Wine Institute Applauds APEC Model Wine Certificate Announcement

SAN FRANCISCO— The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) announced the availability of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Model Wine Certificate which streamlines the process for wine exports within APEC’s 21 economies. The new certificate is the culmination of more than 10 years of work by Wine Institute and the U.S. government to remove a non-tariff trade barrier by consolidating three certificate requirements into a single certificate reducing paperwork for the $80 million in wine exports between U.S. and applicable APEC economies.

“Wine Institute’s staff and members of our Technical Advisory Committee are working proactively to reduce trade barriers and strengthen relationships between our industry, and international governments and regulators,” said Robert P. Koch, President and CEO of Wine Institute. “This simplified certificate process benefits both California wine exports and APEC economies.”

The APEC Model Wine Certificate is a multi-purpose certificate used for Certificates of Authenticity/Free Sale, Certificates of Health/Sanitation, and Certificates of Origin. The certificate is currently applicable to Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Vietnam. Wine exporters to China should continue to use the current “Consolidated” Wine Export Certificate.

APEC is a regional economic forum comprised of 21 economies: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Republic of Korea; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the United States; and Vietnam.

Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group of more than 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiates and advocates state, federal and international public policy that enhances the environment to responsibly produce, promote and enjoy wine. For more information, visit www.wineinstitute.org.