Irish wine health labels risk hurting EU - Tajani

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 7 - New Irish health labels warning of the liver and cancer risks of wine and other alcoholic products risk hurting the EU, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Tuesday.
    In a letter to European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrowskis, Tajani said the new health warning labels "risk being a source of distortion of international trade, equivalent to a quantitative restriction".
    He said the Irish move, as well as being open to criticism under EU law, "could trigger a chain reaction that would end up damaging the whole of he Union".
    Italy has said it will appeal to the World Trade Organization against the warnings on wine, beer and spirits highlighting risks of liver damage and links to certain forms of cancer.
    Italian officials have stressed that wine is good for you when drunk in moderation and Italy has said it will make common cause with other big wine producers like France and Spain.
    Ireland earlier Friday notified the WTO of its new labelling policy. (ANSA).