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Export Market Guide - China

This content is restricted to wine exporters and levy-payers. Some reports are available for purchase to non-levy payers/exporters.

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Regulatory information for exporting wine to China, including the regulatory environment, duties and taxes, and wine standards.

Until November 2020 Australian wine exports benefited from China-Australia Free Trade Agreements (ChAFTA) signed on 17 June 2015 and came into effect December 20, 2015.

In 2020, The China Alcoholic Drinks Association (CADA) requested the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) launch separate anti-dumping and countervailing duties investigations on Australian wine in China. MOFCOM initiated an anti-dumping investigation (18 August 2020) and a countervailing duties investigation (31 August 2020). These investigations were due to be completed in August 2021.

MOFCOM announced a decision to impose temporary deposit tariffs from 28 November 2020 of between 107.1 per cent and 212.1 per cent on Australian wine in containers of up to 2 litres ahead of finalising the ongoing anti-dumping investigation.

For the countervailing duties investigation, MOFCOM announced a decision to impose temporary countervailing duty deposit from 11 December 2020 of between 6.3 per cent and 6.4 per cent on Australian wine ahead of finalising the countervailing duties investigation.

On 26 March 2021, MOFCOM confirmed that temporary deposit tariffs of between 116.2 per cent and 218.4 per cent on Australian wine in containers of up to 2 litres would remain in place for five years. 

Australian Grape & Wine has developed information for the sector, including background information on the investigation and ongoing statements, that is available on its website.

IP Protection in China

This guide provides helpful tips for Australian wine companies looking to secure IP and brand protection in China.

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In market labelling and quality control guide for Australian wine bottled in China

This guide is designed to assist exporters with labelling requirements and quality control for bulk wine bottled in China.

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Download the latest China Export Market Guide in Chinese:
下载最新版本中国市场指南(中文)

 

Regulatory environment

In March 2018, the National People’s Congress approved a sweeping government restructuring plan. China has established a new super regulator – the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), which has merged and undertaken the responsibilities previously held by numerous agencies including the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), Standardisation Administration of China (SAC) and the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA).  The SAMR has a broad mandate, overseeing everything from drug safety supervision, quality inspection, fair competition and commercial bribery, issuance of business registrations, certifications and accreditations, management of intellectual property rights and comprehensive supervision and management of the market order. 

The Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) previously under AQSIQ has been merged in to SAMR, while the entry and exit inspection and quarantine function of the state CIQs have been absorbed into a new customs agency called the General Administration of Customs China (GACC).

The Implementing Regulations of the Food Safety Law took effect on 1 December 2019, but there remains much food law reform in the pipeline. The regulatory framework for wine is established under the following national standards:

  • GB 2760-2014 – National Food Safety Standard for Usage of Food Additives
  • GB 7718-2011 – National Food Safety Standard for the Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods 
  • GB 2758-2012 – National Food Safety Standard on Fermented Alcoholic Beverages
  • GB/T 15037-2006 – National Standard for Wines 
  • GB 2762-2022 – Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Food

Exporters should also be aware of the Consumer Rights Protection Law which allows for compensation to consumers for purchases of noncompliant food products. This has given rise to ‘professional buyers’ who make claims of wrongdoing to seek financial compensation at the expense of traders and producers. Careful attention should be paid to labelling as labelling errors have reportedly been the highest cause of non-compliance complaints submitted by ‘professional buyers’. China has released draft Implementing Regulations for the Consumer Rights Protection Law which aims to limit the rise of the professional buyer.
 



This content is restricted to wine exporters and levy-payers. Some reports are available for purchase to non-levy payers/exporters.

Levy payers/exporters
Non-levy payers/exporters
Find out more

This content is restricted to wine exporters and levy-payers. Some reports are available for purchase to non-levy payers/exporters.