News

The Jobs and Skills Summit has come and gone. Although Australian Grape & Wine did not attend the summit, we participated in a Round Table with the Trade Minister immediately preceding the Summit to convey our messages on behalf of the grape and wine industry. The Government clearly understands our issues and the difficulties we …

The Government is bringing down a Budget on 25 October 2022. This Budget will be aimed at bringing forward funding for the Government’s priorities announced in the election campaign and on review of existing programs. Australian Grape & Wine is taking forward a very targeted ask for measures to grow demand and help growers and …

Over the past twelve months, members exporting to the UK will have been keeping a close eye on the UK Government’s proposals to amend alcohol duties. For those unfamiliar with the issue, we have been working with members and Australia’s High Commission in London to put forward our concerns about the practical implementation and potential …

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are a major contributor to improving export market access and removing barriers to trade. These are now more important than ever with the Australian grape and wine sector’s continued prioritised efforts to grow and diversify our export markets. We take a look at the status of some key FTAs that will …

Nominations for the 2022 Australian Biosecurity Awards are now open and close 5pm AEST 22 August 2022. The Awards recognise individuals, groups and organisations that have shown a commitment to supporting and promoting biosecurity. These awards bring to the fore the fact that everyone has a role to play in biosecurity. The eight categories for …

The Labor Government has now settled into its stride. There has been a focus on resetting Australia’s image internationally, with a particular emphasis on climate change and enhancing strategic relationships with the Pacific region and more broadly. We have met with the new Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Murray Watt and he …

According to Rabobank, Australia’s agricultural sector can expect to contend with elevated ocean container shipping costs and ongoing supply disruptions for at least another year before a ‘normalisation’ of the global ocean freight system, according to new research from Rabobank. In its Global Ocean Freight Outlook report, the specialist agribusiness bank says while global container …

Food Standards Australia-New Zealand is working on three separate proposals that may have an impact on wine labelling requirements in the future. We’re working with FSANZ and other industry stakeholders with a view to supporting options that are evidence based, sensible and practical from a cost and regulatory compliance perspective. Such decisions also need to …

As advised in our May 2021 member news, on 25 February 2021 the Australia and New Zealand Food Standard Code (FSC) was amended to introduce new requirements for the labelling of allergens in food. These amendments include impactions for wine under (S9-3) Mandatory Declarations of the FSC. Key changes include mandatory requirements for allergen labelling …

On 30 June 2022, New Zealand (NZ) and the European Union (EU) announced they had concluded negotiations of their Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Australian Trade Minister, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, has also publicly stated the Australian Government’s intentions to finalise Australia’s FTA with the EU by the end of the year. The NZ-EU …