Exporting wine

Under the Regulations, all wine shipments over 100 litres require export approval from Wine Australia. 

There have been controls on the export of grape products from Australia since 1930 with the underlying intent being to ensure the reputation of Australian wine is preserved globally. 

Unless an exemption has been granted by Wine Australia, grape products exported from Australia must comply with the Food Standards Code. The Food Standards Code prescribes permitted additives and processing aids for wine and products containing wine. It also sets out mandatory labelling requirements such as those pertaining to allergens, standard drinks, alcohol content and lot identification.

It is an offence under section 44 of the Act to export a grape product from Australia without the following being issued at Wine Australia’s discretion in accordance with the Regulations:

• a licence to export grape products from Australia (which can be refused, cancelled or suspended by Wine Australia)
• approval of grape product for export (which can be refused, suspended or revoked by Wine Australia), and
• an export certificate (more commonly referred to as a ‘shipping approval’) in relation to individual shipments (which can be refused or revoked by Wine Australia).

The maximum penalty is two years imprisonment for that offence.

In making decisions in relation to licences, approval of grape products and export certificates, Wine Australia must have regard to the relevant criteria set out in the Regulations.

The export approval process encompasses the following steps (collectively the ‘export controls’)

Which products are captured by the export controls?

The export controls apply to grape products as defined in the Act and the Regulations and includes:

• wine manufactured in Australia from prescribed goods (fresh or dried grapes or grape juice of single strength or concentrated)
• brandy distilled in Australia
• grape spirit manufactured in Australia suitable for the fortifying of wine or the manufacture of brandy, and
• a product that includes wine, is derived in whole or part from prescribed goods (fresh or dried grapes or grape juice of single strength or concentrated) and to which an Australian standard applies (i.e., ‘wine products’, ‘wine-based beverages’, low-alcohol wines, alcohol reduced wines)

Australia’s wine export controls are administered through the Wine Australia Licensing and Approval System (WALAS).