The reforms represent a revamp of UK wine rules post-Brexit.
The UK represents a very small market for wine production on the global stage; But it has been constantly growing in recent years (production rose 36% in 2022).
It is also expected to become more prominent on the wine scene as climate change makes the country more suitable for vineyards (England and Wales have seen 74% growth in hectares of vines in the past five years).
Meanwhile, the UK is one of the world's top three wine importers by volume. The UK wine market will be worth more than £10 billion ($12.2 billion) in off-trade and on-trade sales in 2022.
Reduce unnecessary waste
In the United Kingdom, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 took a “snapshot” of EU law as it applied to the United Kingdom on 31 December 2020, and provided for its continued application after Brexit.
But now, the EU Law (Repeal and Reform) Bill allows major changes to be made to this body of retained law.
The new rules, published yesterday, follow a consultation held earlier this year.
The UK government says: “Feedback from the wine industry showed that some of the regulations within the current 400-page rulebook were stifling innovation and preventing the introduction of more efficient and sustainable practices.”
“The changes will include removing expensive and onerous packaging requirements – such as ending the mandatory requirement that some sparkling wines must have foil caps and mushroom-shaped stoppers.
“This will reduce unnecessary waste and packaging costs for businesses.
“Old rules regarding bottle shapes will also be abolished, allowing producers to use different shapes.
“The Government will also remove the requirement for imported wine to have an importing address on the label – the Food Business Operator (FBO) responsible for ensuring all legal requirements are met will still need to be specified on the label, as is the case with standard requirements for food products.
“This will create more frictionless trade and reduce administrative burdens.
“Further reforms will give producers more freedom to use hybrid grape varieties. This will enable growers to choose the variety that suits them best and reduce the loss of vines to disease or climate change, while also providing greater choice for consumers.”
Repairs include:
Foil wrappers and mushroom stoppers: End the mandatory use of mushroom-shaped stoppers and foil wrappers on sparkling wine, in an effort to reduce waste and unnecessary packaging costs. Rules on bottle shapes: Ending “outdated protectionist rules” on bottle shapes, giving producers the freedom to use bottle shapes they could not previously use for their wines. Importer labeling: Ending the requirement that imported wines have a named importer on the label. This means that only the Food Business Operator (FBO) responsible for the nutritional information on the package must be identified. Hybrid Grape Varieties: Giving producers the option of applying for protection of appellations of origin and geographical indications for wines produced using hybrid grape varieties. Grapes. “This will increase their resilience to climate change and disease and provide greater choice for consumers.” Wine blending: Ending the ban on blending (coupage) of imported wines. “Blending is a common practice around the world and will provide scope for developing a wider range of wines while expanding consumer choice.” Piquet: Allowing producers to make and market Piquet (a lower-alcohol beverage produced by rinsing off the byproducts of wine production, including grape skins and petioles, with the water and fermentation that rinses off). This aims to open new sources of income for wine producers and help meet the demand for lower alcohol drinks.
Miles Bell, chief executive of the UK Wine and Spirits Trade Association, said: “We welcome the measures announced by the Government today, many of which the WSTA has been calling for for several years.
“Removing the restrictive rules on labeling for importers will significantly reduce the post-Brexit impact of having to have a unique brand in the UK. The move to labeling should allow food business operators to A single joint venture for both the UK and EU markets, which will maintain the UK as an attractive destination market and support our goal of UK consumers continuing to have access to the widest possible choice of wines from around the world.
“At a time when companies are doing everything they can to reduce packaging waste, changes to packaging rules will be good for business, the environment and consumers.”
Ned Ottey, Director and Interim CEO of Wines of Great Britain, added: “Sustainability and innovation are at the heart of our local wine industry, and WineGB welcomes any actions that support these values.
“We also look forward to any future legislative changes that will help Britain’s fastest growing agricultural sector to thrive.”
