Traffic jam was made behind a false wall
An illegal Douro wine bottling unit was dismantled in Vila Real. The Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) seized bottles, labels and opened criminal proceedings for usurpation of designation of origin.
In a statement, said that it carried out an inspection operation at a wine bottling, marketing and exportation unit, where a disguised and false wall that hid an area where wine bottling and distribution took place of Controlled Denomination of Origin (DOC) Douro and where wine bottles prepared to be illegally labeled were stored.
As a result, this illegal unit was dismantled and 1,326 bottles of wine seized “to be unduly labeled” as DOC Douro reserve wines, as well as 12,000 labels indicating DOC Douro reserve.
ASAE stated that a criminal case was also opened for committing the crime of usurpation of designation of origin and that the facts were communicated to the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP).
The operation had technical support from the Douro and Porto Wine Institute (IVDP) on the origin of the wines.
Carried out by the Specialized Fraudulent Practices Brigade of the Northern Regional Unit of ASAE, the operation aimed to combat fraudulent practices involving wines with Protected Designation of Origin (DOP), DOC and Protected Geographical Indication (IGP), in the municipality of Vila Real.
According to ASAE, the objective was “to safeguard the authenticity and quality of the region’s wines, ensuring rigor in all stages of production, packaging, distribution and marketing, ensuring that the products respect their declared geographical origins”.
The wine sector is one of those that, according to that criminal police body, has the greatest relevance in the national economy, which is why it guaranteed that it will continue to reinforce inspection actions in this sector, in the fight against fraudulent and misleading practices, throughout the national territory and in favor of healthy and fair competition between economic operators.
