Pancho Campo MW: Institute of Masters of Wine – Code of Conduct

Pancho Campo MW: certificate issued by The Institute of Masters of Wine 5th November 2008

There have been a number of questions posed and comments made on Facebook, Jim's Loire and elsewhere questioning whether Pancho Campo MW has breached the Institute of Masters of Wine Code of Conduct.

For information here is the IMW Code of Conduct and the declaration all successful candidates sare required to sign on admission to The Institute of Masters of Wine. I have taken this from the 'Introduction to The Masters of Wine Education Programme 2010-2011'. This can be freely downloaded from the net.

The Code of Conduct is on pages 28 and 29 of the above document and The Declaration on Admission on pages 29 and 30.

3.0 The Code of Conduct

3.1 General ­ Members must recognise the importance of maintaining and enhancing the reputation of wine and the wine trade in general, and the Institute in particular.  It is a basic requirement that members will ensure so far as lies in their power that they and any organisation of which they are part will observe all relevant laws and regulations in both letter and spirit.

3.2  Sales and promotion ­ Members engaged in sales, promotion, advertising and writing about wine professionally should be careful always to describe the subject truthfully and with good sense, neither claiming virtues or prospects that do not exist or cannot be justified nor unreasonably exaggerating merit.  Individual and group endorsements of advertised products by members of the Institute must be viewed in the same light.

3.3 Purchasing ­ Members involved in purchasing should at all times endeavour to buy honest and sound quality. They should not condone the marketing of any such quality as might damage public respect for and interest in wine.

3.4 Wine­making ­ Members involved in production of grapes or making of wine should not knowingly engage in any practice or technique (whether or not such practice or technique shall infringe regulations relating to the production of wine) the practice of which by a member may tend to bring the Institute into disrepute.

3.5 General commercial probity ­ Members involved in commerce are expected to maintain the highest standards of dealing, in particular in relation to dealings through limited liability companies, and not knowingly engage in any enterprise or commercial practice which would be regarded as unacceptable by the majority of members of the Institute, whether or not such practice may comply with local laws where it is carried out.  

3.6 Personal ­ Members are expected to be sensitive to the social and behavioural problems associated with the immoderate consumption of wine. Members must ensure that they do not engage in inappropriate behaviour which would reflect badly on the Institute.

3.7 Members are required to preserve the good name of the Institute at all times and refrain from any public statements detrimental to the Institute or (in relation to statements concerning another member or members) which tend to bring the Institute into disrepute.

3.8 Responsibility for others ­ Members must in principle accept that they will be regarded by the Institute as answerable for the commercial conduct of any

person acting on their instructions.

**

5.0 The Declaration on Admission

5.1 Before admission as a member of the Institute, candidates for admission will be required to sign a declaration.  The original of this declaration, of which the following is the text, remains with the Institute.

Declaration on Admission

I. I confirm that I have read and understand the Code of Conduct of  Members of the Institute of Masters of Wine.

II. As a condition of my admission into the Institute, I therefore acknowledge and confirm my obligation to conduct myself in all matters relating to wine and the wine trade in accordance with such Code.

III. I accept that should the Council of the Institute after due investigation determine my conduct at any time to be in breach of the Institute's Code of Conduct, the Council may take steps to terminate my membership of the Institute, remove my name from the Register of Masters of Wine and thus withdraw my right to use that designation, or its abbreviated form M.W.

 Signed..............................................  Dated ..................

 Name in Capitals  .............................................