Requests for information

Request types

Request for LIP records: Under section 39ZAA of the Act, Wine Australia may, by written notice, require records kept under the LIP to be provided to it in no less than 14 days. This power is relied on where very targeted records are required. It is an offence under section 39ZAB of the Act not to provide such information within the specified time period. 

Request for licence information: Section 12 of the Regulations provides that at any time, Wine Australia may, by written notice, request information from a licensee to assess whether the licensee ought to continue holding an export licence. In accordance with section 13(2) of the Regulations, Wine Australia can suspend an export licence if such information is not provided to it. 

Request for records before export: Under section 19 of the Regulations, Wine Australia may, by written notice and at least two days before a product is to be exported, request information from an exporter verifying that a requirement under an Australian law that relates to the description and presentation of a grape product has been met. Wine Australia can refuse approval of a shipment if the information is not provided to it in the specified time frame.

Request for samples: Under section 16 of the Regulations, Wine Australia may, by written notice, request samples and/or records demonstrating compliance with the labelling and record keeping laws, and/or with the Food Standards Code. If the information is not provided within the specified time period, Wine Australia can refuse to approve a product for export and, if the product has already been approved, can suspend the approval until the information is required (section 17(1)). 

Samples of wines may be requested at the time of product approval, during an inspection, or at any other time Wine Australia considers it necessary to request samples.

Compliance Analysis Program

The purpose of the Compliance Analysis Program is for the inspection and analysis of samples to confirm compliance with the Food Standards Code. The program is serviced by a contracted NATA laboratory on a financial year basis. The parameters to be examined are established in consultation with the Wine Industry Technical Advisory Committee and reviewed annually. 

Wine Australia will randomly select a representative number of samples of wines registered for export and request samples to be provided for inspection and analysis. In the case of packaged wine, two fully labelled samples of the product should be provided. Exporters will have seven days to acknowledge receipt of the request and advise that a sample has been dispatched. 

The samples provided must be representative of the product registered for export. Inspectors may ask for samples of product no longer held in commercial quantities. Accordingly, manufacturers and exporters should retain samples for as long as practical. 

From time-to-time Wine Australia may call for the submission of samples outside the framework presented above, in order to assist with enquiries into compliance with label laws or the Food Standards Code.