law called the National Wine Agency for establishing compliance of entrepreneurial activities in the production of wines with a protected appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, wines with a protected geographical indication and alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication with the requirements established by the legislation of Georgia;

z²⁶) state supervision - procedure carried out by a legal entity under public law called the National Wine Agency for establishing compliance of entrepreneurial activities in the field of production of alcoholic beverages, alcohol, grafting material and planting material of vine with the requirements established by the legislation of Georgia;

z²⁷) home-made wine - wine made in a small cellar;

z²⁸) certification - procedure for establishing compliance of the identified alcoholic beverages, alcohol, grafting material and planting material of the vine with the requirements established by the legislation of Georgia;

z²⁹) certified material – virus-free grafting material and planting material of the vine obtained by reproducing the base material, which guarantees the identity, varietal purity and absence of the main viruses and diseases of the vine;

z³⁰) special-purpose vineyard - a vineyard for research, educational, demonstration, collection, selection and/or variety-testing purposes;

z³¹) special wine - wine, for the manufacture of which special methods and/or technologies are used, which determines the special properties of the wine;

z³²) alcohol content - actual alcohol content;

z³³) standard material - grapevine grafting/planting material obtained by non-selection or by mass selection, in which the identity and varietal purity of the vine is preserved;

z³⁴) actual alcohol content - the volumetric content of ethyl alcohol in 100 volumetric units of the product at a temperature of 20°C;

z³⁵) qvevri (wine jar set into ground) wine - wine fermented and aged in the qvevri at least until 31 December from grapes squeezing, on full or partial pulp;

z³⁶) raisin - food product obtained as a result of dehydration of ripe grapes, which is used for food the pressing of which by conventional methods adopted in the practice of winemaking, and/or spontaneous fermentation of which is impossible;

z³⁷) wine distillate - alcohol obtained as a result of fractionation or direct distillation of wine, with preserved aroma and taste characteristic to wine distillate;

z³⁸) wine company - an entity (natural or legal person) defined by the Law of Georgia on Entrepreneurs and/or the legislation of the importing country, whose entrepreneurial activities are related to the production and/or marketing of wines, beverages of wine origin, alcoholic beverages of grape origin, alcohol and/or vine grafting/planting material;

z³⁹) wine – an alcoholic beverage of grape origin, obtained through complete or partial alcoholic fermentation of only grape, grape must or pulp;

z⁴⁰) a grape - the ripe vine fruit;

z⁴¹) grape must - a liquid product which is obtained by pressing off grapes;

z⁴²) grape juice – a liquid product obtained from grape must or concentrated grape must, designated for direct human consumption and whose actual alcohol content does not exceed one percent by volume;

z⁴³) alcoholic beverage of grape origin (the alcoholic beverage) – wine, spirits and beverages of wine origin;

z⁴⁴) alcohol of grape origin (the alcohol) - alcohol of grape origin obtained as a result of distillation of wine, sludge, squeezed or non- squeezed pulp;

z⁴⁵) alcoholic beverage of grape origin (the alcoholic beverage) - alcoholic beverage of grape origin: brandy, vodka (‘chacha’), strong drink;

z⁴⁶) sugar content - mass concentration of reproducing sugars;

z⁴⁷) strong wine - liquor wines produced by adding alcohol to a fermenting pulp or a fermenting grape must;

z⁴⁸) wine from dried grapes - wine obtained as a result of full or partial alcoholic fermentation of dried grapes, grape must or pulp, with a total alcohol content and natural alcohol content more than 16%, and with an alcohol content not less than 9%;

z⁴⁹) declaration of conformity - a document drawn up by a wine company declaring the conformity of alcoholic beverages and/or alcohol with the requirements defined by the legislation of Georgia;

z⁴⁹) (deleted – 16.11.2021, No 1018;

z⁵⁰) certificate of conformity - a document issued by the legal entity under public law called the National Wine Agency certifying that the identified products comply with the requirements defined in relation to it as provided for by the legislation of Georgia;

z⁵¹) notification - a notice duly submitted by a wine company, containing information related to the production and storage of products intended for marketing in the practice of viticulture and winemaking;

z⁵²) fizzy wine - a wine artificially saturated with carbon dioxide, in which the excess pressure at a temperature of 20⁰C is not less than 2,5 bars;

z⁵³) sparkling wine - a wine saturated with carbon dioxide, obtained through primary fermentation of grape must or secondary fermentation of wine in a closed vessel where the excess pressure at a temperature of 20⁰C is not less than 3 bars;

z⁵⁴) production specification - a document registered with Sakpatenti containing a description of the main characteristics, including the physical, chemical and organoleptic properties of wines with a protected appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, wines with a protected geographical indication or alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication , as well as the dependence of the special quality, property or reputation of the product on the natural environment of the geographical area and human factor, procedure of production and other characteristics;

z⁵⁵) certificate of origin - a document issued by the authorised body of the exporting country confirming the country of origin of goods;

z⁵⁶) vodka from chacha - alcoholic beverage of grape origin, obtained from a distillate of chacha, with an alcohol content of at least 40%;

z⁵⁷) chacha distillate - alcohol produced as a result of fractionation or direct distillation of squeezed or non-squeezed pulp, distillation of which is carried out with an alcohol content of not more than 86% while maintaining the aroma and taste characteristic to chacha distillate;

Z⁵⁸) beverage of wine origin - a wine-based alcoholic beverage with a wine content of not less than 50% and an alcohol content from 3.5% to 14.5%.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 192of 15 July 2008 - LHG I, No 17, 28.7.2008 Art.121

Law of Georgia No 5300 of 24 November 2011 – website, 1.12.2011.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Law of Georgia No 3160 of 15 June 2023 – website, 30.6.2023

Chapter II¹- Regulatory Body of Activities in the Viticulture and Wine Sector of Georgia

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Article 3¹ – Legal entity under public law called the National Wine Agency

1. The National Wine Agency (‘Agency’), a legal entity under public law shall regulate activities in the viticulture and wine sector.

2. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia shall exercise control over the Agency.

3. The structure, functions and powers of the Agency shall be determined by its regulations, which shall be approved by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

4. The Agency shall have its symbols, a seal with the image of the small national emblem of Georgia and the name of the Agency, an independent balance sheet, property, relevant bank accounts and other details of a legal entity under public law.

5. The sources of funding of the Agency shall be: funds allocated from the State Budget of Georgia, grants, funds received for the provision of services, and other income permitted by the legislation of Georgia

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005 - LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 5300 of 24 November 2011 – website, 1.12.2011.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1642 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Article 3² – Powers of the Agency

1. The Agency shall carry out activities on the basis of this Law, other legislative and subordinate normative acts of Georgia, international agreements of Georgia and the Regulation on the Agency.

2. The main powers of the Agency shall be to:

a) carry out state control over the production of wines with a protected appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, wines with a protected geographical indication and alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication;

b) carry out state supervision over the production, storage and sale of alcoholic beverages, alcohol, vine grafting material and vine planting material produced in Georgia;

c) carry out the keeping of records of the circulation and residues of alcoholic beverages and alcohol in a wine company;

d) carry out the certification of products manufactured in Georgia, intended for domestic and foreign markets, as well as alcoholic beverages and alcohol imported to Georgia;

e) carry out the organisation and assistance in the creation of a unified cadaster of vineyards in Georgia;

f) develop proposals and recommendations to facilitate the development of the viticulture and winemaking industry, and implement relevant state support measures;

g) have relations with national and international organisations related to the viticulture and winemaking industry;

h) identify priority areas with the aim of popularising the culture and history of the Georgian vines and wines and promote the implementation of relevant measures;

h) pursuant to the Law of Georgia on Enforcement Proceedings, issue a writ of execution on the enforcement of an administrative offence report, the form of which shall be approved by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia by an individual administrative-legal act;

i) participate in the examination of alcohol beverages and spirits on the request of the administrative body.

3. The Agency shall exercise state control and state supervision in the manner established by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 5300 of 24 November 2011 – website, 1.12.2011.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1642 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Article 3³ – Management of the Agency

1. The Agency shall be managed by the Chairperson of the Agency who shall be appointed to and removed from the position by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

2. The powers of the Chairperson of the Agency shall be determined by the Regulations of the Agency.

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 5300 of 24 November 2011 – website, 1.12.2011.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1642 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Chapter III - Genetic Resources of Vines and their Protection. Classification of Vine Species

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 4 - Genetic resources of vines and their protection

1. The genetic resources of the vine, including the genetic fund of aboriginal (local origin) species and natural vines forms are national treasure protected by the State.

2. The discovery, research, study and preservation of genetic resources of the vine shall be funded by the State.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 5 - Categories of industrial vine varieties

1. Industrial vine varieties shall be the permitted vine variety and/or the recommended vine variety.

2. The categories of industrial vine varieties according to the designation shall be the varieties of:

a) wine grapes

b) table grapes

c) raisin grapes

d) phylloxera resistant grapes.

3. The list of permitted grape varieties and recommended grape varieties for wine production includes only varieties of the type Vitis vinifera.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 6 - (Deleted).

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Article 7 - Viticulture zones and subzones of Georgia

1. The following viticulture zones and subzones of Georgia shall be established under this Law:

a) Kakheti (subzones: Shidakakheti, Garekakheti)

b) Kartli (subzones: Kvemokartli, Shidakartli, Zemokartli)

c) Meskheti

d) Imereti (Subzones: Zemoimereti, Shuaimereti, Kvemoimereti)

e) Racha

f) Lechkhumi

g) Guria

h) Samegrelo

i) Abkhazia

j) Adjara.

2. The borders of the viticulture zones and the viticulture subzones of Georgia, the list of permitted vine varieties, as well as the recommended vine varieties for the indicated zones and subzones, shall be determined by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1642 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Chapter IV - Production of Vine Planting Material

Article 8 - Categories of vine grafting material and vine planting material

1. Categories of vine grafting material shall be:

a) base material

b) certified material

c) standard material.

2. Categories of vine planting material shall be:

a) root seedling

b) grafted seedling.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 8¹ - Production of vine grafting material and vine planting material

1. The material used for the production of certified vine seedlings shall only be obtained from a certified base mother plantation of rootstocks and a certified base mother plantation of grafting stocks.

2. For the state supervision over the production of vine grafting material and vine planting material shall be carried out through the supervision over the base mother plantation of rootstocks and the base mother plantation of grafting stocks in the manner established by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1642 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Article 9 – Certification of vine grafting material and vine planting material

Certification of vine grafting material and vine planting material shall be voluntary, and it shall be carried out by an authorised person determined by the legislation of Georgia in the manner established by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1642 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Chapter V - Conditions for the Planting and Maintenance of Vineyards

Article 10 - Categories of vineyards

1. According to their functions vineyards shall be divided into following:

a) amateur

b) special

c) industrial.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 11 – Industrial vineyard

1. For the cultivation of an industrial vineyard, only permitted vine species shall be allowed.

2. An industrial vine may only be cultivated by:

a) with the help of grafted seedlings in order to obtain grapes;

b) root seedlings, for the cultivation of a mother plantation of rootstocks.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 12 – A mateur vineyard and special vineyard

1. In an amateur vineyard and a special vineyard, cultivation of the vine of any species and/or the vine of any kind shall be allowed .

2. Own-rooted seedlings or non-rooted shoots shall be used only for cultivation of a mother plantation of rootstocks or for scientific purposes.

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 13 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Chapter VI - Classification of Wines. Operations Allowed and Prohibited in the Practice of Winemaking

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 14 – Wine categories

1. Wine categories according to the appellations of origin:

a) wines with the name of protected appellations of origin

b) wines with the protected geographical indication.

2. Special wines categories according to the method of production:

a) sparkling wines

b) slightly sparkling wines

c) fizzy wines

d) qvevri wines

e) liquor wines (including strong wines and other liquor wines)

f) dessert wines

g) wines aged under a yeast film

h) wines made from dried grapes

i) ice-wines

j) falvoured wines

k) home-made wines;

l) dealcoholized wines.

3. Wine categories according to colour:

a) white wines

b) amber wines

c) rose wines;

d) red wines.

4. Wine categories according to sugar content (except for sparkling wines):

a) dry wines

b) semi-dry wines

c) semi-sweet wines

d) sweet wines.

5. The categories of sparkling wines according to sugar content:

a) extra brut

b) brut

c) extra dry

d) dry

e) semi-dry

f) semi-sweet

g) sweet.

6. The general procedure for the production of wines provided for by this article, and the list of permitted processes, materials and substances shall be determined by the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Article 15 - Operations allowed and prohibited in the practice of winemaking

1. The following shall be prohibited in winemaking practice:

a) the production of wine from squeezed pulp, sludge and/or raisins;

b) the fermentation of grape juice, concentrated grape must, rectified concentrated grape must to produce an alcoholic beverage. The prohibition does not apply to the operation of adding concentrated grape must or rectified concentrated grape must to the grape must, pulp, fermenting must, fermenting pulp or wine;

c) adding water at any stage of wine production;

d) adding alcohol of any origin to wine at any stage of wine production (except for liquor wines, flavoured wines and/or alcohol contained in liquor used to produce wine with carbon dioxide content);

e) adding at any stage of production natural semi-dry wine, natural semi-sweet wine, natural sweet wine or ice wine of concentrated grape must and/or rectified concentrated grape must;

f) adding sucrose at any stage of wine production, except for flavoured wines, as well as liquor intended for sparkling wines and/or fizzy wines;

g) adding to the wine at any stage of the production of wine any natural or synthetic aromas, except for flavoured wines, in which the use of natural flavoring permitted by this Law is allowed;

h) adding any coloring substance to wine at any stage of wine production;

i) processing or using for the production of alcoholic beverages grapes imported to Georgia, grape must, pulp, grape juice, mistel, fermenting must, fermenting pulp or machari, or referring such goods to a commodity domestic processing operation;

j) mixing wines produced in foreign countries into wines produced in Georgia.

1¹) in the production of beverages of wine origin it shall be allowed to add water, sucrose, natural flavors and natural dying substances.

2. Violation of the requirements of paragraph 1 of this article shall entail the change of the properties of wines and spirits.

3. In the practice of winemaking, it shall be allowed to use only those processes, materials and substances that are established by the Government of Georgia

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 5300 of 24 November 2011 – website, 1.12.2011.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Chapter VII - Wines with a Protected appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, wines with a protected geographical indication and alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication Production and Registration of Wines with Appellations of Origin

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 16 – Protection of the appellations of origin and geographical indication of wines and alcoholic beverages

1. Protection of an appellation of origin or geographical indication of wines or alcoholic beverages is carried out on the basis of registration with Sakpatenti in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia.

2. In order to register an appellation of origin or geographical indication of wines or alcoholic beverages in Sakpatenti, a specification of production of relevant wines with an appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with an appellation of origin, wines with a geographic indication or alcoholic beverages with a geographical indication shall be submitted to Sakpatenti.

3. The specification of production referred to in paragraph 2 of this article shall indicate:

a) an appellation of origin or a geographic indication

b) physico-chemical analysis and organoleptic characteristics

c) specific methods and/or restrictions on the production of wines, alcoholic beverages

d) boundaries of the relevant geographical area

e) maximum yield of grapes and maximum yield of wine from 1 hectare of vineyard

f) a vine species

g) dependence of the special quality, properties and/or reputation of the product on the relevant geographical area

h) additional special properties (if any)

i) controlling body.

4. Changes to the specification of wines or alcoholic beverages stored in Sakpatenti with a protected appellation of origin or with a protected geographical indication may be made only by agreement with the Agency.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 17 - Change of category of wines with a protected appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, wines with a protected geographical indication, alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication

1. Re-sorting of wines with a protected appellation of origin into wines with a protected geographical indication shall be allowed if they meet the requirements established by law for wines of a new category.

2. Re-sorting of alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin into alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication shall be allowed if they meet the requirements established by law for alcoholic beverages of a new category.

3. It shall be allowed to remove the corresponding category from wines with a protected appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, wines with a protected geographical indication or alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication.

4. The change of the category specified in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this article shall be allowed on the initiative of an entrepreneur and/or on the basis of state control, by a decision of the Agency.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 18 - Restrictions on the production of wines with a protected geographical indication and alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication

1. In the production of wines with a protected geographical indication or alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication, at least 85% of the grapes used shall be grown in the geographical area specified in the production specification of the appropriate geographical indication.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 192 of 15 July 2008 - LHG I, No 17, 28.7.2008 Art.121

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 19 - Production of wines with a protected appellation of origin and alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin

1. In the production of wines with a protected appellation of origin, it shall be allowed to use up to 15% of grapes harvested from vines of the same variety grown within another subzone or other microzone of the same viticulture zone, or grapes of the same color from vines of a different variety recommended for the corresponding viticulture zone unless the said is restricted by the production specification of the corresponding wine with a protected appellation of origin.

2. In the production of alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, it shall be allowed to use up to 15% of alcohol obtained from grapes of the same variety grown within another subzone or other microzone of the same viticulture zone, or grapes of the same color from vines of a different variety recommended for the corresponding zone viticulture, unless the said is restricted by the production specification of the corresponding alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin.

3. Processing grapes with a protected appellation of origin or with a protected geographical indication grown within the relevant geographic area, and the production of wine or alcohol shall be allowed outside the specified geographic area, but only in Georgia, and unless the said is restricted by the production specification of the relevant wines with a protected appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, wines with protected geographical indications and alcoholic beverages with protected geographical indications.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Chapter VIII – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 20 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 5300 of 24 November 2011 – website, 1.12.2011.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 21 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Chapter IX – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 22 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 23 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Chapter X – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 24 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Chapter XI - Alcoholic Beverages of Grape Origin

Article 25 – Categories of alcoholic beverages

1. The categories of alcoholic beverages shall be:

a) wine brandy

b) grape vodka

c) strong drink

2. According to an appellation of origin the categories of alcoholic beverages shall be:

a) alcoholic beverages with the protected appellations of origin

b) alcoholic beverages with the protected geographical indication.

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 26 - Limitations related to the production of alcoholic beverages

The use of neutral alcohol for the production of alcohol shall not be allowed.

Law of Georgia No 1604 of 30 September 1998- LHG I, No 2, 26.10.1998 Art.17

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 3964 of 13 December 2018 – website, 25.12.2018

Article 27 – Production of wine brandy

1. Brandy shall be produced as a result of aging wine distillate for at least 6 months in oak barrels or in contact with oak wood.

2. The alcohol content in brandy shall not be less than 36%.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005- LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007 Art.183

Law of Georgia No 192 of 15 July 2008 - LHG I, No 17, 28.7.2008 Art.121

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Article 28 – Production of grape vodka

1. The grape vodka shall be produced as a result of the distillation of the fermented, squeezed or non-squeezed pulp

2. The alcohol content in grape vodka shall not be less than 40%.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 29 – Production of strong drinks

1. The production of strong drinks shall be allowed only from alcohol of grape origin.

2. The alcohol content in strong drinks shall not be less than 37.5%.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005 - LHG I, No 21, 18.6.2007, Art.183

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 30 – Production of alcoholic beverages

The general rule for the production of alcoholic beverages and the list of permitted processes, materials and substances shall be determined by the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Chapter XII - Labelling of Products

Article 31 – Procedures for labelling of alcoholic beverages

1. Alcoholic beverages packaged in consumer packaging and intended for marketing shall be subject to obligatory labeling.

2. The labels provided for by paragraph 1 of this article shall indicate all mandatory information. Other permitted information specified by this Law may be added to the said information.

3. The following mandatory information shall be indicated on the label of alcoholic beverages produced in Georgia or imported into Georgia:

a) the name of the product

b) the nominal volume of the product

c) the actual alcohol content of the product

d) in the case of wines with a protected appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, wines with a protected geographical indication or alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication, the corresponding appellation of origin or geographical indication, as well as the marking ‘the protected appellation of origin’ or ‘the protected geographical indication’, which may be replaced by the marking or abbreviation of the protected appellation of origin or protected geographical indication approved by the Agency;

e) in the case of special wine – the name of the relevant category;

f) the name of the producing country;

g) the name and address of the manufacturer of the product, the name and address of the distributor, if the manufacturer and the distributor of the product are different persons, and in the case of alcoholic beverages imported to Georgia, the name and address of the importer;

h) lot number

i) the marking ‘ contains sulfites’ if the content of sulfites per 1 liter of product exceeds 10 milligrams.

4. The labels of wines with a protected appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, wines with a protected geographical indication or alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication shall consistently display the name of the product and the marking ‘the protected appellation of origin’ or ‘the protected geographical indication’

5. The information indicated on the labels of wines with a protected appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, wines with a protected geographical indication or alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication, taking into account the shape, size and place of its location, shall not mislead a consumer about the categories of alcoholic beverages.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005 - LHG I, No 21 18.6.2007, Art.18 3

Law of Georgia No 4550 of 19 April 2011 - website, 5.5.2011.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Article 32 – Permitted information on the labels of alcoholic beverages

1. The following information may be indicated on the labels of alcoholic beverages:

a) the trademark – in accordance with the legislation of Georgia;

b) the name of vine species, if the product has been produced from at least 85% of this species;

c) in the case of wines - the vintage year, if at least 85% of the wine has been produced from grapes harvested in the indicated year;

d) names of the categories of wines/alcoholic beverages provided for by this Law, depending on their color, sugar content, and the production method;

e) in the case of the Georgian wines – the marking ‘Georgian wine’;

f) in the case of sparkling wines - the marking ‘traditional method’, if sparkling wine is produced by the bottle method;

g) in the case of wines - a marking of fermentation and/or aging in a wooden barrel, if the wine has been fermented and/or aged in a wooden barrel;

[h) in the case of brandy - the marking ‘Georgian brandy’, if not less than 85% of the alcohol used to produce brandy, is alcohol made from grapes grown in Georgia; (Shall become effective from 3 January 2028)]

i) in the case of brandy - the age of the brandy or the name of the category established in accordance with the aging, or the markings established for the corresponding category;

j) any other information that does not mislead a consumer in relation to the quality indicators, place of origin, year of harvest, manufacturer, type, style and/or other characteristics of the product.

2. It shall be allowed to indicate additional information on the labels of alcoholic beverages intended for export in accordance with the legislation of the importing country or the requirement of the importer.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 3964 of 13 December 2018 – website, 25.12.2018

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Law of Georgia No 3775 of 29 November 2023 – website, 14.12.2023

Law of Georgia No 3776 of 29 November 2023 – website, 14.12.2023

Article 33 - Procedures for indicating mandatory information on the labels of alcoholic beverages

1. Information provided for by Article 31(3)(a), (d-g) and (i) of this Law on labels of alcoholic beverages shall be in the Georgian language or in a foreign language together with the Georgian language.

2. On the labels of alcoholic beverages, the name, nominal volume, actual alcohol content or the name of the manufacturing country of the product shall be indicated in one viewing area.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005 - LHG I, No 21 18.6.2007, Art.18 3.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Article 33¹ - Liability for violation of the labeling procedures

Violation of the requirements under Articles 31, 32 and/or Article 33 of this Law shall entail the liability provided for by Article 66(6) or (7) of Food/Feed Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection Code.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005 - LHG I, No 21 18.6.2007, Art.18 3.

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 977 of 2 November 2021 – website, 5.11.2021

Chapter XII¹ - Certification of Alcoholic Beverages and Alcohol

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 33² - Certification of alcoholic beverages and alcohol

1. Certification of alcoholic beverages and alcohol shall be mandatory.

2. The following shall be subject to mandatory certification:

a) alcoholic beverages, wines with a protected appellation of origin and spirits with a protected appellation of origin produced in Georgia and intended for sale on the consumer market;

b) alcoholic beverages and alcohol of all categories intended for export (except for samples for export, if the samples are packed in containers with a capacity of less than 5 liters and the total volume of samples to be sent at one time does not exceed 100 liters);

c) each batch of imported alcoholic beverages (except for products imported from countries determined by ordinance N50 of 7 March 2013 of the Government of Georgia on the admission of technical regulations of other countries by Georgia, acknowledgement of documents certifying the conformity by Georgia, the admission of products with relevant marking to Georgia without additional procedures for the assessment of compliance, as well as on the placement without any restrictions on the Georgian market of the products manufactured in foreign countries and related to the regulated fields, as well as samples of imported alcoholic beverages, if the sample is packaged in containers with a capacity of less than 5 liters and the total volume of samples to be imported at one time does not exceed 100 liters).

3. (deleted – 16.11.2021, No 1018).

4. Organoleptic testing of alcoholic beverages produced in Georgia with a protected appellation of origin and wines of all categories intended for export shall be mandatory, carried out by a permanent tasting commission under the Agency.

5. The requirement of paragraph 4 of this article shall apply to domestic wines, the total sulfur dioxide content of which does not exceed 40 mg/l, and the number of bottles bottled under lot 1 does not exceed 3000.

6. A prerequisite for obtaining a certificate of conformity shall be compliance by a manufacturer with the rules of accounting and notification in accordance with this Law.

7. Certificates of compliance of alcoholic beverages and alcohol shall be issued by the Agency in the manner established by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

8. Only the testing laboratory with national or international accreditation shall have the right to establish during the certification process the physical and chemical characteristics of alcoholic beverages or alcohol and issue a protocol on the corresponding test.

9. The deadline for issuing and fees for issuing a certificate of conformity shall be determined by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia on approving the term and fees for services provided by a LEPL called the National Wine Agency.

10. Violation of procedures established by subparagraph (a) of paragraph 2 of this article shall entail liability provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005 - LHG I, No 21 18.6.2007, Art.18 3

Law of Georgia No 4145 of 17 December 2010 - LHG I, No 76, 29.12.2010 Art.517

Law of Georgia No 4550 of 19 April 2011 - website, 5.5.2011

Law of Georgia No 5300 of 24 November 2011 – website, 1.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1642 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Chapter XII² - Placement in the Consumer Market, and Export and Import of Alcoholic Beverages

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 33³ - Placement of alcoholic beverages in the consumer market

1. Placement on the consumer market of wines with a protected appellation of origin shall be allowed only in packaged form, in the consumer packaging.

2. Placement in the consumer market of alcoholic beverages of any category shall be allowed only in packaged form in consumer packaging.

2¹. Placement in the consumer market of beverages of wine origin shall be allowed only in packaged form in consumer packaging;

3. Persons selling wine in a bottled form at the local consumer market shall be required to have a certificate of conformity of these wines.

3¹. Persons selling beverages of wine origin at the local consumer market shall be required to have a certificate of conformity of these alcoholic beverages.

4. The procedure for the sale in the local consumer market of wine to be bottled shall be determined by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

5. Violation of the procedures established by paragraphs 1-3¹ of this article shall entail liability provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 5300 of 24 November 2011 – website, 1.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 4407 of 27 October 2015 – website, 3.11.2015

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1642 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Article 33⁴ - Export and import of alcoholic beverages and alcohol

1. Export of wines and beverages of wine origin shall be allowed only in the form of consumer packaging.

2. During the export of alcoholic beverages or alcohol, a certificate of origin shall be issued by a legal entity under public law within the system of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia called the Revenue Service on the basis of information provided by the Agency in the manner determined by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia.

3. Import into Georgia of alcoholic beverages or alcohol shall be allowed only if they do not require additional processing, are packaged in consumer packaging and are intended for direct consumption.

4. Wines temporarily imported into Georgia shall not be allowed to internal procession commodity transaction.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1018 of 16 November 2021 – website, 22.11.2021

Chapter XII³ - Recording and Reporting of Technological Processes

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Article 33⁵ – Procedures for recording and reporting of technological processes

1. A wine company is obliged to keep records of technological processes associated with the production and storage of alcoholic beverages, alcohol, grafting material and grapevine planting material and report the Agency within the determined time frame.

2. The requirements regarding the recording and reporting of technological processes established by paragraph 1 of this article shall not apply to wine manufacturers whose sales of wine produced in total do not exceed 1,500 liters per year.

3. The procedure and forms of recording and reporting of technological processes in the practice of viticulture and winemaking, as well as the maximum sizes of technological losses and natural losses during transportation, storage, processing and bottling of the relevant products shall be determined by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

4. Violation of the rules of recording and reporting of technological processes associated with the production and storage of products established by this Law and subordinate normative acts shall entail liability under the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005 - LHG I, No 21 18.6.2007, Art.18 3

Law of Georgia No 4145 of 17 December 2010 - LHG I, No 76, 29.12.2010 Art.517

Law of Georgia No 5300 of 24 November 2011 – website, 1.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 972 of 15 June 2017 – website, 30.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1642 of 7 December 2017 – website, 14.12.2017

Chapter XII⁴ - Transitional provisions

Law of Georgia No 4869 of 5 June 2005 - LHG I, No 21 18.6.2007, Art.18 3

Law of Georgia No 1635 of 4 July 2002 - LHG I, No 23, 24.7.2002 Art.117

Article 33⁶ – Measures to be taken with regard to the entry into force of this Law

1. The Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia shall ensure the issuance of the following subordinate normative acts before 1 January 2019:

a) on the determination of the general procedure for the production of wine and the list of permitted processes, materials and substances;

b) (deleted – 16.11.2021, No 1018);

c) on determination of the general procedure for the production of grafting material and planting material of the vine.

1². The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia shall ensure the adoption of the following subordinate normative acts before 1 January 2019:

a) on the determination of the procedure for exercising state control over the production of wines with a protected appellation of origin, alcoholic beverages with a protected appellation of origin, wines with a protected geographical indication and alcoholic beverages with a protected geographical indication;

b) on the determination of the procedure for exercising state supervision over the production, storage and sale of alcoholic beverages of grape origin, alcohol of grape origin, grafting material and planting material of the vine;

c) on the determination of the certification procedure for alcoholic beverages of grape origin and alcohol of grape origin;

d) on the determination of the certification procedure for grafting material and planting material of the vine;

e) on the determination of the recording and reporting of the technological processes in the practice of viticulture and winemaking;

f) on the determination of the boundaries of the zones of viticulture and viticulture subzones of Georgia, the list of permitted grape species, as well as recommended grape species according to the said zones and subzones;

g) the procedure for the sale in the local consumer market of wines to be bottled;

h) on the determination of the maximum size of technological losses and natural losses in the practice of viticulture and winemaking.

1³. The Government of Georgia shall, by 1 March 2022, ensure the adoption of the Ordinance of the Government of Georgia ‘On the General Procedure for the Production of Alcoholic Beverages of Grape Origin and on the Determination of the Permitted Processes, and the List of Materials and Substances’.

1⁴. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia shall, by 1 March 2022, ensure the adoption of the Order of the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia ‘On the General Procedure for the Production of Alcoholic Beverages of Wine Origin and on the Determination of the Permitted Processes, and the List of Materials and Substances’.

1⁵. By 1 September 2023 the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia shall issue an order On Determining the Procedures for the Creation and Organisation of a Unified Cadastre of Vineyards.