The ban on exporting of wine has finally been lifted, with amendments to the state of disaster regulations being gazetted on Tuesday April 7.
The move comes after concerted lobbying by industry bodies.
The lifting of the ban allows the movement of finished goods – wine that has been packaged and certified, including bulk wine – to be moved to either a seaport or an airport, for shipment overseas.
This is a further relaxation of lockdown measures that had compromised the wine industry, (“Close call for the SA wine industry”, Bolander, April 1), that was initially prohibited from completing the harvest currently under way, which would have resulted in crippling losses for an industry already reeling from a smaller than anticipated harvest last year.
“The South African wine industry is truly grateful to government… for showing an understanding for the industry’s challenges through this concession,” said industry body, Vinpro, which represents some 2 500 wine producers and industry stakeholders.
