The government's bill to allow small-scale sales of beer, wine, gin, and other alcohol during visits to vineyards and microbreweries has been on the EU Commission's table for review all autumn.
At midnight on January 8, the deadline expires, and sources in the EU Commission tell TT that they will not provide any statement on the proposal.
In practice, this means that the government can proceed with plans to allow farm sales from June 1.
Actually, the process should have been completed already in October, but Portugal protested at the last minute and the deadline was extended to January 8.
Portugal, like wine producers around the EU, has complained that the proposal discriminates against manufacturers from other countries and that it constitutes trade barriers. However, the Swedish government stands firm in its response to Portugal that the law change does not violate any EU rules. The sales will be limited and do not constitute an alternative to Systembolaget's retail trade.
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