prEN 12726

Overview

The prEN 12726:2025 standard, developed by CEN, defines neck finishes for glass packaging specifically designed for bottles containing wine with carbonation levels not exceeding 1.2 g CO2/l. The focus is on the dimensions of mouth finishes suitable for stoppers and tamper-evident capsules ensuring effective internal sealing. This standard supersedes the EN 12726:2018 and introduces precise specifications that facilitate quality sealing and ensure tamper evidence for glass bottle closures.

Key highlights include two standardized neck finish heights-14 mm and the more prevalent 16 mm-optimized for use with internal sealing stoppers and capsules, meeting the needs of the wine packaging industry.

Key Topics

• Neck Finish Dimensions
  prEN 12726 specifies critical dimensions for bottle neck finishes, including:

  • Bore diameter of 18.5 mm for entry bore
  • Ovality of the entry bore not exceeding 0.5 mm
  • Minimum average diameter requirements ensuring proper stopper fit and seal
  • Two finish height options: 14 mm and 16 mm, with the 16 mm height being most common

• Internal Sealing and Closure Compatibility
  The standard targets the compatibility of neck finishes with stoppers and tamper-evident capsules to provide an efficient internal seal for wines with low carbonation. It outlines dimensional tolerances to ensure a consistent fit and effective sealing.

• Carbonation Limitations
  The document emphasizes that wines with carbonation above 1.2 g CO2/l need a specially agreed container and stopper system involving the glassmaker, stopper manufacturer, and packer/filler, outside the scope of this standard.

• Dimensional Tolerance Compliance
  Linear and angular tolerances follow EN 22768-1, ensuring dimensional accuracy during manufacturing and quality control.

• Through Bore Specifications
  The standard requires a minimum through bore of 17.5 mm allowing the use of filling tubes up to 16 mm in diameter, facilitating efficient bottling operations.

Applications

• Wine Bottling Industry
  prEN 12726 is essential for manufacturers, packers, and fillers specializing in glass wine bottles to ensure secure and standardized sealing with stoppers and tamper-evident capsules. This guarantees product integrity and consumer confidence.

• Glass Bottle Manufacturing
  Glassmakers use this standard to design and produce bottle neck finishes that meet specified dimensional and performance requirements, optimizing compatibility with closures.

• Closure Suppliers and Manufacturers
  Producers of corks, stoppers, and capsules depend on prEN 12726 to design closures that reliably seal bottles internally and provide tamper evidence, particularly for still and low-carbonation wines.

• Quality Control and Compliance Testing
  Packaging quality inspectors use the standard's dimensional criteria to verify the conformity of bottle neck finishes and guide adjustments in corking and capsule application processes.

Related Standards

• EN 22768-1 – General tolerances for linear and angular dimensions without individual tolerance indications; provides tolerance guidelines referenced by prEN 12726.
• ISO 3863 – Cylindrical cork stoppers dimensional characteristics; relevant for stopper design complementing glass bottle neck finishes.

Conclusion

prEN 12726:2025 delivers a clear, practical framework for the design and manufacturing of glass bottle neck finishes with bore diameters of 18.5 mm tailored for wines with carbonation up to 1.2 g CO2/l. By standardizing neck finish dimensions and sealing interface requirements, it supports the wine industry's need for consistent, secure, and tamper-evident glass packaging solutions. Adherence to this standard optimizes compatibility between bottles, stoppers, and tamper-evident capsules, ultimately safeguarding product quality and consumer trust.