June 24: Although OIV as an organisation, promoted only to support wine and vine-related products like grapes and raisins etc, it is fully aligned with the UN to study and minimize harmful effects of alcohol and to work to promote moderation in wine drinking and protect consumer health and contribute to food safety, writes Subhash Arora who reports its current participation in the 4-day event called FADAB
OIV has stressed these objectives while participating in the 3rd edition of the 4-day event being organised by WHO, christened as FADAB (Forum on Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours) from 22-25 June at the WHO Headquarters to discuss the Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the UN to achieve the Health Targets set for 2030.
As an intergovernmental organisation, the OIV supports all actions which lead to the reduction of harmful use of alcohol. Indeed, the OIV and the WHO Secretariat are collaborating on the data collection and analysis through the exchange and harmonisation of information on wine in particular.
Ongoing actions
The OIV believes that in order to make informed choices consumers should be fully informed about the characteristics and quality of what they consume and the consequences to their health thereof. It encourages research, collection and dissemination of scientific information on the effects of wine consumption on health. Some of the actions carried out are:
▪ A document on the effects of wine consumption on diabetes has recently been published
▪ Two OIV expert groups work on the evaluation of the effects of moderate wine consumption and the health impact on autoimmune diseases and ageing
▪ An expert group analyses wine consumption in teenagers
Research on the relationship between dietary, lifestyle practices and wine consumption on health is given due importance, with moderation being the key.
The amount and the manner in which we consume wine and all alcohols can greatly alter the effect it has on health. Wine education has an important role to play. Prevention programs may be more effective to increase people's knowledge, awareness and understanding of wine and the effects on health and the associated social and physical risks.
Another objective is to identify and recommend lines of research, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and WHO on health aspects, nutritional and functional properties and the socio-behavioural factors of vine-based products.
OIV has also invited the EU-based organisation Wine in Moderation (WIM) as an Observer in the intergovernmental-based organisation . WIM brings together players in the vine and wine sector to design a complete programme with the aim of promoting moderate wine consumption.
The OIV is a Paris-based inter-governmental organisation of scientific and technical nature of recognised competence for its work concerning vines, wine and wine- based beverages, table grapes, raisins and other vine-based products. It comprises 48 Member States including India.
Subhash Arora
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