1. In the framework of its competence, the objectives of the O.I.V shall be as follows:
a) to inform its members of measures whereby the concerns of producers, consumers and other players in the vine and wine products sector may be taken into consideration;
b) to assist other international organisations, both intergovernmental and nongovernmental, especially those which carry out standardisation activities;
c) to contribute to international harmonisation of existing practices and standards and, as necessary, to the preparation of new international standards in order to improve the conditions for producing and marketing vine and wine products, and to help ensure that the interests of consumers are taken into account.
2. To attain these objectives, the O.I.V's activities shall be:
a) to promote and guide scientific and technical research and experimentation in order to meet the needs expressed by its members, to assess the results, calling on qualified experts as necessary, and where relevant to circulate the results by appropriate means;
b) to draw up and frame recommendations and monitor implementation of such recommendations in liaison with its members, especially in the following areas: (i) conditions for grape production,
(ii) oenological practices,
(iii) definition and/or description of products, labelling and marketing conditions,
(iv) methods for analysing and assessing vine products;
(i) conditions for grape production,
(ii) oenological practices,
(iii) definition and/or description of products, labelling and marketing conditions,
(iv) methods for analysing and assessing vine products;
c) to submit to its members all proposals relating to: (i) guaranteeing the authenticity of vine products, especially with regard to consumers, in particular in connection with the information provided on labels,
(ii) protecting geographical indications, especially vine- and wine-growing areas and the related appellations of origin, whether designated by geographical names or not, insofar as they do not call into question international agreements relating to trade and intellectual property,
(iii) improving scientific and technical criteria for recognising and protecting new vitivinicultural plant varieties;
(i) guaranteeing the authenticity of vine products, especially with regard to consumers, in particular in connection with the information provided on labels,
(ii) protecting geographical indications, especially vine- and wine-growing areas and the related appellations of origin, whether designated by geographical names or not, insofar as they do not call into question international agreements relating to trade and intellectual property,
(iii) improving scientific and technical criteria for recognising and protecting new vitivinicultural plant varieties;
d) to contribute to the harmonisation and adaptation of regulations by its members or, where relevant, to facilitate mutual recognition of practices within its field of activities;
e) to mediate between countries or organisations upon request, any expenses of mediation being borne by those making the request;
f) to monitor, evaluate and inform its members in good time of scientific or technical developments likely to have significant and lasting effects on the wine sector;
g) to help protect the health of consumers and to contribute to food safety: (i) by specialist scientific monitoring, making it possible to assess the specific characteristics of vine products,
(ii) by promoting and guiding research into appropriate nutritional and health aspects,
(iii) by extending the dissemination of information resulting from such research, beyond the recipients referred to in Article 2, paragraph n, to the medical and healthcare professions;
(i) by specialist scientific monitoring, making it possible to assess the specific characteristics of vine products,
(ii) by promoting and guiding research into appropriate nutritional and health aspects,
(iii) by extending the dissemination of information resulting from such research, beyond the recipients referred to in Article 2, paragraph n, to the medical and healthcare professions;
h) to foster co-operation between members through: (i) administrative collaboration,
(ii) the exchange of specific information,
(iii) the exchange of experts,
(iv) the provision of assistance or expert advice, especially in the establishment of joint projects and other collaborative research;
(i) administrative collaboration,
(ii) the exchange of specific information,
(iii) the exchange of experts,
(iv) the provision of assistance or expert advice, especially in the establishment of joint projects and other collaborative research;
i) to take account in its activities of the specific features of each of its members' systems for producing vine products and methods for making wines and wine- and grape-based spirits;
j) to contribute to the development of training networks relating to wine and vine products;
k) to contribute to the promotion or recognition of the world vine- and wine-growing heritage and its historical, cultural, human, social and environmental aspects;
l) to grant its patronage to public or private events whose purpose, of a noncommercial nature, falls within its sphere of competence;
m) to foster an appropriate dialogue in the context of its work and, as necessary, with players in the sector, and to conclude appropriate arrangements with them;
n) to gather, process and disseminate the most appropriate information and to communicate it: (i) to its members and observers,
(ii) to other international organisations, both intergovernmental and nongovernmental,
(iii) to producers, consumers and other players in the vine and wine sector,
(iv) to other interested countries,
(v) to the media and to the general public; In order to facilitate its role as a source of information and communication, the O.I.V may ask its members, potential beneficiaries and, where relevant, international organisations, to provide it with information and data on the basis of reasonable requests;
(i) to its members and observers,
(ii) to other international organisations, both intergovernmental and nongovernmental,
(iii) to producers, consumers and other players in the vine and wine sector,
(iv) to other interested countries,
(v) to the media and to the general public;
o) to re-assess regularly the effectiveness of its structures and working procedures.