Hon Tim Groser
Minister of Trade
22 March 2013 Media Statement
World Wine Trade Group conclude Treaty Protocol on Wine Labelling
Trade Minister Tim Groser has welcomed the new Treaty Protocol on Wine Labelling, agreed today by members of the World
Wine Trade Group (WWTG).
In 2007, the WWTG negotiated a Treaty on Wine Labelling which set new standards in the field. The Protocol takes this
further by requiring participant countries to allow the importation and sale of wine from other signatories, provided it
meets minimum standards for labelling (relating to alcohol tolerance, variety, vintage and wine region), and the
exporting country’s laws and regulations.
The key benefits of the Protocol for New Zealand producers are that, once in force, it should provide enhanced access to
overseas markets, enhanced predictability about regulation in key markets; and will set a useful benchmark for WWTG
observer countries and other non-members.
“I’m pleased that New Zealand has marked its year as chair of the WWTG by the negotiation of this Protocol.
“New Zealand welcomes this cooperative approach which helps all WWTG members and others with whom the Group is sharing
information. That has been the case for our industry, which has seen its exports top NZ$1.2 billion annually despite
difficult economic conditions,” Mr Groser says.
Since 1998 the WWTG has been a leader in encouraging a wide range of activities which will benefit trade in wine and
thereby provide some welcome improvement in the returns for producers in New Zealand and elsewhere. The Group‘s work
fully recognises the importance to consumers of accurate information and the avoidance of deceptive labelling.
The WWTG comprises eight non-EU wine producing countries who now account for almost a third of total global wine
exports, a share which has risen rapidly over the past decade. Members include New Zealand, Argentina, Australia,
Canada, Chile, Georgia, South Africa and the United States; some other wine producing countries, such as Brazil, China,
Mexico and Uruguay attend as observers.
ENDS