(1) A wine standards management plan is a plan designed to identify, control, manage, and eliminate or minimise hazards and other risk factors in relation to the making of wine in order to ensure that the wine is fit for its intended purpose.

(2) A wine standards management plan may be individually created by the person or wine business to whom or which it is to apply, or it may be created by some other party but adopted and amended to suit the operations of the person or business concerned. It may also be based on a template, a model, or a code of practice, if in the view of the Director-General the template, model, or code of practice is valid and appropriate for the business concerned.

(3) A wine standards management plan can relate to any or all matters relating to the making of wine for trade or export.

(4) A wine standards management plan may also apply to 1 or more wine businesses in cases where the Director-General has given approval under section 15.

The following persons must operate under a registered wine standards management plan for their wine-related operations, unless exempted under section 6 or section 11:

• (a) all winemakers:

• (b) such other persons as may be specified by Order in Council under section 12 as requiring to operate under a wine standards management plan.

(1) Winemakers who make wine products may, in respect of their wine product operations, either—

• (a) include those operations in their registered wine standards management plan for their winemaking operations; or

• (b) comply with the Food Act regime for their wine product operations.

(2) Winemakers who also make or retail food products must both—

• (a) have a registered wine standards management plan for their winemaking operations; and

• (b) comply with the Food Act regime in respect of their food product operations.

(3) Where wine product operations are included in a wine standards management plan under subsection (1), then, unless the context otherwise requires, all the provisions of this Act apply to the wine product concerned as if it were wine.

(1) The Director-General may, by notice under section 120, exempt in whole or in part any winemaker or person required under section 12 to have a wine standards management plan from the requirement to operate under a wine standards management plan—

• (a) for the period specified in the notice; and

• (b) on such conditions (if any) as may be specified in the notice.

(2) The Director-General may not grant an exemption under subsection (1) unless satisfied that, having regard if appropriate to the period of the exemption or the conditions imposed,—

• (a) the risk to human health of providing the exemption is negligible; and

• (b) the risk of damage to trade is also negligible.

(3) An exemption under subsection (1) may have retrospective effect.

(1) The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, require any 1 or more classes of the following categories of persons to have a wine standards management plan in respect of the wine-related operations specified in the order:

• (a) exporters of wine:

• (b) transporters of commodities or wine:

• (c) producers of commodities:

• (d) persons manufacturing wine products.

(2) The persons to whom and operations to which the order applies may be defined by reference to—

• (a) the class, kind, or description of commodity or wine or wine product produced:

• (b) the intended purpose or destination of the commodity or wine or wine product in question:

• (c) the type of operations or processes carried out in relation to the commodity or wine or wine product:

• (d) the type of premises or place in which operations or processes are carried out in relation to the commodity or wine or wine product in question:

• (e) any combination of the above.

(3) The Minister may not recommend the making of an order under this section unless—

• (a) the Minister is satisfied that the order is necessary or desirable—

  • (i) in the interests of producing wine or wine product that is fit for its intended purpose; or

  • (ii) for the purpose of facilitating access to overseas markets; and

• (b) there has been appropriate consultation on the subject matter of the order in accordance with section 115, except where the Minister considers the making of the order a matter of urgency in the public interest.

(4) Where an order under this section requires a wine standards management plan in respect of any specified operations, it may also, to ensure the appropriate application of any relevant provisions of this Act to the commodity or wine product or other matter concerned, specify that those provisions are to apply as if the commodity, wine product, or matter were wine, or otherwise make appropriate provision to ensure the application of this Act to the operations for which a registered wine standards management plan is required; and those provisions then apply accordingly.

An operator of a wine standards management plan has the following duties:

• (a) to ensure that the operations of the business subject to the plan do not contravene the relevant requirements of and under this Act, including the requirements set out in the plan:

• (b) to ensure the plan is consistent with the requirements of regulations and notices in force from time to time under this Act:

• (c) to adequately implement and resource all operations under the plan, including provision for the instruction, competency, and supervision of staff to ensure the making of wine that is fit for its intended purpose:

• (d) to ensure that all operations under the plan are commensurate with the capability and the capacity of the premises or place, facilities, equipment, and staff to make wine that is fit for its intended purpose and, if applicable, complies with any export requirements under subpart 3 of Part 2:

• (e) to give relevant recognised agencies and recognised persons such freedom and access as will allow them to carry out their functions and activities under the Act, including verification functions and activities:

• (f) to notify the Director-General, in advance where practicable, and otherwise as soon as possible, of any change in the operator's recognised verifying agency.

(1) A wine standards management plan must—

• (a) be in writing in a form acceptable to the Director-General:

• (b) specify the name and address (including the electronic address, if available) of—

  • (i) the business operator whose plan it is; and

  • (ii) the business or businesses covered by the programme:

• (c) identify—

  • (i) the wine being made; and

  • (ii) the premises or place to which the plan applies; and

  • (iii) any other business to which the plan applies (if it does not apply only to the business of the person applying for registration).

(2) A wine standards management plan must—

• (a) set out the procedures the operator will use for identifying, controlling, managing, eliminating, or minimising risk factors:

• (b) describe the steps the operator will take to confirm that the plan is working effectively:

• (c) provide for appropriate corrective actions (including recall) to be undertaken where the wine may not be fit for its intended purpose:

• (d) set out appropriate and auditable documentation and record keeping:

• (e) as appropriate to the operations under the plan, contain the matters specified in, and otherwise comply with—

  • (i) any relevant standard or other requirement prescribed by regulations made under this Act, and any relevant New Zealand food standard:

  • (ii) any relevant specifications set by the Director-General under this Act (including location of reference material and documents recording specific procedures):

• (f) cover all winemaking components and processes, and all premises and equipment:

• (g) document all processes involved in the making of wine.

(3) In relation to hazards, a plan must demonstrate that the following matters have also been taken into account in its development:

• (a) systematic identification of any hazards, and determination of the significance of those hazards, involved in the production of commodities and the making of wine:

• (b) determination of the points at which the hazards of significance identified in paragraph (a) occur, and the processes or procedures to best control them:

• (c) establishment of acceptable parameters of the processes or procedures at the points determined in paragraph (b):

• (d) establishment of monitoring procedures to demonstrate control at the points determined in paragraph (b):

• (e) identification of the action that will be taken if any parameters established for the plan are not achieved:

• (f) establishment of procedures for the ongoing confirmation that the plan is effective in managing the hazards:

• (g) appropriate and auditable documentation and record keeping.

(4) A proposed plan must also make appropriate provision for verification activities and the rights of recognised management plan verifiers, as specified by the Director-General.

(1) A registered wine standards management plan may apply to more than 1 business, if the Director-General approves.

(2) The Director-General may approve one person's wine standards management plan applying to all or part of the business or businesses of 1 or more other persons if satisfied that—

• (a) the plan is appropriate to the other businesses or part-businesses, as well as to the business of the person whose plan it is; and

• (b) the registered operator of the plan will have sufficient control, authority, and accountability for all matters covered by the plan in relation to the other businesses or part-businesses subject to its coverage; and

• (c) the applicant for the approval has obtained the consent or otherwise taken into account the views of any person whose business or part-business is to be covered by the plan.

(3) The approval may be given subject to conditions.

(4) Application for approval under this section must be made by the operator of the wine standards management plan, either at the time of application for its registration under section 18, or as an application for amendment under section 22(3).

A person who is required to operate under a wine standards management plan must apply for registration of the plan in accordance with section 18.

(1) The Director-General must keep and maintain a register of wine standards management plans that records every wine standards management plan registered under this Part.

(2) The purpose of the register is—

• (a) to enable members of the public, including persons and businesses operating under this Act, to know what business operations are subject to wine standards management plans, and who is responsible for various functions under those plans; and

• (b) to facilitate the ability of the Director-General to—

  • (i) ensure that all traded wine is fit for its intended purpose; and

  • (ii) advise winemakers and other persons required to have wine standards management plans under section 12 of overseas market access requirements, and of developments in market access issues; and

  • (iii) to safeguard official assurances for entry of wine into overseas markets, including in emergency situations; and

• (c) to facilitate the compliance, audit, and other supporting and administrative functions of the Ministry under this Act.

(3) The register of wine standards management plans must contain the following particulars in respect of each plan registered:

• (a) the name and address (including the electronic address, if available) of the winemaker or other business owner or operator whose plan it is:

• (b) the name, or the position or designation, of the person who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the plan, as nominated by the winemaker or other business owner or operator:

• (c) the date on which the plan was registered, and the registration number or other unique identifier allocated to it:

• (d) the types of wine (whether grape wine, fruit wine or vegetable wine, or other type of wine or wine product) to which the plan applies:

• (e) the principal categories of winemaking and other operations carried out under the plan:

• (f) the location and type of premises or place to which the plan applies:

• (g) the name of the recognised verifying agency responsible for the verification function under the plan:

• (h) the date (and period, if appropriate) of any suspension of operations under the plan or any deregistration or surrender of registration of the plan:

• (i) a brief indication of the reason for any such suspension or deregistration:

• (j) the date of the most recent amendment to the plan:

• (k) such other particulars as may be prescribed by or under this Act.

(4) The Director-General must—

• (a) keep the register open for public inspection, free of charge, at all reasonable hours at the head office of the Ministry and at such other places as the Director-General determines as necessary or appropriate; and

• (b) supply to any person copies of all or part of the register on request and on payment of a reasonable charge for the production of the copy.

(5) The register may be kept in such manner as the Director-General thinks fit, including, either wholly or partly, by means of a device or facility—

• (a) that records or stores information electronically or by other means; and

• (b) that permits the information so recorded to be readily inspected or reproduced in usable form; and

• (c) that permits the information in the register to be accessed by electronic means, including (without limitation) by means of remote log-on access.

(1) An application for registration of a wine standards management plan must be made in writing in a form or manner approved by the Director-General, and be accompanied by—

• (a) either—

  • (i) a copy of the wine standards management plan (or such greater number of copies as may be required by the Director-General); or

  • (ii) an outline of the contents of the wine standards management plan that complies with the requirements of the Director-General for those outlines; and

• (b) a copy of a report of an independent evaluation, carried out not more than 6 months before the date of the application for registration, of the validity of the wine standards management plan, in terms of sections 8 and 14; and

• (c) the name of the recognised verifying agency that has indicated it is prepared to undertake verification functions in respect of the plan; and

• (d) such further information and other material (including declarations, where appropriate) as may be required by regulations made under this Act; and

• (e) the prescribed fee (if any).

(1A) Despite the requirement in subsection (1)(b), the Director-General may waive or modify the requirement for an independent evaluation report where—

• (a) a wine standards management plan is fully based on a template, model, or code of practice that the Director-General considers to be valid and appropriate for the business concerned in accordance with section 8(2); or

• (b) a wine standards management plan is a multi-business wine standards management plan approved by the Director-General in accordance with section 15; or

• (c) the risks to human health are negligible and the Director-General is satisfied that the nature of the business does not require an independent evaluation report to ensure validity in terms of sections 8 and 14.

(2) The Director-General may require an applicant to supply further information or other material before determining whether or not to register a wine standards management plan.

(3) If the information or material is not supplied within 6 months of the date of the request, or within such further time as the Director-General allows, the application for registration lapses.

(1) The Director-General must register a wine standards management plan submitted by an applicant if satisfied that—

• (a) the content of the wine standards management plan—

  • (i) complies with the requirements imposed by or under this Act; and

  • (ii) ensures that, as far as practicable, the wine to be produced under the plan will be fit for its intended purpose; and

• (b) the applicant is a fit and proper person to operate a wine business, taking into account whether the applicant or any directors or managers of the business concerned have been convicted, whether in New Zealand or overseas, of any offence relating to fraud or dishonesty, or relating to management control or business activities in respect of any wine business (whether in New Zealand or elsewhere); and

• (c) the business, or its operator, is resident in New Zealand within the meaning of section OE 1 or section OE 2 of the Income Tax Act 1994.

(2) Registration may be subject to such reasonable conditions as the Director-General may specify, including conditions relating to the commencement of operations under the plan.

(3) The Director-General must, as soon as practicable after registering a wine standards management plan, supply the applicant with—

• (a) a notice of registration; and

• (b) a notice of any conditions imposed under subsection (2).

(4) If a person acting under the delegated authority of the Director-General imposes any conditions under subsection (2), the applicant may seek a review of the imposition of those conditions under section 114.

(5) Registration of a wine standards management plan under this section continues in force until the plan is deregistered under section 25 or its registration is surrendered under section 27.

(1) If, after considering an application and any further information or material supplied under section 18, the Director-General proposes to refuse to register a wine standards management plan, the Director-General must give the applicant—

• (a) a notice containing such particulars as will clearly inform the applicant of the grounds on which the Director-General proposes to refuse to register the plan; and

• (b) a reasonable opportunity to make written submissions or be heard in respect of the matter.

(2) Where the Director-General finally determines to refuse to register a plan, the Director-General must as soon as practicable notify that fact to the applicant in writing, giving reasons.

(3) If a person acting under the delegated authority of the Director-General declines to register a wine standards management plan, the applicant may seek a review of that decision under section 114.

(1) The registration of a wine standards management plan applies only to the particular operator and premises or place specified in the register, and may not be transferred to a different operator or premises or place.

(2) Nothing in this section prevents—

• (a) the registration in the name of a new operator, or in relation to new premises or a new place, of a wine standards management plan in substantially identical terms to those that applied to a former operator or premises or place; or

• (b) the extension of a plan to the business or part-business of another person in accordance with an approval given under section 15.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the following circumstances will, except as otherwise specified by the Director-General by notice under section 120, be treated as involving a change in the operator of a wine standards management plan, and so require registration of a new plan rather than amendment of an existing registered plan:

• (a) a change in the members of a partnership (but not in members' respective shares in the partnership):

• (b) the death, bankruptcy, receivership, or liquidation of the operator of the plan.

(1) The operator of a registered wine standards management plan must amend that plan, and apply for registration of the amendment, where any change, event, or other matter means that the plan—

• (a) is no longer appropriate, or will no longer be appropriate, to the wine, processes, or premises or place covered by the plan; or

• (b) otherwise impacts, or will impact, on the fitness for its intended purpose of the wine concerned or the content of the wine standards management plan.

(2) The operator must amend the plan, and apply for registration of the amendment, before the event where the operator knows of the change, event, or other matter in advance, and in all other cases must do so without unreasonable delay.

(3) The operator of a wine standards management plan may at any time apply to the Director-General, in a manner approved by the Director-General and on payment of the prescribed fee (if any), for registration of an amendment to the plan.

(4) As soon as practicable after determining to register an amendment, the Director-General must—

• (a) notify the applicant in writing accordingly; and

• (b) where the amendment relates to future events or matters, specify the date or occasion on which the amendment takes effect or will apply; and

• (c) supply to both the applicant and the appropriate recognised verifying agency a certified copy of the amendment (or, where appropriate, of a redraft of the relevant part of the plan that incorporates the amendment); and

• (d) make an appropriate entry on the register of wine standards management plans.

(5) If the Director-General proposes to refuse to register an amendment, the Director-General must give the applicant—

• (a) a notice containing such particulars as will clearly inform the applicant of the grounds on which the Director-General proposes to refuse to register the amendment; and

• (b) a reasonable opportunity to make written submissions or be heard in respect of the matter.

(6) Where the Director-General finally determines to refuse to register an amendment, the Director-General must as soon as practicable notify that fact to the applicant in writing, giving reasons.

(7) If a person acting under the delegated authority of the Director-General refuses to register an amendment, the applicant may seek a review of that decision under section 114.

(8) The Director-General may, by notice under section 120, specify matters in relation to amendments to wine standards management plans, including—

• (a) specifying the kinds of amendments that require registration and those that do not; and

• (b) specifying any amount of notice that may be required in respect of events or matters of a kind known to the operator in advance that will require an amendment to a registered wine standards management plan.

(1) For the purpose of ensuring that a registered wine standards management plan continues to comply with the requirements of section 14, every operator of a wine standards management plan must from time to time notify the Director-General of all amendments to the wine standards management plan that—

• (a) are of such a nature as not to require registration under section 22; and

• (b) have not been previously notified to the Director-General under this section.

(2) Notification of the amendments must—

• (a) be made in a manner approved by the Director-General; and

• (b) be made at such intervals as may be prescribed by regulations made under this Act, or otherwise by notice by the Director-General under section 120; and

• (c) contain such details and be accompanied by such other material (including declarations and evaluation reports, if required) as may be prescribed by regulations made under this Act or by notice by the Director-General under section 120; and

• (d) be accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any).

(3) On being satisfied that the requirements of this section have been complied with, and that the registered wine standards management plan concerned continues to comply with the requirements of section 14, the Director-General must register the fact that the plan has been updated under this section.

(4) The Director-General may, by notice under section 120, specify matters for the purposes of this section.

(1) The Director-General may at any time suspend any or all operations under a registered wine standards management plan for a period of up to 3 months if the Director-General has reasonable grounds to believe that—

• (a) the plan may not be or is no longer effective; or

• (b) the wine made under the plan does not meet or no longer meets the requirements of this Act.

(2) The Director-General may impose conditions and requirements in respect of the implementation and operation of a suspension under this section.

(3) Where the Director-General suspends all or any operations under a wine standards management plan, he or she must give written notice of that fact to the operator of the plan, specifying—

• (a) the reason for the suspension; and

• (b) the period of the suspension; and

• (c) the date on which or time at which it commences (which may not be earlier than the date or time of notification); and

• (d) the operations to which the suspension applies; and

• (e) any conditions or requirements in relation to the suspension.

(4) If the Director-General considers it necessary in the circumstances, and after having notified the operator of the proposed extension and the reasons for it, and having given the operator a reasonable opportunity to be heard, the period of suspension may be extended once for such further period not exceeding 3 months as the Director-General notifies to the operator in writing before the expiry of the original suspension.

(5) The Director-General must notify the appropriate recognised verifying agency of a suspension under this section.

(6) The Director-General may notify any suspension under this section in the Gazette.

(7) A suspension under this section does not affect any other actions that the Director-General may take under this Act.

(8) Where operations are suspended under this section, the Director-General may direct the operator or person in charge to take action appropriate to deal with any affected wine, and may exercise any of his or her other powers.

(9) If a person acting under the delegated authority of the Director-General suspends any operations under this section, the operator of the wine standards management plan or of the business concerned may seek a review of the suspension under section 114.

(1) The Director-General may at any time remove a wine standards management plan from the register if the Director-General is satisfied that—

• (a) the Director-General would be justified under section 24 in suspending operations under the plan but, in light of repeated suspensions of operations under the wine standards management plan in the past under that section, it would be more appropriate to deregister the plan; or

• (b) there is or has been such a serious failure of operations or other matters under the plan as to cast doubt on the fitness for its intended purpose of the wine produced under the plan; or

• (c) whether by reason of the passage of time or changing circumstances, or for any other reason, the wine standards management plan no longer ensures the fitness for its intended purpose of the wine under the plan; or

• (d) the operator of the plan is no longer a fit and proper person to operate or be responsible for the operation of a wine business, taking into account any conviction of the operator or any director or manager of the wine business concerned, whether in New Zealand or overseas, of any offence relating to fraud or dishonesty, or relating to management control or business activities in respect of businesses of a kind (whether in New Zealand or elsewhere) that are regulated under this Act; or

• (e) if the business ceases to be a wine business.

(2) The Director-General may not deregister a wine standards management plan under this section unless he or she has first—

• (a) notified the operator of the plan (whether orally or in writing) of the intention to deregister and the reason for deregistration; and

• (b) given the operator an opportunity to be heard.

(3) Where the Director-General finally determines to deregister a wine standards management plan, the Director-General must—

• (a) give written notice of that fact to the operator of the plan, giving reasons and specifying the date on which the deregistration takes effect (which may not be earlier than the date of notification); and

• (b) notify the appropriate recognised verifying agency of that fact.

(4) Where a wine standards management plan is deregistered under this section, the Director-General may direct the operator or person in charge to take action appropriate to deal with any affected wine and may exercise any of his or her other powers under section 59.

(5) The Director-General may notify any deregistration under this section in the Gazette.

(6) The deregistration of a wine standards management plan does not affect any other actions that the Director-General may take under this Act.

(7) If a person acting under the delegated authority of the Director-General deregisters a wine standards management plan under this section, the operator of the wine standards management plan or of the wine business concerned may seek a review of the deregistration under section 114.

(1) The Director-General may at any time remove any wine business from the coverage of a registered wine standards management plan that applies to 2 or more comparable businesses if the Director-General is satisfied that deregistration of the plan would be appropriate under section 25(1) if the business were the only one operating under the plan.

(2) Subsections (2) to (7) of section 25 apply in relation to the removal of the business from the coverage of the wine standards management plan as if references in those subsections to deregistration of the plan were references to removal from the coverage of the plan.

(1) The operator of a registered wine standards management plan may at any time surrender registration of the plan by notice in writing to the Director-General.

(2) Where the operator or wine business concerned ceases to operate as a wine business, that operator or wine business (or, where appropriate, the liquidator, receiver, executor, or other successor in title of the operator) must, within 20 working days of so ceasing,—

• (a) notify the Director-General in writing of that fact; and

• (b) surrender the notice of registration to the Director-General; and

• (c) notify the appropriate recognised verifying agency of that fact.

(3) At the same time as notification under subsection (1) or subsection (2), the operator or other relevant person must also notify the Director-General of how it is proposed to deal with any remaining wine covered by the wine standards management plan.

(4) The Director-General may approve or agree to any such proposal, but may also, if appropriate, exercise any of his or her powers under section 59.

(5) On being notified of a surrender by an operator of a wine standards management plan under this section,—

• (a) the Director-General must record the surrender on the appropriate register; and

• (b) the surrender takes effect from the date stated in the register.

A reference in this subpart to a recognised verifying agency, in relation to a wine standards management plan, must be treated as if it were a reference to a recognised management plan verifier if a recognised person carries out the verification functions and activities for that plan without being employed or engaged by a recognised agency.

If there is any conflict between the requirements of a registered wine standards management plan and those of any regulations or notices made under this Act, whether by reason of a failure to amend or update the plan to reflect any new requirements or otherwise, the requirements of the regulations or notices prevail.

This subpart provides for—

• (a) the setting of standards that must be met by any wine intended for trade or export; and

• (b) the setting of specifications that may be necessary or desirable to enable those standards to be met.

Standards and specifications set under this subpart may apply in respect of any class, kind, or description of wine, person or business, process or operation, equipment or other thing, premises or place, or area, and may apply regardless of whether or not a wine standards management plan is in place or is required in respect of the relevant wine, person or business, process or operation, premises or place, or area.

Standards and specifications set under this subpart may apply to wine products that are made or required to be made under a registered wine standards management plan pursuant to section 10(1)(a) or section 12 as if they were wine, and, for this purpose, in this subpart wine includes wine products.

(1) Regulations may be made under section 119, on the recommendation of the Minister, that prescribe—

• (a) standards in relation to wine identity and label integrity:

• (b) safety and hygiene standards for wine.

(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), standards may be prescribed in relation to the following matters:

• (a) the identification and labelling of wine, including prescribing minimum percentages of inputs required to label or identify wine in terms of its vintage, variety, and country or area of origin:

• (b) the keeping of records and the provision of returns to the Director-General in relation to wine and the making of wine, as a means of ensuring the truthfulness and integrity of labelling of wine, and the safety of wine:

• (c) the imposition of prohibitions, limitations, or requirements in relation to hazards or substances in a wine and the hygiene of all materials, substances, and equipment used in making wine.

(3) A standard may authorise or provide for matters of detail to be specified by the Director-General.

(4) A standard may apply generally or in respect of 1 or more of the following:

• (a) any specified wine, person or business, activity, or related matter or thing:

• (b) any specified class or classes of wine, person or business, activity, or related matter or thing.

(5) Without limiting the generality of subsection (4), a class of wine, person or business, activity, or related matter or thing may be defined by reference to—

• (a) the class, kind, or description of wine; or

• (b) a particular variety or blend of varieties of commodity; or

• (c) the premises or place, area, or locality in which the relevant wine is made or dealt with, or from which its components or other additives are derived; or

• (d) any other relevant factors.

(6) No standard may be prescribed that conflicts with any New Zealand food standard.

(7) No prescribed standard may be held invalid merely because it—

• (a) confers any discretion on, or allows any matter to be determined or approved by, the Minister, the Director-General, or any wine officer; or

• (b) allows the Minister, the Director-General, or any other person to impose requirements as to the performance of any activities.

(1) In recommending the prescribing of standards under section 33, the Minister must have regard to—

• (a) the desirability of maintaining consistency between New Zealand wine standards and any relevant standards, requirements, or recommended practices that apply or are accepted internationally:

• (b) the desirability of maintaining consistency with New Zealand's international obligations:

• (c) the desirability of facilitating access to overseas markets:

• (d) the need to protect the health of consumers of wine:

• (e) such other matters as the Minister considers relevant.

(2) The Minister may not recommend the prescribing of any wine standard unless the Minister is satisfied that appropriate consultation has been carried out in accordance with section 115.

(1) The Director-General may from time to time, by notice under section 120, set specifications and other detailed requirements that—

• (a) are specified or contemplated by or necessary to give effect to any prescribed standard; or

• (b) are necessary or desirable to amplify the manner in which any such standard may or must be achieved.

(2) The Director-General may set specifications under this section only after having regard to the matters specified in section 34(1) and after appropriate consultation carried out in accordance with section 115.

The object of this subpart is to facilitate the access of wine to overseas markets for New Zealand exporters by—

• (a) providing that the requirements of foreign governments, being requirements recognised by New Zealand, are available to, and met by, exporters and others; and

• (b) providing for requirements and systems to be satisfied and maintained to enable confidence in the issuing of assurances that are required by foreign governments for wine; and

• (c) providing for the setting of export eligibility requirements for wine, including processes for demonstrating compliance with those requirements in order to ensure that the reputation of New Zealand wine is not prejudiced; and

• (d) in the case of wine for which no export eligibility requirements are set, providing for the registration of exporters of that wine.

(1) No person may export wine from New Zealand unless—

• (a) in the case of wine that requires an official assurance that the wine meets relevant overseas market access requirements notified or made available under section 41, the appropriate official assurance has been obtained; and

• (b) either—

  • (i) in the case of wine to which export eligibility requirements set under section 38 apply, compliance with those requirements has been demonstrated; or

  • (ii) in the case of wine to which export eligibility requirements do not apply, the person is registered as an exporter under section 49.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any consignment of wine to the extent it is exempted from the relevant requirements under section 39 or under regulations made under this Act.

(1) The purpose of export eligibility requirements is to protect the reputation of New Zealand wine.

(2) The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations setting out requirements that must be met for wine to be eligible for export from New Zealand.

(3) The export eligibility requirements may apply to all wines, or to 1 or more classes, kinds, or descriptions of wine.

(4) Without limiting the generality of subsection (2), the regulations setting export eligibility requirements may—

• (a) prohibit the export of wine with an obvious fault (whether due to oxidation, tainting with extraneous flavours, or other fault):

• (b) prescribe processes for demonstrating compliance with the export eligibility requirements, whether by way of analysis or assessment of samples or certification by recognised agencies or recognised persons or otherwise:

• (c) allow for matters of detail to be specified by notice under section 120.

(5) The Minister may recommend the making of regulations setting export eligibility requirements under this section only after appropriate consultation in accordance with section 115.

(6) The Director-General may issue an export eligibility certificate for any wine if satisfied that the relevant export eligibility requirements have been met for that wine.

(1) The Director-General may, by notice under section 120, exempt from all or any of the requirements of this subpart any particular consignment or wine or person, or any particular class or description of consignments or wine or persons, if the Director-General is satisfied that the consignment or wine to be exported is—

• (a) to be used for the purposes of research or development; or

• (b) to be used as a trade sample or otherwise to assess any overseas market for the initial development of that market; or

• (c) for the personal use or other non-commercial use of the person travelling with the consignment; or

• (d) wine for consumption during transit as a passenger or crew by sea or air on a vessel or aircraft leaving New Zealand; or

• (e) of a kind that may be exempted by the Director-General in accordance with any order or regulations made under this Act.

(2) Regulations made under section 119 may—

• (a) exempt from all or any of the requirements of this subpart any class or description of consignments or wine or persons, having regard to the matters specified in subsection (1)(a) to (d):

• (b) authorise the Director-General to grant individual exemptions in accordance with any conditions set out in the regulations.

(3) An exemption under this section is subject to any conditions set out in the notice or regulations.

It is the duty of every exporter of wine to which this subpart applies—

• (a) to ensure that their operations as an exporter do not contravene any relevant requirement of or under this Act; and

• (b) to export only wine that meets—

  • (i) the relevant standards and specifications; and

  • (ii) the relevant overseas market access requirements notified or made available by the Director-General under section 41; and

• (c) to notify the Director-General as soon as possible, and in any case not later than 24 hours after the event or first knowledge of the event, of the event and what actions (if any) have been taken in respect of the event in any case where wine exported by the exporter—

  • (i) is not fit, or is no longer fit, for its intended purpose; or

  • (ii) is refused entry by the foreign government concerned; or

  • (iii) does not meet or no longer meets the relevant overseas market access requirements as notified or made available by the Director-General under section 41; or

  • (iv) does not have, or no longer has, the required official assurances; and

• (d) to maintain procedures and processes to demonstrate that the record-keeping requirements of and under this Act in relation to the provenance and processing of the wine exported by the exporter are being complied with; and

• (e) in the case where the wine is subject to export eligibility requirements, to ensure that they only export wine that has been shown to comply with those requirements.

(1) The Director-General must—

• (a) either notify or ensure that there is made available to exporters and winemakers known to the Director-General any particular access requirements for overseas markets that New Zealand has recognised; and

• (b) make those requirements available for inspection free of charge, or for purchase at reasonable cost, to exporters and winemakers.

(2) The Director-General may, where the Director-General considers it necessary or desirable, by notice under section 120, issue specifications that set out the manner in which the access requirements may or must be met, and must notify or make the specifications available in the same way as requirements are notified or made available under subsection (1).

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) prevents the Director-General from—

• (a) charging for access to any website, or for information or services provided by any website; or

• (b) in the case of overseas market access requirements that are commercially sensitive, limiting access to those requirements to persons who satisfy the Director-General that their specific export or processing activities cannot be properly undertaken under this Act unless they have that access.

(1) For the purposes of meeting the overseas market access requirements of any foreign government that are notified or made available by the Director-General under section 41 in respect of any wine to be exported, the Director-General, or a person authorised by the Director-General under section 46, may, in appropriate cases, issue an official assurance in respect of that wine if satisfied that the relevant requirements of the importing country have been met.

(2) Without limiting the matters to which an official assurance may apply, an official assurance is a statement to a foreign government, or an agent of a foreign government, attesting that, as appropriate, any 1 or more of the following applies in respect of any wine:

• (a) any specified process has been completed under this Act with respect to the wine concerned:

• (b) the wine concerned meets the standards and specifications set under subpart 2 of Part 2 and any relevant New Zealand food standards for that wine:

• (c) any overseas market access requirements of any foreign government that are recognised by New Zealand, and that are stated in the assurance, have been met by the system under which the wine was made:

• (d) the situation in New Zealand, in relation to any matter concerning wine, is as stated in the assurance.

(3) An official assurance is not a guarantee that the contents of all or any of a particular consignment of wine to which it relates—

• (a) necessarily meet the commercial requirements of the importer; or

• (b) are fit for the intended purpose of the wine no matter what the status or description of the consumer, or what has happened to the consignment since it left New Zealand; or

• (c) are fit for a purpose other than that for which they were intended.

(4) The Crown is not liable to any person in respect of the provision of any official assurance given in good faith and with reasonable care as to the compliance of wine with the requirements of an importing country.

(1) An official assurance may be in the form of a certificate or declaration or in such other form as may be determined by the Director-General.

(2) An official assurance may relate to—

• (a) 1 or more consignments of wine; or

• (b) 1 or more makers or exporters of wine; or

• (c) 1 or more export destinations; or

• (d) any combination of the above.

(3) An official assurance may be communicated to its appropriate destination by writing, fax, electronic means, or any other form of communication that is accurate, clear, and verifiable.

(4) The Director-General may issue notices under section 120 that set out requirements and procedures for the issue and control of official assurances.

(1) A person who wishes to obtain an official assurance in respect of any wine for export may apply in a manner approved by the Director-General, and must—

• (a) supply such information as is required; and

• (b) pay any relevant fee.

(2) The Director-General must not issue an official assurance unless satisfied that the information obtained from the applicant justifies the giving of the assurance.

(1) An official assurance may be withdrawn by the Director-General or other authorised person if the Director-General or person is satisfied that—

• (a) the assurance was incorrectly or inappropriately given; or

• (b) events or circumstances occurring since the assurance was given mean that it no longer holds true, or is misleading.

(2) The Director-General or person authorised by the Director-General may, on application in a manner approved by the Director-General, and on payment of any fee required under subpart 2 of Part 3, reissue the official assurance (with any modifications, if appropriate) as a new official assurance.

The Director-General may designate 1 or more persons employed within the Ministry as authorised persons who may issue official assurances for the purposes of this subpart.

(1) The Director-General must keep and maintain a register of exporters that records persons authorised under this subpart to export wine to which the export eligibility requirements do not apply.

(2) The purpose of the register is—

• (a) to enable members of the public, including persons and businesses operating under this Act, to know who is authorised to export wine of a kind that is not subject to export eligibility requirements; and

• (b) to facilitate the ability of the Director-General to—

  • (i) ensure that all exported wine is fit for its intended purpose:

  • (ii) advise exporters of overseas market access requirements, and of developments in market access issues:

  • (iii) to safeguard official assurances for entry of wine into overseas markets, including in emergency situations; and

• (c) to facilitate the compliance, audit, and other supporting and administrative functions of the Ministry under this Act.

(3) The register of exporters must contain the following particulars in relation to each exporter:

• (a) the name and address (including the electronic address, if available) of—

  • (i) the exporter; and

  • (ii) if appropriate, the exporter's New Zealand agent:

• (b) the date on which the exporter was registered, and the date of expiry of that registration:

• (c) the date of any deregistration under section 52:

• (d) such other particulars as may be prescribed by or under this Act.

(4) The Director-General must—

• (a) keep the register open for public inspection, free of charge, at all reasonable hours at the head office of the Ministry and at such other places as the Director-General determines as necessary or appropriate; and

• (b) supply to any person copies of all or part of the register on request and on payment of a reasonable charge for the production of the copy.

(5) The register may be kept in such manner as the Director-General thinks fit, including, either wholly or partly, by means of a device or facility—

• (a) that records or stores information electronically or by other means; and

• (b) that permits the information so recorded to be readily inspected or reproduced in usable form; and

• (c) that permits the information in the register to be accessed by electronic means, including (without limitation) by means of remote log-on access.

(1) A person who intends to export any wine (other than wine to which export eligibility requirements apply, or wine exempted under section 39 or by regulations under this Act) must apply to the Director-General, in a manner approved by the Director-General, for registration on the register of exporters.

(2) On receipt of a properly made application accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any), the Director-General must register the applicant as an exporter unless the Director-General considers that—

• (a) the applicant is not a fit and proper person to be registered as an exporter, having regard to any conviction of the applicant or any director or manager of the applicant, whether in New Zealand or overseas, for any offence relating to fraud or dishonesty, or relating to management control or business activities in respect of wine businesses (whether in New Zealand or elsewhere); or

• (b) there has in the past been a serious or repeated failure by the applicant to comply with duties of the type specified in section 40; or

• (c) there are other good grounds for considering that the applicant is likely in the future to fail to comply with the duties specified in section 40; or

• (d) subsection (3) applies to disqualify the person.

(3) No person may be registered as an exporter unless—

• (a) they are a New Zealand resident within the meaning of section OE 1 or section OE 2 of the Income Tax Act 1994; or

• (b) they have an agent who is a New Zealand resident within the meaning of those sections.

(4) For the purpose of assessing the matters specified in subsection (2), the Director-General may require an applicant to supply information additional to that contained in the application.

(5) If the applicant fails to supply the information within 3 months after the request, or within such further time as the Director-General may allow, the application lapses.

Where the Director-General determines to register an applicant as an exporter, the Director-General must—

• (a) register the person as an exporter on the register, showing the date of registration; and

• (b) notify the person in writing accordingly.

(1) If the Director-General proposes to refuse to register a person as an exporter, the Director-General must give the applicant—

• (a) a notice containing such particulars as will clearly inform the applicant of the substance of the grounds on which the Director-General proposes to refuse to register the applicant; and

• (b) a copy of any information on which the Director-General relies in proposing to refuse to register the applicant; and

• (c) a reasonable opportunity to make written submissions or be heard in respect of the matter.

(2) Where the Director-General finally determines to refuse to register a person as an exporter, the Director-General must as soon as practicable notify the person, in writing, of—

• (a) the decision; and

• (b) the reasons for the decision, and the facts or assumptions on which it is based.

(1) Every registered exporter is liable to pay, either annually or at such greater interval as may be prescribed, the prescribed fee (if any) in respect of their confirmed registration.

(2) Any failure to pay the fee by the due date that persists for more than 20 working days may result in deregistration under section 52.

(1) The Director-General may at any time remove a person from the register of exporters if satisfied that—

• (a) there has been a serious or repeated failure by the registered exporter to comply with the duties specified in section 40; or

• (b) the person is disqualified from being registered as an exporter by virtue of section 48, or is not a fit and proper person to be registered as an exporter having regard to any conviction of a kind referred to in section 48(2) that—

  • (i) arose after the person's registration as an exporter; or

  • (ii) first came to the attention of the Director-General after the person's registration as an exporter; or

• (c) any failure to pay the annual fee or other fee prescribed under section 51 by the due date has persisted for more than 20 working days.

(2) Before removing a person from the register, the Director-General must—

• (a) notify the person in writing of his or her intention, giving the reasons for that intention and the facts and assumptions on which it is based; and

• (b) give the person a reasonable opportunity, within the time specified in the written notice, to provide evidence, information, and submissions as to why the person should not be removed from the register.

(3) Where the Director-General considers it urgently necessary in the interests of human health, or the integrity or reputation of New Zealand exports,—

• (a) the Director-General may direct the exporter to suspend all export operations, or such operations as the Director-General may specify, pending a final determination as to whether the exporter should be deregistered, and may also give such directions under section 59 as appear to the Director-General to be reasonable in relation to any wine under the control of the exporter at the time the direction is given; and

• (b) any such direction takes effect from the date of the notification under subsection (2), or such later date as the Director-General specifies; and

• (c) the exporter must comply with the direction.

(4) After considering the material (if any) supplied by a person under subsection (2)(b), the Director-General must—

• (a) make a final decision as to whether or not to remove the person from the register; and

• (b) as soon as practicable, notify the person of the decision in writing, giving reasons and the facts or assumptions on which the decision is based in the case of an unfavourable decision.

(1) A registered exporter may at any time surrender registration by notice in writing to the Director-General.

(2) The Director-General must record the surrender on the register of exporters, and the surrender takes effect from the date stated in the register.

If a person acting under the delegated authority of the Director-General refuses an application to register a person as an exporter, or deregisters the person, the person may seek a review of that decision under section 114.

(1) The Director-General may from time to time appoint persons as wine officers for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Persons appointed under subsection (1) must be employed under the State Sector Act 1988.

(3) A wine officer may be authorised, on his or her appointment, to exercise and perform all of the powers and functions conferred on wine officers under this Act, or only those powers and functions specified in the officer's instrument of appointment or subsequent written notice from the Director-General to the officer.

The Director-General may from time to time issue notices as specified in section 120.

(1) The Director-General may, by notice in writing, give directions to any or all wine officers, recognised persons, recognised agencies, or recognised classes as to the exercise of their functions under this Act.

(2) The Director-General may, by notice in writing, give such directions to the following persons as may be appropriate and reasonable concerning the taking of preventative or corrective action in respect of wine that the Director-General cannot be reasonably satisfied will meet the requirements of this Act in the absence of such action:

• (a) any operator or person in charge of a wine standards management plan:

• (b) any operator or person in charge of a wine business subject to this Act:

• (c) any exporter:

• (d) any person in control of, or reasonably appearing to be in control of, any wine, including a transporter, retailer, or storeperson:

• (e) any producer or transporter of a commodity.

(3) A direction must be given to a recognised class by notifying the class in accordance with section 82W.

(1) The Director-General may, for the purpose of examining, reclassifying, rectifying, or disposing of any wine that is not fit for its intended purpose or that he or she has good reason to believe is not fit for its intended purpose, or that is mislabelled or incorrectly identified, issue a notice in writing directing the recall of that wine and requiring the wine to be taken to a place specified in the notice, or a place agreed to between the Director-General and the recipient of the notice.

(2) A notice under this section (a recall notice) may also specify any requirements that may be imposed under section 59.

(3) A recall notice may be directed to any 1 or more persons who own or have control over the wine in question.

(4) On receipt of a recall notice, the person on whom it is served must as soon as practicable—

• (a) advise the Director-General of the details of the manner in which the notice is to be complied with; and

• (b) give written notice to the Director-General when the recall, and any specified requirement associated with the recall, has been completed.

(5) If a person who owns or has control of the wine fails or refuses to comply with a recall notice, the Director-General may—

• (a) take any reasonable steps necessary to ensure control of the wine (including entry by wine officers into premises under a warrant); and

• (b) recover the costs and expenses reasonably incurred in assuming control of the wine as a debt due from that person.

(6) Nothing in this section affects the power of the Director-General to issue a statement of a kind referred to in section 60.

(1) This section applies in relation to a situation where the Director-General—

• (a) suspends operations under a registered wine standards management plan in accordance with section 24; or

• (b) deregisters a wine standards management plan in accordance with section 25; or

• (c) removes a wine business from the coverage of a registered wine standards management plan under section 26; or

• (d) accepts a surrender of registration under section 27, in circumstances where no agreement has been reached on how it is proposed to deal with any remaining wine covered by the wine standards management plan; or

• (e) suspends export operations of an exporter in accordance with section 52(3); or

• (f) has reasonable grounds to believe that a person who is required to be registered as an exporter under subpart 3 of Part 2 is exporting, has exported, or is about to export wine without being so registered; or

• (g) has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is exporting, has exported, or is about to export wine that does not meet relevant export eligibility requirements.

(2) In a situation to which this section applies, the Director-General may, whether immediately before, at the same time as, or after taking any relevant action referred to in subsection (1),—

• (a) give directions to the relevant operator, person in charge (or person who reasonably appears to be in charge), owner of the wine, or exporter, or any of them, on the handling, storage, further processing, transport, identification, classification, reclassification, verification, condemnation, destruction, or disposal of the wine affected by the deregistration, surrender, suspension, or failure to register; and

• (b) if the directions are not complied with, undertake the appropriate directed activities himself or herself (through wine officers or other Ministry officers or employees) in relation to the affected wine.

(3) The Director-General may recover all actual and reasonable costs of any activities undertaken under subsection (2)(b) from the person to whom the direction in question was given under subsection (2)(a) and who failed to comply with the direction.

(1) The Director-General may from time to time, for the purpose of protecting or informing the public, publish under this section statements relating to any wine.

(2) The Director-General is protected from civil liability for a statement published under this section, unless the statement was not made in good faith or was made recklessly.

The Director-General may delegate under section 41 of the State Sector Act 1988 all or any of his or her functions, powers, or duties under this Act, except the power to issue statements under section 60.

(1) A wine officer may, for the purpose of determining whether or not any person is complying with this Act, or any requirements made under this Act, or whether any wine is in compliance with the requirements of this Act or any requirements made under this Act, without a warrant enter any place (other than a dwelling house or marae) at, in, or from which—

• (a) any winemaker operates, or any business that is subject to a wine standards management plan or that processes or sells food that is or includes wine, is operated; or

• (b) any exporter operates; or

• (c) any recognised agency or recognised person operates; or

• (d) the books or records, or other business information kept in writing or electronic form, of any such winemaker, wine business, exporter, recognised agency, or recognised person, are kept.

(2) A wine officer may, pursuant to and in accordance with the conditions of a search warrant issued under section 65, enter any place (including a dwelling house or a marae) specified in the warrant.

(3) The provisions of subparts 1, 4, 7, 9, and 10 of Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (except sections 118 and 119) apply in respect of the exercise of any powers under this section.

(4) [Repealed]

(1) A wine officer may, so far as is reasonably necessary for the purpose of determining compliance with this Act or any requirements made under this Act at any place that the officer may enter under section 62,—

• (a) examine all things, and open containers, packages, and other things to inspect their contents:

• (b) examine, inquire about, and copy any documents or other records (including records held in electronic or other form) relating to the obligations and duties under this Act, and for this purpose may—

  • (i) remove documents or records to another place for the purpose of copying them; and

  • (ii) require a person who has control of or knowledge of the documents or records to reproduce or assist in reproducing in usable form information recorded or stored in a computer or other device or system:

• (c) use or require the use of any reasonable means to identify the kind or description of any wine, equipment, package, container, or other relevant thing:

• (d) identify or mark any wine, equipment, package, container, or other relevant thing:

• (e) take samples of any wine, or any other input, substance, or thing that has been, is, or may be in contact with, or in the vicinity of, any wine, and test or analyse or arrange for the testing or analysis of the samples:

• (f) direct the operator or person in charge of the place to identify and hold any wine, substance, equipment, package, container, or other relevant thing until—

  • (i) the results of tests and analysis have been assessed; or

  • (ii) any lawful direction of a wine officer has been complied with.

(2) A wine officer must return any documents or records removed under subsection (1)(b)(i) within such time as is reasonable to allow for their copying.

(2A) The provisions of Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (except subparts 2, 3, and 8, and sections 118 and 119) apply.

(3) A wine officer may call on any person to assist him or her in the exercise of his or her powers under any of paragraphs (c) to (f) of subsection (1). Any such person may act only under the supervision and in accordance with the instructions of the wine officer.

(1) For the purposes of determining or ensuring the compliance of wine with the requirements of this Act or any requirements made under this Act, a wine officer may—

• (a) interrupt any operations involved in the making or export of any wine:

• (b) restrict or prohibit the use of any process, product, substance, equipment, or other relevant thing:

• (c) direct the operator or the person in charge of the relevant operations to do any reasonable thing, at the cost of the operator.

(2) Where practicable in all the circumstances, the wine officer must consult with the operator or person in charge of the operations before exercising any powers under this section.

(1) An issuing officer (within the meaning of section 3 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012) may issue a search warrant, in respect of any place (including any dwelling house or marae), if satisfied, on an application by a constable or a wine officer made in the manner provided in subpart 3 of Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012, that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is at that place any thing—

• (a) in respect of which an offence under this Act has been or is being committed; or

• (b) that has been, is being, or is intended to be used by any person for the commission of an offence under this Act; or

• (c) that is or may be evidence of the commission of an offence under this Act by any person.

(2) Subject to section 66, the provisions of Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (except sections 118 and 119) apply.

(3) A search warrant must be directed to a constable by name, or to every constable, or to a wine officer by name, but, in any of these cases, the warrant may be executed by any constable.

(1) Without limiting the powers conferred by any search warrant issued under section 65(1), every warrant issued under that section authorises the constable or wine officer who is executing it, and any person called on by that constable or officer to assist, to exercise—

• (a) all the powers of a wine officer under sections 63 and 64; or

• (b) only such of those powers as are specified in the warrant.

(2) [Repealed]

(3) A constable must be present if the search warrant is executed at a dwelling house or marae.

(4) [Repealed]

(1) [Repealed]

(2) [Repealed]

(3) [Repealed]

(4) A constable or wine officer who is exercising a power of entry in relation to a marae or a building associated with a marae must have regard to the kawa of the marae so far as is practicable in the circumstances.

Subparts 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 of Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 apply in respect of any property seized by a constable under a search warrant and, with any necessary modifications, in respect of property seized under a search warrant by a wine officer, subject to the following provisions:

• (a) [Repealed]

• (b) [Repealed]

• (c) [Repealed]

• (d) if any person is convicted of an offence to which the item relates, the court may, if it thinks fit, order that the item be forfeited to the Crown or disposed of as the court directs at the expense of the convicted person, and may order that the person pay any reasonable costs incurred by the Commissioner of Police or the Director-General in retaining the item.

Sections 70 to 82Z—

• (a) establish a procedure for the recognition of agencies (including recognised verifying agencies) that are responsible for managing and carrying out specified functions and activities for the purposes of this Act; and

• (b) establish a procedure for the recognition of persons (including recognised management plan verifiers) or classes of persons who are to carry out specified functions and activities for the purposes of this Act; and

• (c) set out the duties of recognised agencies, recognised persons, and recognised classes, and when their recognition can be suspended or withdrawn; and

• (d) provide for the establishment and maintenance of a public register of recognised agencies, recognised persons, and recognised classes, and for the public to access the register.

In sections 71 to 82Z,—

• (a) a conviction for an offence against this Act; or

• (b) a conviction (whether in New Zealand or in another country) for any offence relating to fraud or dishonesty; or

• (c) a conviction (whether in New Zealand or in another country) for any offence relating to management control or business activities in respect of businesses of a kind (whether in New Zealand or in another country) that—

  • (i) are regulated under this Act or any other Act administered by the Ministry; or

  • (ii) are subject to an overseas regulatory regime similar to that set out in this Act.

(1) The Director-General may, on the application of a person, recognise that person as an agency that is responsible for the management and carrying out of specified functions and activities.

(2) Before recognising an applicant, the Director-General must—

• (a) consider whether to impose a condition under section 81(1) requiring the applicant to manage or supply recognised persons to carry out some or all of the permissible functions and activities for which recognition is sought; and

• (b) be satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to manage and carry out the permissible functions and activities for which recognition is sought.

(3) In determining whether an applicant is a fit and proper person, the Director-General—

• (a) must take into account the following matters:

  • (i) the competencies and resources of the applicant to manage and carry out the permissible functions and activities for which recognition is sought; and

  • (ii) any specified conviction entered against the applicant or any director or manager of the applicant; and

  • (iii) the applicant’s character and reputation, including, if appropriate, the character and reputation of the directors of the applicant or of those responsible for its management or control; and

  • (iv) the applicant’s ability to maintain an appropriate degree of impartiality and independence in managing and carrying out the permissible functions and activities for which recognition is sought; and

  • (v) any applicable requirements of this Act; and

• (b) may take into account any other matters that the Director-General considers relevant.

(1) The Director-General may, without receiving an application under section 71(1), recognise any of the persons set out in subsection (2) as an agency that is responsible for the management and carrying out of specified functions and activities.

(2) The persons are—

• (a) the Ministry:

• (b) any group of persons within the Ministry that is designated by the Director-General for the purpose.

(3) Section 71(2) and (3) apply to subsection (1) accordingly, with all necessary modifications.

(1) The Director-General may, on the application of a natural person, recognise that person to carry out specified functions and activities.

(2) Before recognising an applicant, the Director-General must—

• (a) consider whether to impose a condition under section 81(1) requiring the applicant to be managed, employed, or engaged by a recognised agency to carry out some or all of the permissible functions and activities for which recognition is sought; and

• (b) be satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to carry out the permissible functions and activities for which recognition is sought.

(3) In determining whether an applicant is a fit and proper person, the Director-General—

• (a) must take into account the following matters:

  • (i) the competency of the applicant to carry out the permissible functions and activities for which recognition is sought; and

  • (ii) any specified conviction entered against the applicant; and

  • (iii) the applicant’s character and reputation; and

  • (iv) the applicant’s ability to maintain an appropriate degree of impartiality and independence in carrying out the permissible functions and activities for which recognition is sought; and

  • (v) any applicable requirements of this Act; and

• (b) may take into account any other matters that the Director-General considers relevant.

(1) The Director-General may, without receiving an application under section 73(1), recognise any of the following natural persons to carry out specified functions and activities:

• (a) any officer or employee of the Ministry:

• (b) any officer or employee of any department of the Public Service listed in Schedule 1 of the State Sector Act 1988.

(2) Section 73(2) and (3) apply to subsection (1) accordingly, with all necessary modifications.

(1) The Director-General may recognise a class of natural persons to carry out specified functions and activities.

(2) The Director-General may recognise a class of natural persons—

• (a) on the application of any person who the Director-General is reasonably satisfied—

  • (i) represents that class of persons; or

  • (ii) is an appropriate person to make an application on behalf of that class of persons; or

• (b) without receiving an application.

(3) Before recognising a class of natural persons, the Director-General must—

• (a) consult the members of the class and the applicant (if any) in accordance with section 82X about the application for recognition of the class; and

• (b) be satisfied that the class is an appropriate class to carry out the permissible functions and activities for which the class is proposed to be recognised.

(4) In determining whether a class is an appropriate class, the Director-General—

• (a) must take into account the following matters:

  • (i) whether the class can be defined with appropriate accuracy and specificity; and

  • (ii) the degree to which members of the class share common characteristics (for example, qualifications, skills, and experience); and

  • (iii) the degree to which the ordinary qualifications, skills, functions, and activities of members of the class correspond with, and demonstrate adequate competency to carry out, the permissible functions and activities for which the class is proposed to be recognised; and

  • (iv) whether the class is supervised, regulated, governed, or controlled by or under a professional or regulatory body or system (for example, a disciplinary body or system), or an enactment; and

  • (v) whether the class is subject to a code of ethics or standards of professional conduct to which members must adhere; and

  • (vi) any applicable requirements of this Act; and

• (b) may take into account any other matters that the Director-General considers relevant.

(5) If the Director-General recognises a class of persons under this section, the Director-General may, if he or she considers on reasonable grounds that it is appropriate to do so, exclude 1 or more members of the class, or categories of members of the class, from the recognised class (see section 80).

To avoid doubt, a natural person may be recognised under any 1 or more of sections 71 to 75 despite already being recognised in another capacity under any 1 or more of those sections.

An application for recognition under section 71, 73, or 75 must—

• (a) be in the appropriate form and manner provided or approved by the Director-General for that purpose; and

• (b) be accompanied by the prescribed application fee (if any).

(1) The Director-General may require a person who applies for recognition to supply further information or material before determining whether to grant the recognition.

(2) An application for recognition lapses if the additional information or other material is not supplied—

• (a) within 3 months after the date of the requirement; or

• (b) within any further time that the Director-General allows by notice in writing.

(1) If the Director-General proposes to refuse an application for recognition in whole or in part, the Director-General must consult the applicant in accordance with section 82X about the proposed refusal.

(2) The notification given to the applicant in accordance with section 82X(a)(i) must—

• (a) specify the grounds for proposing to refuse the application; and

• (b) include a copy (or an adequate summary) of all material information the Director-General relies on in proposing to refuse the application.

(3) If the Director-General finally determines to refuse the application (in whole or in part), the Director-General must, as soon as practicable, give the applicant written notice of—

• (a) the decision and the Director-General's reasons for it; and

• (b) if applicable, the applicant's right to seek a review of that decision under section 114.

(1) If the Director-General proposes to exclude any members, or categories of members, from the recognition of a class, the Director-General must consult those members and the applicant (if any) in accordance with section 82X about the exclusion of the members.

(2) The notification given to the members and the applicant (if any) in accordance with section 82X(a) must—

• (a) specify the grounds for proposing to exclude the members; and

• (b) include a copy (or an adequate summary) of all material information the Director-General relies on in proposing to exclude the members.

(3) If the Director-General finally determines to exclude any members, or categories of members, from the recognition of a class, the Director-General must, as soon as practicable, give those members and the applicant (if any) written notice of—

• (a) the decision and the Director-General's reasons for it; and

• (b) if applicable, the members' and the applicant's right to seek a review of that decision under section 114.

(1) The Director-General may impose any conditions the Director-General thinks fit when he or she recognises an agency, a person, or a class of persons under any of sections 71 to 75.

(2) The Director-General may vary any conditions by, as appropriate,—

• (a) giving a recognised agency or a recognised person written notice of the variation; or

• (b) notifying a recognised class of the variation in accordance with section 82W.

(3) However, before varying a condition the Director-General must consult the recognised agency, recognised person, or recognised class in accordance with section 82X about the proposed variation, unless the agency is, or is within, the Ministry or the person is within the Ministry.

(4) If a person acting under the delegated authority of the Director-General varies a condition, the recognised agency, the recognised person, or a member of the recognised class to whom the condition applies may seek a review of the variation under section 114.

(5) Subsections (3) and (4) do not apply if the variation is made on the application of the recognised agency, recognised person, or recognised class in accordance with the terms of that application.

(6) In this section, vary means—

• (a) to impose additional conditions; or

• (b) to revoke or amend any conditions.

(1) If the Director-General recognises an agency, a person, or a class of persons, the Director-General must, as soon as practicable,—

• (a) enter the name of the recognised agency or recognised person, or a definition of the class that allows the class to be accurately and readily identified, in the public register; and

• (b) for a recognised agency or a recognised person, give the agency or person a notice of recognition; and

• (c) for a recognised class,—

  • (i) notify the class in accordance with section 82W of its recognition; and

  • (ii) if there was an applicant, give the applicant written notice of the recognition of the class.

(2) A notice of recognition must specify—

• (a) the permissible functions and activities for which the recognition is granted; and

• (b) for a recognised class, any members or categories of members that are excluded from the recognised class in accordance with section 75(5); and

• (c) any conditions of recognition imposed under section 81(1); and

• (d) the duration of the recognition under section 82B.

(1) Recognition of a recognised agency or a recognised person applies only to the particular agency or particular person specified in the notice of recognition.

(2) If a class of persons is recognised,—

• (a) that recognition applies—

  • (i) to the class as defined in the public register; and

  • (ii) to each member of that class, but only—

    • (A) to the extent that the member carries out the specified functions and activities for which the class is recognised; and

    • (B) while the member continues to hold the qualifications or meet the other membership criteria according to which the class is defined in the public register in accordance with section 82(1)(a); and

• (b) each member of the class—

  • (i) is a recognised person; and

  • (ii) is subject to the duties of recognised persons set out in section 82H; and

  • (iii) may independently carry out the specified functions and activities for which the class is recognised; and

  • (iv) may have the recognition of the class of which he or she is a member suspended or withdrawn for him or her only; and

• (c) all conditions of recognition imposed on the class under section 81, and all directions or other requirements that apply to the class, also apply to, and must be complied with by, each member of the class individually; and

• (d) a suspension or withdrawal of the recognition of the class, and any condition or corrective action imposed under section 82J(3) on the suspension of the class, also applies to each member of the class individually; and

• (e) each member of the class who carries out the specified functions and activities for which the class is recognised—

  • (i) does so on his or her own account; and

  • (ii) is personally responsible for his or her own actions or omissions.

(3) Further to subsection (2), sections 70 to 82Z apply to a recognised person who is recognised by virtue of being a member of a recognised class, as far as applicable and with all necessary modifications, as if—

• (a) a reference to a recognised person's specified functions and activities were a reference to the specified functions and activities of the recognised class of which he or she is a member; and

• (b) a reference to a recognised person's recognition were a reference to the class's recognition; and

• (c) a reference to a recognised person's notice of recognition were a reference to the class's notice of recognition.

(4) Recognition may not be transferred to a different agency, person, or class of persons, and may not vest by operation of law in any person other than the agency, person, or class of persons specified in the notice of recognition.

(1) Recognition has effect for—

• (a) a specified period commencing and ending on the dates stated in a notice of recognition in accordance with section 82(2)(d); or

• (b) if no period is specified, an indefinite period.

(2) However,—

• (a) recognition ends if it is withdrawn under section 82N or 82O or surrendered under section 82Q; and

• (b) recognition has no effect while it is suspended under section 82J or 82K.

(1) If an agency, a person, or a class of persons is recognised for a specified period, then no later than 1 month before the end of that period—

• (a) the agency, the person, or an appropriate representative may apply to the Director-General for renewal of the recognition; or

• (b) the Director-General may renew the recognition without application if the agency, person, or class was initially recognised by the Director-General without application.

(2) In determining whether to renew the recognition of an agency, a person, or a class of persons, the Director-General must consider the matters set out in (as applicable) section 71(2) and (3), 73(2) and (3), or 75(3)(b) and (4) unless the Director-General is satisfied that—

• (a) either—

  • (i) the circumstances of the agency, person, or class have not changed; or

  • (ii) if the circumstances of the agency, person, or class have changed, those changes do not adversely affect the current recognition; and

• (b) the reasons why the Director-General recognised the agency, person, or class still apply; and

• (c) the agency or person has, or a sufficient proportion of the members of the class have, complied with all applicable conditions of recognition imposed under section 81 and requirements of this Act during the period of recognition.

(3) If the Director-General proposes to vary any conditions of recognition imposed on the agency, person, or class of persons under section 81 when the Director-General renews the recognition, the Director-General—

• (a) must vary the conditions in accordance with section 81(2) to (6); and

• (b) may, by notice in writing to the agency, person, or class, temporarily extend the specified period of the existing recognition in order to allow consultation in accordance with section 81(3) (if required) to be completed before the period of recognition ends.

(4) Sections 78 to 82B apply with all necessary modifications to applications under this section.

(5) An application under this section that is received by the Director-General after the deadline specified in subsection (1) must be treated as if it were a new application for recognition under section 71, 73, or 75, as applicable.

(6) In this section, appropriate representative means any person who the Director-General is reasonably satisfied—

• (a) represents the recognised class; or

• (b) is an appropriate person to make an application on behalf of the class.

An application for renewal of recognition under section 82C must—

• (a) be in the appropriate form and manner provided or approved by the Director-General for that purpose; and

• (b) be accompanied by the prescribed application fee (if any).

(1) A recognised agency or a recognised person may apply to the Director-General for a new notice of recognition to be issued in substitution for an existing notice of recognition if—

• (a) any conditions of recognition imposed on the agency or person are varied under section 81(2); or

• (b) the existing notice has become disfigured or dilapidated, or contains a mistake; or

• (c) the existing notice has been lost or destroyed.

(2) The Director-General must cancel the existing notice of recognition and give a new notice of recognition in substitution for it if—

• (a) an application for a substituted notice of recognition is made to the Director-General in the appropriate form and manner provided or approved by the Director-General for that purpose; and

• (b) the application is accompanied by the prescribed application fee (if any).

Recognised agencies and recognised persons must pay the prescribed fee, charge, or levy (if any) for ongoing recognition for the prescribed period on or before the date provided or approved by the Director-General for that purpose.

(1) When carrying out its specified functions and activities, a recognised agency must ensure that it—

• (a) carries out only functions and activities that are within the scope of those specified; and

• (b) is adequately resourced and its systems are maintained to a level that ensures it is able to carry out those functions and activities; and

• (c) has documented policies and procedures to safeguard the confidentiality of the information obtained or created while carrying out those functions and activities; and

• (d) has systems, processes, and procedures to manage appropriately any conflict of interest that might arise while carrying out those functions and activities; and

• (e) complies with all conditions of recognition imposed under section 81; and

• (f) complies with all applicable directions given under section 57; and

• (g) complies with all applicable requirements of this Act.

(2) When carrying out its specified functions and activities, a recognised agency must also ensure that each recognised person that the agency manages and supplies (if any)—

• (a) maintains all competency requirements applicable to his or her recognition; and

• (b) is not placed in a position or a situation that compromises his or her impartiality and independence in carrying out his or her specified functions and activities.

(3) The duties in section 82H apply to a recognised agency (in addition to the duties in subsection (1)), but only to the extent that the agency is recognised to carry out its specified functions and activities itself (instead of being recognised to manage or supply a recognised person to carry out its specified functions and activities).

When carrying out his or her specified functions and activities, a recognised person must ensure that he or she—

• (a) carries out only functions and activities that are within the scope of those specified; and

• (b) maintains all competency requirements applicable to his or her recognition; and

• (c) maintains an appropriate degree of impartiality and independence; and

• (d) maintains appropriate confidentiality (particularly in respect of commercially sensitive matters) relating to operations and activities the person comes into contact with in the course of carrying out those functions and activities (except to the extent that the person is required to report under paragraph (e) or otherwise for the purposes of this Act), including matters relating to design, technology, systems, personnel, and practices; and

• (e) reports to the Ministry (or any other specified authority), in accordance with any applicable requirements of this Act,—

  • (i) any matter that a recognised person is required to report; and

  • (ii) for a recognised management plan verifier, any failure to comply with, or any inadequacy in, a wine standards management plan; and

• (f) complies with all conditions of recognition imposed under section 81; and

• (g) complies with all applicable directions given under section 57; and

• (h) complies with all applicable requirements of this Act.

Nothing in section 82G or 82H prevents a recognised agency or a recognised person from carrying out functions and activities that are outside the scope of the agency's or person's specified functions and activities, provided that the agency or person does not do so—

• (a) in the agency's or person's capacity as a recognised agency or a recognised person; or

• (b) while purporting to act as a recognised agency or a recognised person.

(1) The Director-General may suspend all or part of the recognition of a recognised agency, recognised person, or recognised class if the Director-General has reasonable grounds to believe that—

• (a) the performance of the agency, person, or a significant proportion of the members of the class is unsatisfactory, taking into account the requirements of the recognition; or

• (b) the agency, person, or a significant proportion of the members of the class no longer meets 1 or more of the criteria on which that agency, person, or class was recognised under whichever of sections 71 to 75 applies; or

• (c) the agency, person, or a significant proportion of the members of the class has failed to comply with section 82G or 82H or any other applicable requirements of this Act, and that failure causes the Director-General to question the ability of the agency, person, or class to carry out the specified functions or activities of the agency, person, or class; or

• (d) for an agency or a person, the agency or person has failed to pay an ongoing recognition fee, charge, or levy within 30 days after the date on which it was due and payable.

(2) The maximum period of suspension is 3 months.

(3) The Director-General may do either or both of the following:

• (a) impose conditions that must be satisfied before the suspension is lifted:

• (b) require a suspended agency, person, or class to take appropriate corrective action to remedy the deficiency or failure that resulted in the suspension.

(1) The Director-General may extend the period of a suspension under section 82J if the Director-General has reasonable grounds to believe that—

• (a) any conditions imposed under that section have not been satisfied within the suspension period; or

• (b) any corrective actions imposed under that section have not been fulfilled within the suspension period.

(2) The period of extension—

• (a) may be for any further period that the Director-General notifies in writing to the agency or the person, or notifies to the class in accordance with section 82W, before the expiry of the original suspension; but

• (b) must not exceed a further 3 months.

(3) The Director-General may (in addition to any conditions or requirements imposed under section 82J(3)) do either or both of the following:

• (a) impose conditions that must be satisfied before the extended period of suspension is lifted:

• (b) require a suspended agency, person, or class to take appropriate corrective action to remedy the deficiency or failure that resulted in the suspension.

(1) The Director-General must, as soon as practicable after deciding to suspend, or extend the suspension of, a recognised agency, recognised person, or recognised class, notify—

• (a) a recognised agency or recognised person of the suspension of the agency or person; and

• (b) a recognised agency of the suspension of a recognised person for whom the agency is responsible; and

• (c) a recognised person of the suspension of any recognised agency that is responsible for that person; and

• (d) a recognised class of the suspension of the class.

(2) A notice of suspension must—

• (a) be given to a recognised agency or a recognised person by notice in writing; and

• (b) be given to a recognised class by notifying the class in accordance with section 82W; and

• (c) specify—

  • (i) the reason for the suspension; and

  • (ii) the date and time the suspension starts; and

  • (iii) the period of the suspension; and

  • (iv) the specified functions and activities that the suspension relates to; and

  • (v) any conditions or corrective actions imposed under section 82J(3) or 82K(3); and

• (d) if applicable, set out the right of the recognised agency, recognised person, or recognised class (under section 114) to seek a review of the decision to suspend the recognition of the agency, person, or class.

(3) The Director-General may notify any suspension of recognition in the Gazette.

(4) In subsections (1) to (3), suspension includes an extension of a suspension.

A suspension under section 82J or an extension of a suspension under section 82K does not affect any other actions that the Director-General may take under this Act.

(1) The Director-General may withdraw all or part of the recognition of a recognised agency or a recognised person if the Director-General has reasonable grounds to believe that—

• (a) suspending all or part of the agency’s or person’s recognition under section 82J (or extending a suspension under section 82K) would be justified, but repeated suspensions in the past have been ineffective; or

• (b) the agency or person is no longer a fit and proper person to carry out the agency's or person's specified functions and activities; or

• (c) the agency or person has failed to comply with section 82G or 82H or any other applicable requirements of this Act, and that failure causes the Director-General to question the agency’s or the person’s ability to carry out the agency's or person's specified functions or activities; or

• (d) the agency or person has ceased to operate as a recognised agency or a recognised person; or

• (e) the agency or person has continued to fail to pay an ongoing recognition fee, charge, or levy after the agency's or person's recognition has been suspended on the ground set out in section 82J(1)(d); or

• (f) the agency or person has failed to comply with or maintain any criteria or competencies that led to the recognition of the agency or person; or

• (g) the agency is no longer the appropriate agency to hold the recognition, but only if the agency is, or is within, the Ministry or a department of the public service listed in Schedule 1 of the State Sector Act 1988.

(2) However, before withdrawing recognition, the Director-General must consult the agency or person in accordance with section 82X about the proposed withdrawal of recognition, unless the agency is, or is within, the Ministry or the person is within the Ministry.

(3) The notification given to the agency or person in accordance with section 82X(a)(i) must—

• (a) specify the grounds for the proposed withdrawal; and

• (b) include a copy (or an adequate summary) of all material information the Director-General relies on in proposing to withdraw the recognition.

(1) The Director-General may withdraw all or part of the recognition of a recognised class if the Director-General has reasonable grounds to believe that a significant proportion of the members of the class—

• (a) have ceased to hold a qualification or meet 1 or more other membership criteria according to which the class is defined in the public register in accordance with section 82(1)(a); or

• (b) have failed to comply with section 82H or any other applicable requirements of this Act, and that failure causes the Director-General to question the class’s ability to carry out the class's specified functions or activities.

(2) However, before withdrawing recognition on the ground set out in subsection (1)(b), the Director-General must consult the recognised class in accordance with section 82X about the proposed withdrawal of recognition.

(3) The notification given to the recognised class in accordance with section 82X(a)(ii) must—

• (a) specify the grounds for the proposed withdrawal; and

• (b) include a copy (or an adequate summary) of all material information the Director-General relies on in proposing to withdraw the recognition.

(1) The Director-General must, as soon as practicable after deciding to withdraw all or part of the recognition of a recognised agency, recognised person, or recognised class, notify—

• (a) a recognised agency or recognised person of the withdrawal of recognition of the agency or person; and

• (b) a recognised agency of the withdrawal of recognition of a person for whom the agency is responsible; and

• (c) a recognised person of the withdrawal of recognition of any recognised agency that is responsible for that person; and

• (d) a recognised class and, if there was an applicant on behalf of the class, the applicant of the withdrawal of recognition of the class.

(2) A notice of withdrawal must—

• (a) be given to a recognised agency, a recognised person, or an applicant by notice in writing; and

• (b) be given to a recognised class by notifying the class in accordance with section 82W; and

• (c) specify—

  • (i) the reason for the withdrawal; and

  • (ii) the date and time the withdrawal takes effect; and

  • (iii) the specified functions and activities that the withdrawal relates to; and

• (d) if applicable, set out the right of the recognised agency, recognised person, or recognised class (under section 114) to seek a review of the decision to withdraw the recognition.

(3) The Director-General may notify any withdrawal of recognition in the Gazette.

(4) An agency or a person who is recognised under any of sections 71 to 74 and whose recognition is withdrawn must return the agency’s or person’s notice of recognition to the Director-General as soon as practicable after the withdrawal of recognition takes effect.

(5) An agency or a person whose recognition is withdrawn must, as soon as practicable after the withdrawal of recognition takes effect, take reasonable steps to notify each person who was a client of the agency or person immediately before the withdrawal that the agency's or person’s recognition has been withdrawn.

(1) A recognised agency or recognised person may—

• (a) surrender his, her, or its recognition by written notice to the Director-General; and

• (b) specify in the notice a future date on which the surrender is to take effect.

(2) Before the date on which a surrender takes effect, the recognised agency or recognised person that is surrendering his, her, or its recognition must,—

• (a) for a recognised agency, notify the surrender to any recognised persons for whom the agency is responsible; and

• (b) for a recognised person, notify the surrender to any recognised agency that is responsible for that person; and

• (c) take reasonable steps to notify each person who will be a client of the agency or person immediately before the surrender that the agency's or person’s recognition is surrendered.

A surrender takes effect on the later of—

• (a) the date specified in the notice given in accordance with section 82Q(1); or

• (b) the date on which the Director-General records the surrender in the public register in accordance with section 82T(1)(b)(v) or removes the agency or person from the public register in accordance with section 82V(3).

(1) The Director-General must keep and maintain a public register of each—

• (a) recognised agency:

• (b) recognised person:

• (c) recognised class.

(2) The public register may be kept in any manner the Director-General thinks fit, including, either wholly or partially, by means of a device or facility—

• (a) that records or stores information electronically or by other means; and

• (b) that permits the information so recorded to be readily inspected or reproduced in usable form; and

• (c) that permits the information to be accessed by electronic means, including by means of remote log-on access.

(3) The purpose of the public register is to—

• (a) enable members of the public and persons operating industries regulated under this Act to know who is recognised to carry out particular functions and activities for the purposes of this Act; and

• (b) facilitate the compliance, audit, and other supporting and administrative functions of the Ministry under this Act.

(1) The public register must contain all of the following information:

• (a) for each recognised agency and recognised person,—

  • (i) the full name and the business or other contact address (including the electronic address, if available) of the agency or person; and

  • (ii) any suspension of the agency's or person's recognition; and

• (b) for each recognised class,—

  • (i) a definition of the class that allows the class to be accurately and readily identified; and

  • (ii) 1 or more of the following:

    • (A) a list of the members of the class:

    • (B) a statement specifying where a copy of a list of the members of the class may be obtained:

    • (C) a statement specifying where information about the membership of the class may be obtained; and

  • (iii) a list of any members, or a description of any categories of members, within the class that are excluded from the recognised class in accordance with section 75(5); and

  • (iv) any suspension of the class's recognition; and

  • (v) a list of any members of the class whose recognition has been suspended, withdrawn, or surrendered and the date on which the suspension, withdrawal, or surrender takes effect; and

• (c) the specified functions and activities of each recognised agency, recognised person, and recognised class; and

• (d) the date on which each agency, person, and class was recognised and the duration of that recognition; and

• (e) any other particulars that are prescribed in regulations made under this Act.

(2) A suspension of recognition that is recorded on the public register must specify—

• (a) the date and time the suspension starts; and

• (b) the period of the suspension; and

• (c) the specified functions and activities that the suspension relates to.

(3) If a person is recognised as both a recognised agency and a recognised person, the information referred to in subsection (1)(a)(i) and (c) to (e) must either—

• (a) be recorded twice, once in the recognised person part of the register, and again in the recognised agency part of the register; or

• (b) be recorded in one of those areas of the register and cross-referenced in the other area of the register.

The Director-General must—

• (a) make the public register available for public inspection, free of charge, at reasonable hours at the head office of the Ministry; and

• (b) supply to any person, on request and on payment of a reasonable charge (if any), a copy of any entries on the public register.

(1) The Director-General must, as soon as practicable, remove the name of a recognised agency, recognised person, or recognised class from the public register if the period for which the recognition is granted expires and is not extended under section 82C(3)(b) or renewed.

(2) Subsection (3) applies if the recognition of a recognised agency, a person who is recognised under section 73, or a recognised class is—

• (a) withdrawn under section 82N or 82O; or

• (b) surrendered under section 82Q.

(3) The Director-General must, as soon as practicable after withdrawing the recognition or being notified of the surrender,—

• (a) record the withdrawal or surrender and the date on which it takes effect; and

• (b) remove that agency, person, or class from the public register.

(1) If any matter is required to be notified to a category or class of persons or a recognised class under sections 70 to 82Z, it must be notified in 1 or more of the following ways:

• (a) by notice in the Gazette:

• (b) by publication in all major metropolitan daily newspapers on at least 2 occasions:

• (c) by notifying a person who the Director-General is reasonably satisfied represents the category or class or is an appropriate person to receive a notification on behalf of the category or class:

• (d) if there was an applicant for the recognition of the class, by notifying that applicant:

• (e) by publication, either temporarily or permanently, on the Ministry’s public Internet site:

• (f) by mail or email to all members of the category or class:

• (g) in any other manner that the Director-General is reasonably satisfied will ensure that the matter is sufficiently notified to the category or class.

(2) In deciding which methods of notification are most appropriate in any particular case, the Director-General must consider—

• (a) the nature and significance of the matter required to be notified; and

• (b) the size and type of the category or class of persons and its characteristics, geographical spread, and degree of representation and organisation.

If the Director-General is required to consult a person or a category or class of persons under sections 70 to 82Z, the Director-General must—

• (a) notify the person or persons of the matter to be consulted on (the matter) by, as applicable,—

  • (i) giving the person written notice; or

  • (ii) notifying the category or class of persons in accordance with section 82W; and

• (b) give all persons who are notified of the matter a reasonable opportunity to make a written submission on the matter; and

• (c) if provided for in the notice (at the discretion of the Director-General), give all persons who are notified of the matter a reasonable opportunity to make an oral submission on the matter; and

• (d) consider any submissions that he or she receives on the matter from any person who was notified of the matter.

(1) The Director-General may, by notice under section 120, require any recognised management plan verifier or recognised verifying agency to notify the Director-General of the termination of any contract with the operator of a wine standards management plan for managing or carrying out verification functions and activities.

(2) The notice may apply generally or to any particular case or class of case.

(3) The recognised management plan verifier or recognised verifying agency must notify the Director-General in writing of the termination as soon as practicable, and in no case later than 7 days after it occurs.

(1) The Director-General must consider whether an exemption, a waiver, or a refund of all or part of a prescribed fee, charge, or levy is appropriate if—

• (a) an application is made under section 77 by 1 person for more than 1 type of recognition (for example, if a person applies to be recognised as both a recognised agency and a recognised person); or

• (b) an application is made under section 82C by 1 person to renew more than 1 type of recognition; or

• (c) 1 person is liable under section 82F to pay a prescribed fee, charge, or levy for ongoing recognition under more than 1 of sections 71 to 75.

(2) However, subsection (1) only applies if regulations prescribing the relevant fee, charge, or levy authorise the Director-General to grant an exemption, waiver, or refund in these circumstances (see section 92).

No wine officer, no person called on to assist a wine officer, and no recognised person who does any act or omits to do any act in pursuance of any of the functions or powers conferred on that officer or person by or under this Act is under any civil or criminal liability in respect of that act or omission, unless the officer or person has acted, or omitted to act, in bad faith or without reasonable cause.

(1) The Minister and the Director-General must take all reasonable steps to ensure that so many of the direct and indirect costs of administering this Act as are not provided for by money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose are recovered under this subpart, whether by way of fees, levies, or otherwise.

(2) In determining the most appropriate method of cost recovery under section 85, and its level, in any particular case or class of cases of wine, business, person, or other matter, the Minister and Director-General must have regard, as far as is reasonably practicable, to the following criteria:

• (a) equity, in that funding for a particular function, power, or service, or a particular class of functions, powers, or services, should generally, and to the extent practicable, be sourced from the users or beneficiaries of the relevant function, power, or service at a level commensurate with their use or benefit from the function, power, or service:

• (b) efficiency, in that costs should generally be allocated and recovered in order to ensure that maximum benefits are delivered at minimum cost:

• (c) justifiability, in that costs should be collected only to meet the reasonable costs (including indirect costs) for the provision or exercise of the relevant function, power, or service:

• (d) transparency, in that costs should be identified and allocated as closely as practicable in relation to tangible service provision for the recovery period in which the service is provided.

(3) Costs should not be recovered under this subpart unless there has been appropriate consultation with affected parties and relevant industry organisations in accordance with section 115, and the parties involved have been given sufficient time and information to make an informed contribution.

(4) Nothing in subsection (3) or in section 87 or section 115 requires consultation in relation to specific fees or charges, or the specific levels of fees or charges, so long as the fees or charges set are reasonably within the purview of any general consultation or any consultation carried out for the purposes of section 115, and a failure to comply with subsection (3) does not affect the validity of any regulations made for the purposes of this subpart.

(5) Nothing in this section requires a strict apportionment of the costs to be recovered for a particular function or service based on usage; and, without limiting the way in which fees or charges may be set, a fee or charge may be set at a level or in a way that—

• (a) is determined by calculations that involve an averaging of costs or potential costs:

• (b) takes into account costs or potential costs of services that are not directly to be provided to the person who pays the fee or charge but which are an indirect or potential cost arising from the delivery of the service in question to a class of persons or all persons who use the service.

The methods by which costs may be recovered under this subpart are as follows:

• (a) fixed fees or charges:

• (b) fees or charges based on a scale or formula or at a rate determined on an hourly or other unit basis:

• (c) use of a formula or other method of calculation for fixing fees and charges:

• (d) the recovery by way of fee or charge of actual and reasonable costs expended in, or associated with, the performance of a service or function:

• (e) estimated fees or charges, or fees or charges based on estimated costs, paid before the provision of the service or function, followed by reconciliation and an appropriate further payment or refund after provision of the service or function:

• (f) refundable or non-refundable deposits paid before provision of the service or performance of the function:

• (g) fees or charges imposed on users of services or third parties:

• (h) levies:

• (i) any combination of the above.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), any regulations under this subpart that set a fee, charge, or levy that applies in any financial year—

• (a) must have been made before the start of that financial year; but

• (b) except as the regulations may otherwise provide, apply in that year and all subsequent years until revoked or replaced.

(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the alteration or setting during any financial year of a fee, charge, or levy payable in that year if either—

• (a) the fee, charge, or levy is reduced, removed, or restated without substantive alteration; or

• (b) in the case of an increase or a new fee, charge, or levy,—

  • (i) appropriate consultation in accordance with section 115 has been carried out with persons or representatives of persons substantially affected by the alteration or setting; and

  • (ii) the Minister is satisfied that those persons, or their representatives, agree or do not substantially disagree with the alteration or setting.

(3) Subsection (1) does not prevent the amendment of any regulation setting a fee, charge, or levy if any substantive alteration effected by the amendment is for the purpose of correcting an error.

(4) Recovery may be made in any financial year of any shortfall in cost recovery for any of the preceding 4 financial years, and allowance may be made for any over-recovery of costs in those years (including any estimated shortfall or over-recovery for the immediately preceding financial year).

(1) The Minister must cause to be reviewed, at least once in every 3-year period occurring since the original setting of, or latest change to, the levels and methods of cost recovery in relation to any class of wine, business, person, or other matter, the levels and methods of cost recovery in the relevant area that are likely to be appropriate for the following financial year or years.

(2) The Minister must ensure that appropriate consultation in accordance with section 115 takes place in relation to any such review.

(3) A review may make provision for recovery in any relevant financial year of any shortfall in cost recovery for any of the preceding 4 financial years, or make allowance for any over-recovery of costs in those years (including any estimated shortfall or over-recovery for the immediately preceding financial year).

(4) Subsection (1) does not require all areas of cost recovery to be reviewed at the same time, nor does it impose any time limit on the making of regulations to implement the results of a review.

(1) Regulations may be made under this Act, on the recommendation of the Minister, prescribing fees and charges for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The fees and charges may be prescribed using any 1 or more of the methods specified in section 85, or any combination of those methods.

(3) Different fees and charges, or different rates or types of fee or charge, may be prescribed in respect of different classes or descriptions of wine, persons or businesses, operations, or other matters, or any combination of them.

(4) Without limiting subsection (3), the fees and charges prescribed may—

• (a) differ depending on whether or not a special or urgent service is provided:

• (b) include more than 1 level of fee or charge for the same service provided in different ways, or provided in or in respect of different places:

• (c) differ for otherwise similar services provided in different ways:

• (d) differ for otherwise similar services provided to different categories of person:

• (e) differ depending on the amount of service required or the components of the service required for the particular person or class of person.

(5) Where regulations prescribe a formula for determining a fee or charge, the formula may specify the value of 1 or more of its components as being an amount or amounts notified for these components by the Director-General under section 120.

(6) The Minister may not recommend the making of regulations under this section unless satisfied that, to the extent appropriate in the circumstances, the requirements of sections 84 and 86 have been met.

(1) Regulations may be made under this Act, on the recommendation of the Minister, prescribing levies for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Different levies or rates of levy or bases on which an amount of levy is to be calculated or ascertained may be prescribed for different purposes, and different levies or rates of levy or bases for calculation may be set for different classes or descriptions of wine, persons or businesses, operations, or other matters, or any combination of them.

(3) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), regulations imposing levies may—

• (a) specify when and how any levy is to be paid:

• (b) require that any levy, or estimated amount of levy, be paid in advance of performance of the services or functions to which it relates:

• (c) specify persons, other than persons primarily responsible for paying the levy, who are to be responsible for collecting a levy, and provide for retention of any part of the levy money collected as a fee for that service:

• (d) require, or empower the Director-General to require, the provision of information and returns in relation to levies:

• (e) require the keeping of separate trust accounts for levy money received or deducted by persons responsible for collecting levies, and prescribe matters in relation to those trust accounts:

• (f) prescribe a method of arbitration or mediation in the case of disputes as to—

  • (i) whether or not any person is required to pay, or collect, the levy concerned; or

  • (ii) the amount of levy any person is required to pay or collect;—

  and provide for related matters, including procedures and remuneration for arbitrators or mediators.

(4) The Minister may not recommend the making of regulations under this section unless satisfied that, to the extent appropriate in the circumstances, the requirements of sections 84 and 86 have been met.

(5) Nothing in this section or in this subpart affects the power of persons within the winemaking industry to determine to introduce and impose a levy on wine in accordance with section 111.

(1) If regulations made under section 89 require the operation of a trust account for any levy money by the person responsible for collecting the levy,—

• (a) any amount held in such an account that is due to be paid to the Director-General by the levy collector is to be treated as levy money held on trust for the Director-General; and

• (b) any amount so held on trust is not available for the payment of any creditor (other than the Director-General) of the levy collector, and is not liable to be attached or taken in execution at the instance of any such creditor; and

• (c) a person who ceases to be a person responsible for collecting a levy must continue to maintain the trust account until all the levy money payable to the Director-General in respect of the period during which the person was responsible for collecting the levy has been paid.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1)(c) affects any obligation or liability under this Act of any other person who has become responsible for collecting the levy concerned.

(1) Nothing in this subpart or in any other provision of this Act prevents the Director-General from requiring a reasonable charge to be paid for any of the services the Ministry provides in relation to the administration of this Act, or any actual and reasonable expenses incurred in providing the services, other than services in respect of which a fee or charge or levy is prescribed under this subpart.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), and for the avoidance of doubt, the Director-General may—

• (a) operate a telephone information service for which each caller pays according to their usage or on some averaged basis:

• (b) charge persons for the cost of mailing, faxing, emailing, or couriering information to them:

• (c) charge for the cost of written material, unless that material is required by an Act or by regulations made under this Act to be provided free of charge:

• (d) charge for access to any website, or for information or services provided by any website, operated by the Ministry:

• (e) charge for access to any library or research services provided in relation to matters pertaining to wine, or associated things:

• (f) charge any person for services provided in relation to a wine business or otherwise under this Act.

(3) All money received by the Ministry as a result of such charges must be paid into the Departmental Bank Account.

(1) Regulations made under this Act may provide for exemptions from, or waivers or refunds of, any fee, levy, or charge payable under this Act, in whole or in part, in any class of case.

(2) Any such regulations may authorise the Director-General to grant an exemption, waiver, or refund in any particular case or class of case.

Any fee, levy, or charge that has become payable is a debt due to the Director-General, and is recoverable as a debt by the Director-General in any court of competent jurisdiction. Until paid in full, it remains a debt due to the Crown.

(1) If a person has failed to pay to the Director-General by the due date any fee, levy, or charge payable under this subpart,—

• (a) section 14 of the Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry (Restructuring) Act 1997 applies to increase the amount payable; and

• (b) section 15 of that Act applies to allow the Director-General, in appropriate cases, to waive the payment of all or any of the amount of any such increase; and

• (c) section 16 of that Act applies to allow the Director-General to withdraw, or refuse to provide the person in default with, any service of the kind to which the debt relates.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(c) of this section and section 16 of the Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry (Restructuring) Act 1997, and without limiting the generality of that section 16, the references in those provisions to the withdrawal or refusal to provide any service are to be treated as also authorising the Director-General, in an appropriate case, to—

• (a) withhold or suspend any approval under this Act, or refuse to perform any function under this Act in relation to the person in default:

• (b) withhold the registration of any exporter or wine standards management plan under this Act, or require the suspension of any relevant operations of the exporter or operator of the wine standards management plan:

• (c) withhold any official assurance:

• (d) withhold any export eligibility certificate.

(3) Where the withdrawal of any approval or registration under this section, or any suspension of operations, requires the Director-General to provide any further service, or perform any further function involved in the withdrawal or suspension, the Director-General may recover any reasonable amount for the additional service, function, or costs as a debt due from the person who owns or is responsible for the operation concerned.

The obligation of a person to pay any fee, levy, or charge under this Act (including any penalty referred to in section 94), and the right of the Director-General to receive and recover the fee, levy, charge, or penalty, are not suspended by any dispute between the person and the Director-General regarding the person's liability to pay the fee, levy, or charge, or the amount of the fee, levy, or charge.

(1) Where regulations imposing a levy have been made under this subpart on or after 1 January in any year and before 1 July in that year, and—

• (a) have not been revoked with effect on or before 1 July in the next year; and

• (b) have not ceased, and will not cease, to have effect on or before 1 July in the next year by virtue of the Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989,—

they are to be treated as having been revoked with the close of 30 June in that next year unless confirmed by an Act of Parliament passed on or before that day.

(2) Where any regulations imposing a levy have been made under this subpart after 30 June in any year and on or before 31 December in that year, and—

• (a) have not been revoked with effect on or before 1 January in the year after the next year; and

• (b) have not ceased, and will not cease, to have effect on or before 1 January in the year after the next year by virtue of the Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989,—

they are to be treated as having been revoked with the close of 31 December in the year after the year in which they were made, unless confirmed by an Act of Parliament passed on or before that day.