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The EU Commission has significantly restricted the use of copper in organic winegrowing from February 2019. The reasons for the change in the law are, for example, investigations by the European Food Safety Authority. According to these, copper, which is currently used everywhere in organic winegrowing to combat mildew, for example, could pose a danger to vineyard workers, birds, small mammals, groundwater, soil organisms and earthworms. For this reason, the EU tightened the rules on organic wine growing on 27 November. According to these rules, farms may only spread a maximum of 28 kg per hectare within seven years, which is an average of four kg per hectare. They may, however, continue to use more if they save on the quantity within the period in another year. At present, it is still permitted to spread up to six kilograms per hectare per year.
French winegrowers have protested against the tightening of the rules. Approximately 20 percent of organic vineyards would use more than 4 kg in a five-year average. The reduction would mean a great economic risk for them.
Stricter rules are already in place in Germany: Only three kg per hectare and year are allowed here, the calculation over a five-year average is not permitted. Within the organic wine scene, the use of copper has been the subject of fierce debate for many years.
(uka / Photo: Biodyn - Andreas Hofer)