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Export Market Guide - European Union (EU)

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All regulatory information for exporting wine to European Union, including the regulatory environment, duties and taxes, and permitted additives.

The European Union (EU) is a hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organisation of 28 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. 

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.

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

European Union overview

EU Member States

Austria

France

Malta

Belgium

Germany

Netherlands

Bulgaria

Greece

Poland

Croatia

Hungary

Portugal

Cyprus

Ireland

Romania

Czech Republic

Italy

Slovakia

Denmark

Latvia

Slovenia

Estonia

Lithuania

Spain

Finland

Luxembourg

Sweden

 

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 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. Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Albania and Serbia are candidates to join the EU.

 

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

Delegated regulations

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

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 11-month transition period, it will be business as usual for Australian wine exporters. 

The same rules applying to the composition and labelling of Australian wine sold in the EU will 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.

 

 

 

 


Import procedures for the European Union market

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Duties and taxes for the European Union market

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Labelling requirements for the European Union market

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Wine standards for the European Union market

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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.