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Report non-compliance

Both critical and export non-compliances must be reported to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) within 24 hours.

Reporting a non-compliance (critical or export) on the MPI notification form will ensure you include all the information we need. You can use your own form but will need to make sure it includes everything that is needed.

Wine critical/export non-compliance – Notification [DOCX, 81 KB]

Email the completed form to the address that is shown on the MPI notification form.

Wine Critical Non-Compliance (CNC) / Export Non-Compliance (ENC) – Notification Guidance [PDF, 156 KB]

If you have a wine standards management plan (WSMP) you will also need to let your verifier know about the non-compliance.

Types of non-compliance

Types of non-compliance that must be reported to MPI within 24 hours are:

  • critical non-compliance (CNC)
  • export non-compliance (ENC).

Critical non-compliance

A CNC event happens any time a regulatory requirement is not met and this is reasonably likely to:

  • result in hazards in wine
  • result in wine that has false or misleading labelling
  • jeopardise overseas market access.

If you have a CNC event with your wine involving a food safety or suitability problem, you may need to recall it.

Find out about food recalls

Traceability is essential for verifying compliance with the Wine Act. Any of the following may result in a critical non-compliance:

  • missing records
  • a lack of registration
  • incorrect WSMP details.

You must notify MPI about any CNC event.

Export non-compliance

Under the Wine Act 2003, exporters must notify MPI within 24 hours of problems associated with exporting wine.

An export eligibility statement is the document that enables customs clearance in New Zealand. Exporters must make sure that only wine that has been approved and listed on the export eligibility statement is loaded into a shipping container for export.

ENC events include situations where exported wine:

  • is not fit, or is no longer fit, for the intended purpose
  • is refused entry by the foreign government
  • does not meet, or no longer meets, the relevant overseas market access requirements (OMARs)
  • does not have, or no longer has, the required official assurances.

Traceability is essential for verifying compliance with the Wine Act. Any of the following may result in an export non-compliance:

  • errors in an approved wine batch;
  • errors on an approved export consignment application.

MPI may be able to help resolve market access issues. We can only help if the non-compliance is notified and all the relevant details are provided.

If you're unsure if it's a non-compliance issue

Refer to the ENC/CNC guidance document to determine if your issue is a CNC, an ENC, or neither.

Wine CNC/ENC – notification guidance [PDF, 156 KB]

The guidance has more information about the process for wine and will help you decide if the issue should be reported.

If you're still not sure, email wine.query@mpi.govt.nz

How to get a replacement export certificate

If you become aware of an export certificate error or if your wine has been refused entry at the border, you may need a replacement certificate or additional official assurance. The certificate replacement process is outlined in the Wine e-Cert guide Consignment requirements and export documentation. This guide is available in Wine e-Cert.

You will need to surrender the original certificates before replacements are issued.

Wine e-Cert

Bringing exports back into New Zealand

If you are bringing your wine back into New Zealand, notify MPI. Email wine.query@mpi.govt.nz

You should also tell the New Zealand Customs Service

MPI business units