Product registration

Licensed exporters may apply to Wine Australia through the Wine Australia Licensing and Approval System (WALAS)) for the approval of grape products for export from Australia.  

The product registration application must indicate:  

• the vintage, variety and origin composition of the grape product  
• the vintage, variety and origin claimed on the label of the grape product (packaged product only)  
• the analytical details of the grape product, and  
• the destination market of the grape product. 

In deciding whether to approve a grape product for export, Wine Australia must consider:  

• whether the grape product complies with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (Food Standards Code)
• whether the grape product is sound and merchantable, and  
• whether the description and presentation of the grape product is appropriate having regard to the requirements.

Analysis is checked in WALAS to ensure compliance with any limits specified in the Food Standards Code. Label claims are checked against the product composition to ensure the claims meet the blending rules pertaining to vintage, variety and origin. For packaged products, the post-bottling/packaging analysis must be submitted.  

The application must also indicate whether the label makes any organic or biodynamic claims as such products must comply with the Export Control Act 2020 administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (see Organic Goods Certificate).  

In circumstances where Wine Australia is not satisfied that the grape product meets the requirements of the Wine Australia Act 2013 (Cth) (Act), other Australian laws, or the laws of other countries, Wine Australia may refuse to approve the grape product for export, or revoke approval of the grape product for export. It is also open to Wine Australia to impose a condition that limits the countries to which the export is approved.  

Prior to issuing export approval of a grape product, it is open to Wine Australia to request information from the exporter in accordance with section 16 of the Wine Australia Act 2013 (Cth) (Act) to satisfy it that the grape product is compliant with the compositional and labelling requirements of Australia and of the importing country.