The production of both DOC and DOCG wines is governed by a strict set of rules, known as the disciplinare di produzione, which is a legal document that sets out all the requirements for that specific wine. These rules are enforced by the consortia for each designation and by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies. Wine production and export laws are also heavily regulated. Producers must keep detailed records of their production, and all wines must be analysed before they can be sold. The export of wine is subject to EU and international trade rules, and Italian authorities work to combat fraud and protect the reputation of Italian wines on the global market. The European Court of Justice has been called upon to rule on cases involving the protection of Italian wine designations in other EU member states20. Alcohol serving regulations in Italy are primarily a matter of public order and safety. The sale of alcohol to minors under the age of 18 is strictly prohibited. There are also restrictions on the sale of alcohol for consumption off-premises during certain hours of the night, which are set by local municipal ordinances. The law also imposes strict limits on the blood alcohol content for drivers, and the penalties for drink-driving can be severe. X. FOOD LABELLING AND ADVERTISING Transparency and consumer protection are the guiding principles of food labeling and advertising law in Italy. The legal framework is largely based on Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers21. This regulation sets out the mandatory information that must appear on the labels of pre-packaged foods, including: • The name of the food • A list of ingredients • Information on allergens • The net quantity of the food • The date of minimum durability or the ‘use by’ date • Any special storage conditions or conditions of use 20 Case C-47/90, Eugen Schmidberger, Internationale Transporte und Planzüge v Austria [2003] ECR I-5475, which, while not directly about wine, dealt with the free movement of goods and the protection of fundamental rights, a principle that can be applied to the protection of wine designations. 21 Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers. 638 DUILIO CORTASSA
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