CHINA – China is on the verge of becoming a full member of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), marking a significant milestone as the organization celebrates its 100th anniversary.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China has officially submitted an application to join the OIV through the Chinese Embassy in France.
This application is currently under review by member countries, and if approved, China will become the 51st member state of the OIV.
Gaining full member status will enable China to have a significant influence on international standards and regulations regarding wine production and consumption.
The OIV, headquartered in Dijon, France, consists of over 50 member states spanning the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa.
The organization collaborates with grape and wine-producing countries and international bodies to help develop and adhere to regulations while also working to reduce trade barriers.
The process for joining the OIV involves the government of the interested state sending a request through its embassy in Paris to the Director General of the OIV, with a copy sent to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Member states then have six months to express their opinions on the application. The application is accepted if the majority of member states do not oppose it.
This comes amid a period of decline in China’s wine production and consumption. Despite being the largest winemaker in Asia, China experienced a 33 percent decrease in wine volumes year-on-year, producing 3.2 million hectoliters according to the OIV’s State of the World Wine and Vine Sector report for 2023.
Since 2018, the country has lost around 2 million hectoliters of wine production annually.
China ranks as the ninth-largest wine consumer globally, with 6.3 million hectoliters consumed, and has the third-largest area under vine worldwide, covering 756,000 hectares, following Spain and France.
The OIV’s annual report indicated that declining wine consumption in China is contributing to a global decrease.
Worldwide wine consumption fell by 2.6 percent in 2023 to 221 million hectoliters, with a 24.7 percent drop in China compared to 2022. Chinese consumption figures have consistently declined since 2018.
In March, China ended a three-year trade dispute with Australia by lifting tariffs on Australian wine. This move is expected to impact the wine industry in both countries positively and may signal a shift towards recovery and growth in China’s wine market.
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