News

The Labor Government has now settled into its stride. There has been a focus on resetting Australia’s image internationally, with a particular emphasis on climate change and enhancing strategic relationships with the Pacific region and more broadly. We have met with the new Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Murray Watt and he …

According to Rabobank, Australia’s agricultural sector can expect to contend with elevated ocean container shipping costs and ongoing supply disruptions for at least another year before a ‘normalisation’ of the global ocean freight system, according to new research from Rabobank. In its Global Ocean Freight Outlook report, the specialist agribusiness bank says while global container …

Food Standards Australia-New Zealand is working on three separate proposals that may have an impact on wine labelling requirements in the future. We’re working with FSANZ and other industry stakeholders with a view to supporting options that are evidence based, sensible and practical from a cost and regulatory compliance perspective. Such decisions also need to …

As advised in our May 2021 member news, on 25 February 2021 the Australia and New Zealand Food Standard Code (FSC) was amended to introduce new requirements for the labelling of allergens in food. These amendments include impactions for wine under (S9-3) Mandatory Declarations of the FSC. Key changes include mandatory requirements for allergen labelling …

On 30 June 2022, New Zealand (NZ) and the European Union (EU) announced they had concluded negotiations of their Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Australian Trade Minister, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, has also publicly stated the Australian Government’s intentions to finalise Australia’s FTA with the EU by the end of the year. The NZ-EU …

As noted in previous updates there is an appeal to our favourable Singapore High Court decision with the Appellate Division of the Singapore High Court. As part of this process, both parties have agreed to consider options for a mediated outcome through the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Centre (“WIPO Centre”). This mediation …

The European Commission is running a consultation (TRIS) process for comment on the original Irish Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2018. The consultation document can be found at TRIS consultation on a draft regulation for the Irish “Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) 2022 and is yet to be notified to the World Trade Organization. The prescribed form of …

Sustainability was a key theme at the Australian Wine Industry technical conference with a clear mandate that more and more businesses will need to demonstrate their ESG credentials. The pressure to do so is no longer confined to retailers, as banks, investors and trading partner nations are all equally interested in the ESG credentials of …

Biosecurity is fast becoming an accepted part of any agricultural business. The arrival of Varroa mite late last month, first detected around Newcastle, has fuelled concerns amongst Australia’s almond producers who are predicting that it could cost the industry tens of millions. Varroa mite is an external parasite of honey bees and is considered the …

Following our previous update, Australian Grape & Wine has continued to work with the sector, Government, and international colleagues to advocate on behalf of Australian wine for changes to the proposed UK tax reforms. This included: •             Coordinating Australian wine company responses and agreement on common Australian wine sector messaging; •             Briefing Australian Government Minister’s …