In a move set to enhance consumer choice, the Department for Business and Trade has declared the introduction of a new 568ml size for still and sparkling wine bottles in the United Kingdom. Starting December 27th, Britons will find ‘pint’ sized options alongside the existing 200ml and 500ml measures on supermarket shelves, in pubs, clubs, and restaurants.
This development, part of the Government’s smarter regulation initiative, aims to ensure that regulations remain current and adaptable. The decision, reached after consultations with the industry, grants businesses the ability to sell prepacked still and sparkling wine in the newly introduced 568ml size, along with the existing 500ml and 200ml quantities.
Approximately 900 vineyards are expected to benefit from these regulatory changes, providing a boost to production and supporting British businesses that currently produce around 12.2 million bottles of still or sparkling wine annually.
The reforms, made possible by the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023, come with the wholehearted endorsement of the industry, eager to alleviate burdensome regulations. The alterations are anticipated to foster innovation, enhance business freedoms, and expand choices for consumers.
Minister for Enterprise, Markets, and Small Business, Kevin Hollinrake, commented on the announcement, stating, “Innovation, freedom, and choice – that’s what today’s announcement gives to producers and consumers alike. Our exit from the EU was all about moments just like this, where we can seize new opportunities and provide a real boost to our great British wineries, further growing the economy.”
Nicola Bates, CEO of WineGB, welcomed the harmonization of still and sparkling bottle sizes, expressing delight in the greater choice offered to UK producers for domestic sales.
Under the Windsor Framework, newly packaged wine will be eligible for sale by bars, restaurants, and retailers in Northern Ireland, with products able to move in the retail “Green Lane” under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme.
Alongside the deregulatory measure on wine, the Government has responded to the consultation on Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales. While no new legislation will be introduced in this area, the Government has issued new guidance to promote awareness and use of imperial measurements. The legislative framework will remain under consideration as part of a broader review of metrology EU-derived legislation.
