Champagne's trade association has become involved in a legal battle over the storage of toxic waste.

The Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) has asked the region's administrative court to cancel permission to store waste in Soulaines, granted to the French national atomic agency ANDRA, Decanter magazine reports.

Within 9km of Champagne's Cotes des Bars, there is growing concern that the site poses a threat to vineyards.

The possibility of contamination was raised by Greenpeace back in 2006, but according to Nadine Schneider, a spokesperson for anti-nuclear coalition Sortir du Nucleaire, the CIVC has been reluctant to address the issue for fear of upsetting local politicians.

It was announced earlier this week that demand for champagne, particular from Asia, has resulted in soaring profits for LVMH during the first nine months of this year.

The luxury retailer owns labels such as Moet & Chandon, Krug and Dom Perignon.