Steps to exporting fruit wine, cider, mead, non-NZ grape wine, and wine products

Legal requirements

Your legal requirements are set out in the:

• Wine Act 2003
• Wine Regulations 2021
• Wine Notice: Export Requirements and Exemptions [PDF, 247 KB]
• Wine Notice: Good Operating Practices [PDF, 218 KB]

Exemptions

Trade samples of up to 110 litres of all types of wine, in any one consignment are exempt from export requirements. This means you do not need to be a registered wine exporter, as long as those samples are not intended for retail sale and are clearly marked "not for sale".

Check with your importer or freight forwarder about any certification requirements for samples, as rules vary by market.

Wine for consumption on an aircraft leaving New Zealand is also exempt from export requirements.

Risk-based measures

In most cases, you need a Wine Standards Management Plan (WSMP) as your 'risk-based measure' to make or export fruit wine, cider, mead, non-New Zealand grape wine, and wine products. The WSMP must be registered with MPI.

Find out about Wine Standards Management Plans

Do you make other food or beverages (such as beer)? You don’t need a WSMP if:

• you have a National Programme or Food Control Plan under the Food Act 2014, and
• no official assurances are required for your wine.

Find out about National Programmes

Find out about Food Control Plans

When wine is made and branded by someone else

If you are exporting wine that's already been produced and branded in New Zealand, you don't need your own registered risk-based measure. However, the wine producer and packager must have one.

Get your WSMP verified, if you need one

You must get your WSMP verified by an approved verifier within 6 months of registration, or before your first export (whichever is the soonest). MPI will set an anniversary date based upon your first verification. After that, you must schedule a verification every 12 months.

You can schedule verification of the WSMP up to 28 days before your anniversary date. If you schedule it for sooner than that, your anniversary date will change.

If you can’t schedule a verification before your anniversary date, contact your verifier and MPI as soon as possible.

Email wine.rules@mpi.govt.nz

Find out about wine verification

Meet labelling requirements

In general, the rules for labels apply to wine made in New Zealand whether your wine is sold locally or intended for export. However, if your destination market has labelling requirements that are different from New Zealand's, you need to meet the destination market requirements instead. As an exporter, it is your responsibility to ensure label compliance with your destination market.

Wine labelling and composition requirements

Keep records

For traceability purposes, exporters must keep accurate records. For each lot or batch of wine, you must record:

• the ID number of the risk-based measure the wine was made under. (There may be more than one number if, for example, it was produced under one plan and bottled under another.)
• the quantity, storage location, and package type
• the person or business the wine was bought from and sold to.

There are no overseas market access requirements for fruit wine, cider, mead, non-New Zealand grape wine, and wine products.

We recommend you work directly with your importer to check for any other requirements.

Some export markets may seek a Free Sale Certificate (FSC) to confirm that a product complies with New Zealand standards.

Find out about Free Sale Certificates

Note that MPI can't issue any certification for products that aren't made in New Zealand, such as blends containing non-New Zealand wines.

How to request statements and certificates

Email wine.query@mpi.govt.nz

If you're exporting commercially, you must register with MPI or use the services of a registered exporter. You register online.

Find out how to register as an exporter

If you have questions about registering as an exporter, email approvals@mpi.govt.nz

Extra requirement for organic wine

If you export organic wine, you may also need to register as an organic exporter, depending on your destination markets.

Find out about exporting organic products