Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal Rights Anton Refalo launches the wine traceability system

A new system that will be used for the control and traceability of DOK Malta, DOK Gozo and IGT Maltese islands wines has been launched by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal Rights Anton Refalo.

It was explained that the Directorate of Agriculture is the competent authority to guarantee and certify the production of DOK and IGT wines. In addition to inspections and analysis of wines, it involves a substantial amount of documentation, especially as regards records of banners used to certify wine.

Director General Savior Debono Grech explained that to date this process has been done manually, involving a considerable amount of work for both wine producers and employees within the directorate.

He said that this is why since last year the directorate has been working to develop an electronic traceability and control system.

“In addition to facilitating the process, the use of many papers will also be avoided. Through this system, both the department and the consumer will have access to an interactive platform that can be utilised simply with a mobile,” the DG said.

Minister Anton Refalo emphasised how this innovative system, while maintaining the current security aspects, will also incorporate an electronic system that simplifies the work of controls carried out by officials, in order to increase efficiency and the protection of the much-valued agricultural product.

He went on to say that “with this technology, the QR code will also be introduced which will allow officials to perform faster and more precise checks when these products are on the market.”

The QR code can be scanned by the public, which directs them to the website and gives access to a better understanding of the process the bottle went through until it reached the table.

Photo: DOI/Clodagh O’Neill

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