The Government supports the Australian wine sector through engagement in international wine organisations.
Around 60 per cent of Australian wine production is exported. This is why it’s important that we work to support industry to address trade barriers and regulatory issues.
The department participates in the World Wine Trade Group (WWTG) and the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
World Wine Trade Group
The World Wine Trade Group (WWTG) is a group of government and industry representatives from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Georgia, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States and Uruguay. Australia has been a member of the WWTG since its founding in 1998.
Members work together to facilitate international trade in wine through information sharing, discussion of regulatory issues in wine markets, and joint actions for the removal of trade barriers. The WWTG recognises that each country has its own regulatory system. The group encourages the mutual acceptance of winemaking practices and harmonisation of labelling regulations to avoid strict, one-size-fits-all regulatory approaches. This provides benefits to both exporting and importing countries.
The WWTG has made significant achievements that facilitate international trade in wine. These include:
- the Agreement on Mutual Acceptance of Oenological Practices;
- the Agreement on Requirements for Wine Labelling and its Protocol;
- the Memorandum of Understanding on Certification Requirements; and
- the Arrangement on Information Exchange, Technical Cooperation and Counterfeiting.
Coupled with the WWTG Regulatory Principles, which aim to facilitate wine trade for the benefit of both wine exporting and importing countries, these documents are at the core of the WWTG’s activities.
Members of the WWTG represent US$8.2b annually of exports and 30% of the world’s wine exports. In the 12 months ending March 2024, Australia exported A$609m of wine to WWTG member countries, representing 32% value and 38% volume of total wine exported in this time.
Chairing the World Wine Trade Group
The WWTG is chaired on a rotating basis for a one-year term. Australia assumed chairing responsibilities on 1 June 2024. As a partnership between government and industry, chairing responsibilities will be shared between the department and peak industry body for the wine sector, Australian Grape & Wine. The Australian delegation also includes representatives from Wine Australia and the Australian Wine Research Institute.
As Chair, we will have the opportunity to advance the trade priorities of the group, strengthen collaboration with its members, and highlight the people, places and stories that make Australian wine unique.
Australia will host the Annual Meeting of the WWTG in Adelaide in October 2024.
International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV)
The OIV is an intergovernmental organisation that aims to promote collaboration in the international wine sector. Founded in 1924, the OIV has 50 member countries that represent 87% of global wine production.
Its objectives are to:
- inform its members on developments in the vine and wine products sector;
- assist other international organisations, especially those which carry out standardisation activities; and
- contribute to international harmonisation of existing practices and standards and, as necessary, to the preparation of new international standards.
While it is not mandatory for member countries to adopt OIV standards, positions taken by the OIV have an important influence on world wine trade.
Representatives from the Australian grape and wine sector make a valuable contribution to Australia’s involvement in the OIV through participating in expert working groups and providing technical advice.
Australia’s continued involvement in the OIV is important to enable continued contribution to the development of international standards for wine that are in the interests of the Australian wine sector.