Export Market Guide - United Kingdom
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 goods to the United Kingdom including the regulatory environment, duties and taxes, and permitted additives.
The Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020 and a customs border is now imposed between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU), including Northern Ireland.
Wine destined to be sold in both the UK and the remaining 27 EU states is now effectively being sold in two different markets. This has an impact on certification and labelling requirements for Australian wine sold in and/or exported to the UK.
Member states:
England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Regulatory environment
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the ministerial department with responsibility for overseeing laws related to wine. The Food Standards Agency is the competent authority responsible for enforcing the wine regulations at the import, bottling, UK production and wholesale distribution stages within the UK. DEFRA, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and local authorities are also enforcement agencies with the latter being responsible for all enforcement in the retail sector.
Brexit
Although the UK is no longer a member of the EU, in accordance with the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and the Agricultural Products, Food and Drink (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, EU wine regulations as applied to the UK on 31 December 2020 continue to apply in the UK. Accordingly, wine sold in the UK must comply with retained EU wine regulations. The retained EU wine regulations dictate:
- the oenological practices that may be used in the production of imported wine prior to it being imported to the UK
- the oenological practices that may be used in the production of imported wine within the UK
- the labelling requirements for wine in the UK
- rules pertaining to the provision of VI-1 documents for wine imported to the UK.
The Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020 and a customs border is now imposed between the UK and EU, including Northern Ireland. Wine destined to be sold in both the UK and the remaining 27 EU states is now effectively being sold in two different markets. This has an impact on wine standards, labelling and certification requirements for Australian wine sold in and/or exported to the UK. DEFRA has confirmed a period of adjustment for the importation of all food and drink products, including wine and spirits, from the end of the Brexit transition period. The adjustment period has been extended until 1 January 2024.
Further details can be found here: www.gov.uk/guidance/importing-and-exporting-wine#moving-wine-from-gb-to-ni