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Federico Castellucci, General Director of the OIV, will analyze the current worldwide vitiviniculture situation at FENAVIN

From his vantage point, he will speak about the main problems and opportunities involved in the current financial situation

In the first part of his speech - which will take place during the 5th National Wine Fair, FENAVIN 2009, to be held between May 5th and 7th at the Ciudad Real Exhibition Center-, Federico Castellucci will describe the structure of the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the activities carried out by this organization.

The OIV - founded as an "Office" back in 1924 and re-founded with its current name and structure in April, 2001- is an intergovernmental organization of an advisory, scientific and technical nature authorized to deal with everything related to vines, wine, wine-based beverages, table grapes, raisins and other vine-based products.

OIV members are sovereign states or intergovernmental organizations that have a membership made up of sovereign states with authority transferred by their member states. At present, the OIV has 44 member states.

The General Assembly is the OIV's plenary body and is composed of delegates appointed by its members. The Executive Committee - which includes a single delegate per member - carries out the tasks entrusted to it by the General Assembly. The usual procedure for decision-making is consensus.

Expert groups, commissions and sub-commissions conduct the organization's scientific activity: viticulture; table grapes, raisins and non-fermented vine products; oenology; analysis methods; law and economy; and health and safety.

As regards its competences, the OIV's goals can be summarized in two sentences:

- To inform its members of the measures to take in order to incorporate the concerns and interests of producers, consumers and other players involved in the wine sector into the smooth running of the industry.

- To contribute to the international harmonization of the existing practices and standards and, when necessary, to the preparation of new international standards with the aim of improving the conditions for the production and marketing of wine products.

As a result of these concerns, OIV members have prepared a Strategic Framework Plan for the 2009-2012 period, which is divided into 15 bases that Castellucci will describe in his speech.

In the second part of his paper, the OIV's General Director will offer those present a detailed outlook of the present situation regarding world grape and wine-growing, since the first effects of the economic crisis are already clear.

Among the main factors that can describe the industry's current situation is the consistent drop in consumption in European countries with a long tradition as producers and consumers (France, Italy, Spain and Germany) as well as the reduction observed in the area given over to growing vines, paying particular attention to vineyards in the EU.

On the other hand, worldwide wine production experienced a slight increase in 2008 and all the main wine players - except for Australia and France - maintained, at least, their market positions. According to Castellucci, "the economic crisis is clearly playing an important role as regards to the drop in demand worldwide. However, the volume of global transactions is growing from year to year: international exchanges represented 37% of the world's consumption in 2008, compared to the 18% it represented at the beginning of the 1980s and the 35% in 2006. This means that around 37% of the world's wines are consumed outside their countries of production."

Federico Castellucci has been OIV's General Director since January 2004. He was re-elected to his position in 2008 - by 114 votes out of a total of 117 - for a further mandate until the end of 2013.

A jurist of international level, he is from the Italian region of Marche. Here, the Castellucci wine estate has been producing Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi wines for three generations. His strong roots in viniculture led him to become director of the Italian Association of Industrial Producers, Exporters and Importers of Wines, Spirits and Vinegars (FEDERVINI) in 1988.

His growing involvement took him to join the OIV's Italian delegation, particularly taking part in the Law and Economy Commission of this international organization. Federico Castellucci has been appointed Officer of the Order of Agricultural Merit by the French Republic and Officer of the Order of Merit by the Italian Republic.