Eco-Step quality campaign to be continued

Harald Sperling, the director of the Rheingau Winegrowers’ Association praises the EcoStep-quality campaign as a practicable approach. Managing the diverse requirements of global trade, the important international standards (quality management, environment, food safety and occupational safety) and the various legal provisions in an integrated system for smaller and medium-sized wine-growing companies in a feasible way is a special accomplishment.

“The fact that EcoStep attaches great importance to the cooperation and coordination with the Research Institute Geisenheim and the Winegrowers’ Association is also of great relevance for the winegrowing companies. Ecostep also gives greater attention to the wine-specific guidelines for good hygiene practice or traceability than other certification systems for example,” said Sperling in a press release.

Dr. Maximilian Freund, who is in charge of quality management systems and the wine-specific risk analysis at the Research Institute Geisenheim, informed the participants about aspects of HACCP and the latest innovations. “This workshop not only fulfills the popular requests of many winemakers to exchange experiences with the participation of Geisenheim and the enforcing catalysis office Düsseldorf. Amongst others, the workshop also serves as evidence of the legally required self-monitoring,” said Sperling.

The next “convoy” will start in fall. Even now, first registrations for the EcoStep quality convoy, which is funded by the federal state of Hessen to 50%, have been received. As before, you pay €4,250 onetime for 5 workshops and operational consulting until certification. The certification by DQS costs (if desired - not required) 1,300 € and is valid for three years. All companies which have not installed legally secure and feasible self-monitoring, in particular in the area of food safety, should consider participating, and should, in this respect, compare consulting and certification services. (red.yoopress)