Why is WFA involved in technical issues?
WFA seeks to develop a regulatory regime that provides consumer protection but allows the freedom to innovate. Harmonised standards and conformance will facilitate the conduct of international trade, resulting in more rapid trade flows, reduced costs and greater integration of production networks in the region.

Our vision for the industry
To create a regulatory framework that will maximise flexibility in production and improvements in trade prospects while safeguarding the quality image of Australian wine.

How will we achieve this?
Through the WFA Technical Committee, the following activities are undertaken:

WFA is actively promoting the Mutual Acceptance Agreement (MAA) on winemaking practices into Asia to encourage free trade in wine, through setting a benchmark standard to ensure consistent quality for wines and guaranteeing consumer health and safety.

Background and other information
The regulation of wine around the world has a significant real and potential impact on the Australian wine industry. The past decade has seen unprecedented growth in the international trade in wine and serious impediments to trade arise from differences in regulatory philosophies for wine around the world.

Oenological regulations cover the range of materials and processes that can be used in the winemaking process.

In wine producing economies, rules grew to protect the reputation of the local products, stipulating such factors as the varieties of grapes that could be used, the maximum yields permissible in the vineyard and the processes that must be used as the wine is made. The regulations became a de facto quality control system. The best example of this can be seen in the French system of appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC).

In contrast to this highly regulated approach, many of the New World wine producing economies have enjoyed a relatively non-interventionist domestic regulatory environment in which to make wine.

For example, in Australia important factors covering the use of grapes and other permitted materials to make wine are covered in the Australian regulations, but Australian winemakers are permitted by regulation to use a wide range of processes and practices.

This has been a significant factor in promoting flexibility and innovation in the Australian industry and ensuring that consumers receive a high quality and consistent product.

There are a number of areas of trade barriers that are proliferating at present and appear to be part of a well orchestrated trade policy push from some major world players. These relate to consumer protection / fair trade and principally relate to product integrity systems, additives and processes and labelling.

Who's working on technical issues?

Members are welcome to contact Tony to discuss technical issues.

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