Liquor Products Act: Proposed Regulatory Amendments

Posted 20 November 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: In terms of the Liquor Products Act, No. 60 of 1989, the Department of Agriculture has gazetted two sets of proposed amendments to regulations concerning the wine of origin scheme and alcoholic beverage production standards.

The proposed amendments were published for public consultation, with a deadline for written submissions set for 20 December 2025. The regulatory changes are divided into two distinct categories:

  • Amendments to the regulations on the ‘wine of origin scheme’, which specifically impact the classification and regulation of wine produced from a prescribed list of muscato/muscat cultivars; and
  • Amendments affecting a range of alcoholic beverages and their related production processes, aimed at updating technical standards and compliance requirements.

Regulatory Scope and Impact

The first set of proposals under the Liquor Products Act, No. 60 of 1989, focuses on the integrity of the wine of origin system. By refining the list of muscato/muscat cultivars, the Department aims to ensure stricter control over varietal labeling and geographic indicators. The second set of proposals addresses broader manufacturing standards, potentially altering the permissible production methods for various liquor categories to align with contemporary agricultural practices.

Click here to download the proposed regulatory amendments.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Professional advisors must update their knowledge of the technical production standards under the Act to provide accurate compliance guidance to agricultural and beverage industry stakeholders.
  • For your business: Firms providing compliance or legal services to the wine industry should review the proposed cultivar-specific changes to advise on potential shifts in origin certification requirements.
  • For your clients: Producers of muscato/muscat wines and other alcoholic beverages must evaluate their current production and labeling processes against the proposed standards to identify necessary adjustments before the 20 December 2025 deadline.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/liquor-products-act-input-sought-on-regulatory-amendments

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