Defra wine reform

Environment | 16 October, 2023

Earlier this year the Government conducted a public consultation to explore wine reform. The consultation received 96 responses and today (October 16th) Defra has published its findings. You can find a copy consultation on wine reforms on their website –  Wine: reforms to retained EU law – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You can read the Defra press release here – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scrapping-retained-eu-red-tape-on-wine-to-unlock-180-million

Miles Beale, Chief Executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said:

“We welcome the measures announced by the Government today, many of which WSTA have been calling for for a number of years.

Removing the restrictive rules on importer labelling will significantly reduce the post-Brexit impact of having to have a unique UK label. Moving to labelling Food Business Operator should allow one common label for both UK and EU markets, which will maintain the UK as an attractive destination market and support our aim for UK consumers continue to have access to the widest possible choice of wine from around the world.

And at a time when businesses are doing all they can to minimise packaging waste, changes to packaging rules will be good for business, the environment and consumers.”