SA: Australian wine to meet new environmental standards

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2009
SA: Australian wine to meet new environmental standards

ADELAIDE, Dec 7 AAP - Australia's wine industry hopes all its exports will meet new
environmental standards by 2014.

Wine and grape growers on Monday launched EntWine Australia, a voluntary environmental
assurance scheme.

It requires companies to have their practices certified and independently audited to
measure their carbon footprints and to ensure they meet specific standards.

Winemakers' Federation of Australia chief executive Stephen Strachan said the wine
industry was determination to meet modern expectations on environmental stewardship.

"Those who meet or exceed the standards will be able to carry the nationally endorsed
EntWine Australia logo and will be listed on a publicly accessible online register," he
said.

"By 2014 we aim to have all Australian export wine achieving this standard."

Mr Strachan said feedback from the industry about the scheme had been positive and
there was a growing realisation that setting and meeting higher environmental standards
was an important consideration for consumers.

He said the federation was working through the international alcoholic beverage trade
association to ensure EntWine Australia was recognised internationally.

AAP tjd/jpm

KEYWORD: WINE

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