Wine standards FAQs

Our inspectors are entitled to visit your premises to make checks on your stock and records if you import, ship or market wine sector products or grow grapes or make wine from fresh grapes grown in the UK. We keep a register of such traders to manage our programme of visits and keep the UK’s statistical record of area under vine, harvest and wine production. Further advice can be obtained by contacting your Regional Inspector.

There is no charge for advice we give. Information about labelling and other aspects of wine sector regulations is given on the basis of our interpretation of European Wine Legislation as it applies to the United Kingdom through the national Wine Regulations. Please allow a few days for a reply.

PDO stands for Protected Designation of Origin and PGI for Protected Geographical Indication. Wines produced in the EC in the former Quality Wine category are now PDO wines and Table wines with geographical indication (e.g. Vin de Pays) are now PGI. Wines in both categories must submit applications to the EC before December 2011 to have them permanently approved. The EC has published a list on the eBacchus website

Wines from Third Countries may apply for PDO or PGI status but are otherwise entitled to use a geographical description approved by the producer country.

A VI1 is a document issued in a Third Country of origin giving a description and analysis details for wines imported into the European Community. It is issued by a Third Country authority as shown on a list published by the European Commission - see List 6

A VI2 is an extract of the certificate and analysis report known as a VI1 which must accompany imports from Third Countries. A VI2 is used for the movement of Third Country wines when a consignment is split before entry into free circulation. This is issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC also supplies details about import and excise duty on wine. Contact HMRC for more information.

The main requirements for different categories of wine are set out in notes listed in A guide to wine law. For advice on specific labels, please contact your regional inspector.

Contacting your regional inspector will be a good start. You need to be aware of documentary and labelling requirements, including VI1 certification for third country wines.

A new Licencing System was introduced in England and Wales in 2005 comprising a Premises Licence and a Personal Licence for retail sale. For further information consult your local authority (Trading Standards) or the Department of Culture, Media and Sport website . A new system was introduced in Scotland in 2009.

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 CAD is available on the website resources page.

The Administrative Accompanying Document (AAD) is required by HM Revenue and Customs for movements under duty suspension: see Customs Notice 197.

Import licences for wines from Third Countries are no longer required.

If the information is not available in 'A guide to wine law', you should direct your enquiry to your importer in the UK. (Importers in other EC countries should contact the authorities in those countries.)

For wines from outside the EC, you should look at the Defra guidance on the Businesslink website for further information. Registration with a UK organic inspection body is required for imports from countries with comparable organic regimes and for other countries Defra will issue annual import authorisation (fee payable) on completion of a standardised application form. Wines from other Member States will be covered by the inspection bodies authorised by each country.

HM Revenue & Customs publishes this information on its website - see Excise and Other section.

Products which do not fall under the wine sector e.g. wines made from other fruit may only be described as a composite term, for example Apple Wine. Please contact your local Trading Standards department for advice on these.

Units of alcohol and related health warnings are not compulsory on wine. Details about the the voluntary alcohol labelling scheme are available on the Portman Group website under the Marketing section.

WSB guidance notes and accompanying documentation can be found in PDF files: Brief Introduction to the Common Agricultural Policy Wine Regulations of the EC, Guidance on the movement of wine into and within the EU and Importation and movement of wine products .

Detailed information on EU and UK National legislation can be found in a guide to wine law.

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association offers information through its Checklists (fee payable for non-members).