Export Market Guide - European Union (EU)
This content is restricted to wine exporters and levy-payers. Some reports are available for purchase to non-levy payers/exporters.
All regulatory information for exporting wine to European Union, including the regulatory environment, duties and taxes, and permitted additives.
UPDATE: Compulsory energy, nutrition and ingredient labelling from December 2023
Wine Australia hosted a webinar on 29 August 2023 to provide answers to frequently asked questions concerning imminent changes to labelling requirements in the European Union (EU). Legal Counsel Ned Hewitson covered all you need to know about labelling changes for wines exported to the EU from 8 December 2023.
European Union Overview
The European Union (EU) is a hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organisation of 27 member countries. It has its own flag, currency and laws and operates a single market with free movement of goods, services and capital. The EU is the world’s largest trading bloc and the world’s largest economy, commanding a GDP over USD$17 trillion per year.1 EU Member States share a customs union, a single market in which goods can move freely, a common trade policy and a common agricultural and fisheries policy.
There are significant differences in per capita income among the 27-member states and the EU is still grappling with high public debt and managing bail-out programs for a number of member states.
The EU is the world's major wine producing region in volume terms, with an annual average production of 167 million litres and accounting for 65 per cent of global production.
The EU has created complex requirements for wines imported from so-called 'third countries' (i.e. any non-EU countries), of which Australia is one. Set out below are guidelines designed to explain those requirements and assist wine exporters. Individual domestic requirements may also apply and can be found under country specific headings. Exporters should be aware that individual EU Member States reserve the right to exercise sovereign legislation in a way which can impact on wine imports, thus imposing additional requirements.
The United Kingdom formally withdrew from the European Union on 31 January 2020. Türkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Moldova, Ukraine, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are candidates to join the EU.
Member states:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Regulatory environment
Enforcement of EU food legislation is carried out by the competent authorities in individual Member States. Oversight of member states’ control systems is the responsibility of the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), through its Health and Food Audits and Analysis Directorate. EU food legislation consists of ‘Regulations’ and ‘Directives’ and rules for their implementation. Regulations are binding in their entirety and automatically enter into force in all Member States. Directives outline results that must be achieved in each Member State, but the state is free to decide how to transpose directives.
The regulatory framework for wine is established under the following basic regulations, delegated regulations and implementing regulations:
Basic regulations
- EU Regulation 1308/2013 – establishing a common organisation of the agricultural markets.
Delegated regulations
- EU Delegated Regulation 2019/934 – as regards authorised oenological practices and restrictions.
- EU Delegated Regulation 2019/33 – as regards applications for protection of designations of origin, geographical indications and traditional terms in the wine sector, and labelling and presentation.
- EU Delegated Regulation 2018/273 – as regards accompanying documents and certification.
Implementing regulations
- EU Implementing Regulation 2019/935 – as regards analysis methods for determining the physical, chemical and organoleptic characteristics of grapevine products and notifications of EU countries decisions concerning increases in natural alcoholic strength.
- EU Implementing Regulation 2019/34 – laying down rules for the application of EU regulation 1308/2013 as regards applications for protection of designations of origin, geographical indications and traditional terms in the wine sector.
Other relevant regulations
- EU Regulation 1169/2011 – on the provision of food information to consumers.
- EU Implementing Regulation 203/2012 – as regards detailed rules on organic wine.
- EU Regulation 2018/848 – on organic production and labelling of organic products.
Bilateral Wine Agreement
The Agreement Between Australia and the European Community on Trade in Wine signed on 1 December 2008 is a bilateral agreement that regulates the trade in wine between Australia and the European Community. The Agreement came into force on 1 September 2010 and replaced the 1994 Wine Agreement.
Information on Brexit for Australian wine exporters
The United Kingdom formally withdrew from the European Union on 31 January 2020. During the transition period, it is business as usual for Australian wine exporters. The same rules applying to the composition and labelling of Australian wine sold in the EU continue to apply. Exporters are reminded of the EU requirement that an EU importer be listed on labels sold within the EU and are encouraged to liaise with their importers in this regard.