Frequently Asked Questions
1. I am thinking of starting up as an importer – what do I need to do?
2. Where can I get advice about the EU/UK wine rules, including
labelling?
3. Do I need a retail licence to trade in wine?
4. Do I need an import licence?
5. When importing wine what accompanying documentation will I need?
6. Who do I contact about UK rates of excise duty i.e. tariffs?
7. Who should I contact about organic certification when importing wine
made from organic grapes?
8. Where can I find information about the UK wine industry?
9. Where can I find information about the EU wine industry?
10. Who do I contact about packaging and bottling?
11. What is the difference between English and Welsh wine and British wine?
12. Who should I contact for advice on British wine?
1. I am thinking of starting up as an importer – what do I need to do?
You will need to look into a number of issues such as making sure the products you import comply with EU Community wine legislation such as labelling rules, whether you need a retail licence and/or an import licence, find out what customs tariffs apply to your products, and what accompanying documents you need for your products. These issues are dealt with below.
Additionally you can contact your local Wine Standards Inspector for advice (contact details are on their website).
2. Where can I get advice about the EU/UK wine rules, including labelling?
The Food Standards Agency has a very useful website with information on the EU and UK regulations. This website includes a ‘Guide to the Law’. Additionally you can contact your local FSA Wine Standards Inspector for advice (contact details are on their website).
3. Do I need a retail licence to trade in wine?
You will need to contact your Local Authority Trading Standards Department or the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to find out if you need a retail licence.
4. Do I need an import licence?
You will need an import licence if you import more than 3000 litres of wine from outside the EU. These are issued by the Rural Payments Agency, contact telephone number is 0191 226 5066.
5. When importing wine what accompanying documentation will I need?
Wine imported from a third country (outside the EU) should be accompanied by a VI1 document, which gives the description and analysis details for the wine, and is issued by the third country of origin.
A VI2 is an extract of the VI1. A VI2 is used for movement of third country wines when a consignment is split before entry into free circulation. This is issued by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. See the contacts webpage for further details.
A Commercial Accompanying Document (CAD) must be used in the UK for the transport of grapes either when sold or when the distance travelled exceeds 40km. The Food Standards Agency provides the CAD to UK vine growers. Some third countries also require it as a certificate of origin for community produced wine and are supplied by the Food Standards Agency.
The Administrative Accompanying Document (AAD) is required by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for movements under duty suspension (see Customs Notice 197 www.hmrc.gov.uk).
6. Who do I contact about UK rates of excise duty i.e. tariffs?
Information about the duties payable on wine may be obtained from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs website or telephone number 0845 010 9000.
7. Who should I contact about organic certification when importing wine made from organic grapes?
You will need to contact Defra’s organic section.
8. Where can I find information about the UK wine industry?
Contacting the United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA), English Wine Producers (EWP) and the Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) would be a good start. See the contacts webpage for further details.
9. Where can I find information about the EU wine industry?
The European Commission website contains statistics on the EU wine industry.
10. Who do I contact about packaging and bottling?
The Weights & Measures Act includes set bottle sizes for wine. Information on this and packaging should be sought from the Department for Trade and Industry or contact them on 020 7215 0364 or 020 7215 0332.
11. What is the difference between English and Welsh wine and British wine?
English and Welsh wine is produced from fresh grapes grown in England and Wales and is governed by the EU Wine Regime. Whereas British wine is a form of ‘made wine’ that is manufactured in the UK and Ireland from imported grapes, grape juice, grape must or a combination of these with fruit or fruit juices etc. Although ‘made wine’ products can be called ‘wine’ they must be prefixed with a term such as British, mead, fruit, tonic etc. These products are not governed by the EU Wine Regime.
12. Who should I contact for advice on British wine?
As stated at question 12 ‘made wines’ such as British wine are not governed by the EU wine regime. This therefore means that the general food regulations apply which are the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency. See the contacts webpage for further details.
In addition the Wine and Spirits Trade Association has a Code of Practice for British wines and may be able to provide further information on this subject area. See the contacts webpage for further details.
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Page last modified: 15 August 2006