A consumer may complain to a retailer, to the distributor, direct to the producer, to a consumer organisation or to an enforcement authority. All companies are recommended to have in place processes to ensure that customer/consumer product complaints are dealt with promptly and efficiently, and that valid problems are dealt with satisfactorily.

Effective business continuity planning is a corporate requirement, particularly since business is now much more reliant on automated systems and the “just-in-time” delivery system. Suppliers will expect that businesses recover quickly from any incident and failure to do so could lead to a loss of profits and business confidence.

This document has been prepared by the Logistics Group, based on questions received by its members. This is not a definitive guide, as the circumstances of each trader and transaction will vary.

This guidance is of immediate concern to members who hold HMRC excise authorisations, such as registered consignee, commercial importer, tax representative, WOWGR, distilling, compounding, rectifying and excise warehousing and wholesaler registration.

Bottled wines and spirits can only be sold in specific prescribed volumes as set out in EC Directive 2007/45 and implemented in the UK by SI 2009 / 663.

If you are interested in entering the alcoholic drinks industry you will potentially be joining over 1.5 million people in the UK who are already working in this fascinating, dynamic and diverse sector. And with such a wide range of wines and spirit drinks products on the market, there are an equally wide range of business and employment opportunities available.

The Code of Practice is designed to ensure that all wine, spirit and allied products transported in bulk tanks are carried under conditions which guarantee acceptable cleanliness and freedom from any defect or contaminant which could adversely affect the style or quality of the product being carried.

Over recent years many changes have taken place in the world of shipping in general and logistics for the wine and spirit trade in particular. These changes include, amongst others, the Single European Market, the Channel Tunnel, deregulation, re-structuring of various HM Revenue & Customs departments, including rationalisation of Excise laws as well as the review of financial securities amongst others. Changes will also include implementation of the EU’s Excise Movement and Control System and trade facilitation at international level.

Advice found in the public domain in relation to Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax as far as fine wine is concerned varies, greatly and leads to confusion for businesses and consumers. The document is provided as guidance and aims to clarify the situation.

Distance sellers may be targeted by fraudsters, who seek to obtain the seller’s products without paying for them. This document suggests possible risk factors and prevention strategies. Effective due diligence processes are now a legal requirement for registered excise traders and make good commercial sense for all traders.

Ensuring that UK wine and spirit businesses are prepared for and that Government understands the consequences for those businesses of exiting the European Union is the most important and prolific piece of work the WSTA has undertaken on behalf of its 330 members. As a global industry, EU Exit and the uncertainty it brings poses a significant risk to those members. Yet the businesses the WSTA represents have tackled this challenge head on, so that the industry – worth £49 billion to the UK economy – continues to thrive in a post-Brexit world.

A guide to processes and/or policies that may be used to verify age prior to making a sale.