News

Last month we noted Australian Grape & Wine had been invited by FSANZ to participate in a targeted consultation meeting regarding Proposal P1059 – Energy labelling on alcoholic beverages. The meeting was set up following the release of Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) Consumer research report, which was undertaken to inform this proposal. …

Food Standards Australia and New Zealand have released a number of key items related to energy and sugar labelling following food Ministers meeting in early November 2023. On 17 November 2023, FSANZ release Notification Circular 270-23 which among other things noted that FSANZ had approved a variation to the food standards code, arising from proposal …

United Kingdom United Kingdom (UK) wine regulatory reform As previously reported, the UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced a consultation on comprehensive reforms to its wine regulation. These reforms represent key opportunities to further liberalise UK wine regulations and improve trade. The reforms have mirrored the list of key requests raised …

Australian Grape & Wine (AGW) has been engaged in a longstanding legal case, since 2019, regarding the registration of Prosecco as a Geographical Indication (GI) in Singapore. The Italian Prosecco Consortium (Consortium) had applied to register the term Prosecco as a GI in Singapore and AGW had opposed the registration. Over this time the case …

The Queensland Government has provided the advice below regarding compliance with the expanded Container Recovery Scheme, commencing 1 November 2023. The Queensland Government expects compliance with the container refund scheme’s (Scheme) legislative framework including relevant beverage manufacturers taking immediate steps to commence registering products into the Scheme through the COEX portal and that manufacturers of …

On 24 May 2023, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced a comprehensive Wine Reforms Consultation process aimed at harmonising regulation to improve trade. The reforms covered proposed changes to a number of UK wine rules and regulation including: The consultation for the reforms closed to feedback on 21 July 2023. On …

Invitation to upcoming online Q&A session regarding the commencement of the Queensland Container Refund Scheme on 1 November 2023. Please click on the link below to register:  Wednesday 25 October – 2pm Please submit the questions you have via their online form by 4pm the day prior to each session. Please remember the COEX team …

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is undertaking consultation on the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program. It is regular practice for all government programs to be reviewed, and the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program is now in its fifth year so the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is consulting …

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT – Attend the next COEX Q&A session COEX will be holding an online Q&A session from 2.00pm – 3.00pm AEST on Wednesday September 27, 2023 to assist beverage manufacturers new to the scheme with questions about the registration process. Please click here to register and submit your questions here by 4pm …

Farm Household Allowance (FHA) provides help to eligible farmers, and their partners, experiencing financial hardship. It offers planning and training for long-term financial improvements. FHA is a package of assistance available to cash-strapped farming families, regardless of the source of the hardship. The assistance includes up to4 years of fortnightly income support in every 10-year …