ImportingImporting, selling and labelling wine

Importing wine

You do not need to provide a VI-1 pro-formacertificate toif importyou are importing wine:

• into England,Great ScotlandBritain
• from andthe WalesEU (fromto anywhereNorthern inIreland

You thewill world)

Paying tax on imported wine

Find out what tax and VAT you need to pay for wine imported into Great BritainBritain..

Labelling wine imported into England from 1 January 2024 

OnFrom 1 January 2024, new labelling rules camecome into effect for all wine imported into England.

Wine importedimports intowill Englandhave mustto show the name and address of a business that: 

• is based in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 

• takesmarkets responsibilitythe forwine marketingunder theits wineown name 

YouThe doname notand needaddress towill usebe that of the wordsFood ‘importer’Business Operator (FBO), or ‘importedthe by’. 

Wineimporter, movingif tothe EnglandFBO fromis Northernnot Ireland,based in the UK, Channel Islands andor Isle of ManMan. must also meet this requirement.  

ThisWine winethat’s canlabelled bewith movedthe toname Scotland and Walesaddress forof sale,an withoutimporter thedoes not need to changeuse the label.words ‘importer’ or ‘imported by’. 

EUWine wine labelled before 1 January 2024 

Wine importedwill directly into England from the EU does not need to be re-labelled to comply with the current rules if any of the following apply: 

• it’s already been labelled in accordance with applicable rules at that time, and is being aged 
• it’s already in the supply chainchain 
• it was placed on the market before 1 January 2024  

Non-EUWine winemoving to England from other parts of the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man 

AllWine winemoving importedto directly into England from countriesother outsideparts of the EUUK, mustChannel complyIslands withand Isle of Man must follow the currentsame labellingrules rules.

Labellingas wine that’s imported intoto ScotlandEngland from any EU or Wales non-EU country.  

Registering as an FBO 

WineAny importedbusiness directlyselling intofood Scotlandand ordrink Wales must showregister theas winean importer’sFBO. address,This andincludes prefixbusinesses ittrading: 

• from withhome 
• from thea termmobile ‘importer’unit such as a van 
• in temporary premises such as a stall or ‘importedpop-up by’.shop 
• online  

Companies involved with food distribution or supply that operate from an office should also register as an FBO, even if no food is kept at the premises. 

ThisIf wineyour canfood bebusiness movedoperates in more than one location, you need to Englandregister foreach sale,site withoutwith the local authority where they are based. If you are not sure whether you need to changeregister theor label.if you would like more advice, you can contact your local authority in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. 

Labelling wine moving from England to Northern Ireland 

Wine moving from England to Northern Ireland usingto be marketed in Northern Ireland, and that’s labelled with the name and address of the FBO must comply with the Northern Ireland retail movement schemescheme. 

Wine (tothat’s benot marketedlabelled inwith Northernthe Ireland)name and address of the FBO must show the name and address of athe businessimporter, thatto iscomply basedwith inEU thelaw.  

Labelling UK,wine Channelimported Islandsdirectly orinto IsleScotland ofand Man. 

Wales 

Other

There are no changes to the regulations for wine labellingimported rules

Winedirectly soldinto Scotland and Wales. Direct imports to Scotland and Wales by businesses based in either Scotland or Wales will need to show the UKwine mustimporter’s alsoaddress, meetand otherprefix labellingit requirements.with the term ‘importer’ or ‘imported by’.

ReadUnder winethe labellingterms guidanceof from the FoodUK StandardsInternal Agency.Market Act 2020, products showing an FBO address can be marketed in Scotland and Wales where they were first imported into England. Similarly, products showing an importer can be marketed in England if they were first imported into Scotland or Wales.