Wine industry in Crimea

Crimea is a traditional wine-producing region. After the peninsula became a part of the Russian Federation, the wine industry is facing a number of challenges. One of them is the matter of legislation. Several experts and producers have discussed these issues in the framework of a press conference.

According to Yelena Razumova, member of the Analysis Centre of the Russian Government, there are about 100 wine-produing companies in Crimea. Around 30 of them have been nationalized by the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Among them are such enterprises as Massandra, Novy Svet and others. Acting Prime Minister of Crimea Sergey Aksyonov has ordered an inventory to be made of all state-owned wine-producing companies, in irder to know what state the industry is in now and what should be done in order to secure its successful development. The head of the regional government has also ordered the drafting of a special programme for the wine-producing industry's development within the next 10-20 years. The most important thing is to plant new vines. I hope that the transitional period will be prolonged and we will have a chance to conform to the new conditions without any damage to enterprises. The period we are experiencing right now is rather difficult so I would like to ask everyone to support the Crimean economy by buying our wine.

Boris Titov, the presidential aide for entrepreneurs' rights, underlines that producers of wine have been fighting for changes to the legislation, which would be favourable for the industry. We are thankful to the government and to those who took part in the process, such as deputy prime ministers Alexander Khloponin and Arkady Dvorkovich, who supported our initiative. Titov also believes that the positive results of these reforms are already quite evident.

Viktor Zvagelsky, the chairman of the State Duma's Committee for Economic Policy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, notes that the most important thing is that the legal status of planting vine and producing wine is now different. According to the lawmaker, it is crucial that the new regulations be applied to new companies, while existing companies will operate in accordance with the law. Zvagelsky noted as well that the Russian and the Crimean legal systemz differ from one another. As Crimean companies only use rented equipment, they all will be deprived of licenses. That is why the authorities will probably establish a transitional period for Crimean enterprises, he explains. This is the only way to change the situation, he says.