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New Wine Standards Management Plan

Update – 19 July 2018

Following consultation, the new Wine Standards Management Plan has been issued.

Why we're consulting

The New Zealand wine industry and the Ministry for Primary Industries are developing a new Wine Standards Management Plan (WSMP), also known as a Food Safety Template for Winemakers.

Watch a video explaining how the new WSMP will work

The purpose of the new template is to provide businesses who operate under both the Food Act 2014 and Wine Act 2003 with the option to operate under a single plan, for example wineries with cellar door tastings. It also gives businesses who operate under only the Wine Act the option to keep using the current codes of practice, or use the new template. 

We need your feedback to let us know if the new WSMP is easy to understand and use.

Have your say

We'd like to know:

  • Is everything you do covered in the wine and cidermaking cards?
  • Is there any content in the wine and cidermaking cards that needs to be removed, added or changed?
  • Does the content make sense and is it relevant to what you do?
  • Do you think that we have lowered the standard of winemaking in New Zealand or changed any requirements?

Consultation documents

There are 3 document to review:

Making your submission

The consultation closes at 5pm on 13 July 2018. You can have your say by either:

Background information

Who can use the new WSMP?

Types of people who can use the new wine plan are:

  • winemakers who sell domestically (includes Australia)
  • winemakers who export
  • winemakers who sell domestically (includes Australia), with cellar door tastings
  • winemakers who export, with cellar door tastings
  • winemakers who sell domestically (includes Australia), with a restaurant
  • winemakers who export, with a restaurant
  • bottlers who receive, bottle, label and store wine.

When can businesses use the WSMP?

New food businesses must comply with the Food Act 2014 or Wine Act 2003 as soon as they open. They can use the new template, or register separate plans. Existing food and winemakers do not have to use the new plan, but if it does suit their business they can choose to move to the template.

What about organics?

If you attended one of our workshops, you might be wondering where the requirements for making organic wine have gone. We've given it some thought and because most of the organic production rules are currently covered in private standards, we can't put these rules in this template. If you are exporting under the Organic Official Assurance Programme (OOAP), you will find information for this on the 'Meeting export requirements' card.

Submissions are public information

Note, feedback you provide is public information. Anyone can ask for copies of all submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the information available, unless we have a good reason for withholding it. You can find those grounds in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA. Tell us if you think there are grounds to withhold specific information in your feedback. Reasons might include, it's commercially sensitive or it's personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may require the information be released.

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