The Agriculture Committee deliberated on the Draft Law on Vine and Wine for the I reading, introduced by the Deputy Environmental Protection and Agriculture Minister, Zurab Ezugbaia.

According to the reporter, the Draft Law facilitates the development of winemaking and viticulture.

As per the reporter, a new subparagraph is introduced to the Law, determining the concept of approval on vineyard planting, formulating it as follows: the document issued by the LEPL National Wine Agency, entitling a natural person and/or legal entity to plant an entrepreneurial vineyard.

"The approval will encourage vine growers to refer to certified vine species to prevent potential damage and excessive costs. This ensures that the standard of Georgian wine products is maintained at an appropriate level”, - the reporter noted.

The amendments reformulate the concept of the label. According to the reporter, the Draft Law applies to only the entrepreneurial segment.

According to the Committee Chair Gela Samkharauli, given the intense global competition, Georgia will expand its wine export area.

“The world is now aware that Georgia has been producing wine and cultivating vineyards for over 8,000 years. We have a responsibility to dedicate the utmost attention to these traditions to ensure that Georgian wine is recognised as a high-quality product on the global market”, - he stated.

The Committee approved the draft law.