Codex approves standard that favors Brazilian grape juice

The Brazilian government has received news of the approval of an amendment to the General Standard for Fruit Juices and Nectars of the Codex Alimentarius, in order to include, in a more precise manner, the characteristics of grape juice made with the species Vitis labrusca, predominant in national production.

By aligning the international reference standard with Brazilian grape juice production, the change will facilitate Brazilian exports of the product and favor its competitiveness in the international market.

The amendment, proposed to the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), suggests dividing the minimum Brix level for grape juice into two distinct groups: one for Vitis vinifera and its hybrids, with the minimum Brix level maintained at 16,0, and another for Vitis labrusca and its hybrids, with a new minimum Brix limit of 14,0. The purpose of this change is to make the standard more precise and better reflect the characteristics of reconstituted grape juice produced with Vitis labrusca and its hybrids, especially Brazilian juice from regions with specific characteristics, such as Rio Grande do Sul.

Created in 1963, the Codex Alimentarius, jointly managed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to establish international standards in the area of ​​food, with a view to protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in international trade.

This result is the fruit of joint work carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), as well as the National Institute of Metrology (Inmetro) and the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).