What changes for the export of Italian wines to China under the new regulations?

by Uiv Legal Service

Italian wine companies, in order to export their products to non-EU markets, must follow specific procedures and regulations to avoid having their goods blocked at customs. In fact, every non-EU country precisely regulates the labelling of wine products, the permitted and prohibited oenological practices, and the allowed additives (detailing their quantitative limits), as well as the documentation required upon the goods' arrival in the destination country.

Labelling and oenological practices

From a labelling point of view, Article 42 of EU Regulation 2019/33 provides that Member States may authorise indications and presentations that do not comply with the Union’s current labelling and presentation standards, if such indications or presentations are required by the legislation of the third country in question. As for oenological standards and practices, Italian wine companies must consult the relevant local legislation to understand which additives and oenological practices are permitted and within what limits. Indeed, there is not always consistency or alignment between EU law and the laws of foreign countries.

The Chinese case

Regulations are constantly being updated all over the world. For example, there has recently been a change in legislation in China. On 8 February 2025, the “GB 2760-2024” regulation came into force, governing the use of additives in wine products and foodstuffs in general, marketed in the Chinese market. This is a very complex regulation, which lists all permitted additives, their usage limits, and the food categories in which they can be used. It also includes a list of technological aids and natural flavourings.

The Uiv Legal Service is available to support wine companies in interpreting and applying this regulation in order to produce wine products compliant with circulation on the Chinese market.

For questions to the Uiv Legal Service, write to [email protected]