Don’t make pour decisions: Why the Wine Code is a good vintage
The introduction of the Wine Industry Code of Practice (Wine Code) marks a pivotal moment for businesses in the wine supply chain. But it’s just part of a broader shift in the transport and logistics landscape, as more and more industry specific codes of practice are developed to provide clarity, ensure consistency and reduce risks.
For businesses that already take safety and compliance seriously, this isn’t about creating more work – it’s about having an industry standard that covers some of the specific challenges faced, particularly during vintage. But for those cutting corners, the rise of Registered Industry Codes of Practice (RICPs) makes it much harder to ignore risks and avoid accountability.
“RICPs like the Wine Code aren’t here to make life harder for businesses doing the right thing,” says Staci Clark, Head of Supply Chain Customer at CoRsafe. “They’re about helping responsible businesses demonstrate compliance and guiding everyone towards safer industries with less injuries and fatalities.”
What are RICPs, and why are they becoming the standard?
Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), every party in the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) has a duty to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety of their transport activities. But what does “reasonably practicable” actually mean? That’s where RICPs come in.
Registered Industry Codes of Practice (RICPs) translate complex legal requirements into practical, industry-specific safety guidance. Developed by industry leaders and endorsed by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), they provide businesses with a structured way to meet their obligations under the HVNL, clarifying what might be reasonably practicable across a range of activities, risks and controls.
“An RICP acts as a guide that lists industry specific risks and remediation strategies for compliance,” Staci says. “It translates high-level legal obligations into industry-specific best practices that make sense in day-to-day operations.”
Adopting the recommendations in an RICP isn’t obligatory – it’s a voluntary choice. However, when an RICP is registered, it gives a special status to the information within. s632a of the HVNL states that an RICP is admissible as evidence of whether or not a duty or obligation under the HVNL has been complied with.
The court may have regard to the code as evidence of what is known about a hazard or risk, risk assessment, or risk control, and rely on the code in determining what is reasonably practicable in the circumstances to which the code relates.
That means if a business is investigated over a safety concern, an RICP can be used as evidence of what they should have known about industry safety standards. Businesses that don’t follow an RICP must prove that their alternative safety measures provide at least the same level of protection.
The Wine Code is just the latest example of how industry-specific regulations are being developed to ensure compliance and safety. The Effluent Code has already been introduced, and other industry codes – such as forestry – are in various stages of development (click here to see the latest).
Why does the wine industry need its own code?
Wine production is highly seasonal, creating unique risks. “Transporting wine and grapes isn’t like transporting dry goods,” Staci says. “It requires specialised handling, careful coordination and strong compliance practices – especially when operations ramp up quickly during vintage.”
The industry faces several key challenges, including:
Seasonal transport peaks and workforce surges: During vintage, the wine industry sees a sudden increase in transport activity and an influx of temporary workers. Many are unfamiliar with site layouts, equipment, and Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws, increasing the risk of compliance breaches and safety incidents.
Time-sensitive deliveries: Tight processing windows mean grapes must be transported quickly to maintain quality. This time pressure can lead to unsafe driving practices, increasing risks related to speed, fatigue and vehicle loading compliance.
Semi-liquid loads: Grapes and bulk wine behave unpredictably during transport, leading to spills, load shifts and stability issues. Without proper securing techniques and vehicle selection, these factors can pose serious safety risks.
Complex supply chains spanning agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and tourism: Wine supply chains are highly intricate, involving multiple sectors – from vineyards and grape growers to bottling plants, distributors, retailers and even tourism operators. Without clear communication and oversight, safety and compliance risks can arise at various points in the supply chain.
The Wine Code was developed in response to these challenges, and endorsed for registration by the NHVR on 20 December 2024. If you’re a party in a supply chain where grapes, wine and associated materials are transported – e.g. a grape grower; vineyard contractor; harvester operator; winery; loader, unloader or depot manager; or a transporter – the Code clarifies the transport risks you need to be aware of and the reasonably practicable measures you’re expected to take to mitigate them.
It provides a structured, industry-specific framework, covering key areas such as training seasonal workers; recommended controls for the safe transport of semi-liquid loads; fatigue management and scheduling practices; and clear coordination across the supply chain to ensure all parties understand their Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations.
“If you already take compliance seriously, the Wine Code won’t require you to make any big changes,” Staci says. “It simply validates your existing safety practices and provides a benchmark for demonstrating compliance. If an incident occurs, you can point to the Code to help demonstrate that you took appropriate steps to manage risks.
“But for non-compliant operators, the Wine Code now gives regulators and supply chain partners clear benchmarks to help identify them, exposing them to legal penalties, reputational harm and missed business opportunities.”
How can CoRsafe help you demonstrate your alignment with the Wine Code?
CoRsafe provides tailored, end-to-end solutions designed to help your business manage compliance obligations across your supply chain. CoRsafe’s five-step system provides logical steps, and the tools needed, to stay current in managing and monitoring your CoR obligations.
CoRsafe is the first organisation to offer audit tools and programs designed around RICPs. When the Effluent Code was introduced in 2024, CoRsafe digitised the management of key duties highlighted in the Code, and integrated them seamlessly into the CoRsafe platform.
Now, with the introduction of the Wine Code, CoRsafe is supporting businesses with:
Modified audit tools: A series of Wine Code-specific questions have been added to CoRsafe’s self-audit and external audit framework to help businesses effortlessly assess their compliance, and that of their supply chain partners.
Training resources: CoRsafe has produced training material to help you and your supply chain for understanding the Wine Code. Our existing CoR e-learning modules can help seasonal workers get up to speed on their obligations.
Customisable safety checklists: CoRsafe’s Inspector App allows businesses to create site-specific safety checklists tailored to the requirements of the Wine Code.
Supply chain visibility: CoRsafe’s Supply Chain Register enhances oversight by displaying the compliance status of partners across the supply chain. This can be filtered by RICP-specific compliance, with a Wine Code icon tagging relevant businesses, helping you identify which partners meet the Wine Code’s standards and where potential compliance gaps exist in real-time.
CoRsafe also offers one-on-one consultations to help you understand how to apply the Wine Code to your operations.
“From day one, CoRsafe was ready for the Wine Code,” Staci says. “We integrated the Code into our platform the day it was endorsed, so businesses using CoRsafe could start tracking their compliance immediately.
“Demonstrating that you’re meeting your obligations shouldn’t be a headache. With the right tools in place, businesses can continuously monitor their compliance, address risks early, and build a strong foundation for long-term success.”
Industry codes like the Wine Code and Effluent Code are reshaping compliance expectations – and with more industry-specific regulations on the way, it’s critical to stay informed and prepared. To ensure your business ages like a fine wine, not a bottle past its prime, stay up to date on the latest codes with CoRsafe’s Registered Industry Codes of Practice Resource Hub.
© 2025 Logistics Safety Solutions Pty Ltd (LSS) ABN 25 134 417 379. General information only. LSS bears no responsibility, and shall not be held liable, for any loss, damage or injury arising directly or indirectly from your use of or reliance on the information in this article.