The following information is provided for assistance with the Queensland Container Refund Scheme. We also include a pdf of FAQs provided by the administrators of the scheme, CoEx, whom you need to register with. 

The QDA and ADA have campaigned hard for Australian distillers and whilst we have not received all of the concessions we asked for, we have achieved a number of wins that make things easier for our members.

Full information on the scheme, registration and details of the bar code process are included in the information and we also include additional information from the Department of Environment & Science on how to recover the costs of barcodes.

QUEENSLAND CONTAINER REFUND SCHEME
Extension to include wine and spirit containers

What is the basic premise of this extension for beverage manufacturers?

For information about the reasons for the expansion of the Scheme to glass wine and spirit bottles, please see the Explanatory Notes to the Waste Reduction and Recycling (Expansion of Container Refund Scheme) Amendment Regulation 2023 accessible here.

What does this mean in practical terms?

Any eligible container sold by a beverage manufacturer within or into Queensland is captured under the extension to this scheme.

What happens when we don’t know where the container will be consumed?

Manufacturer obligations in the Scheme focus on the circumstance of the first sale of a beverage product into or within Queensland, rather than the actual point of use or consumption of the individual beverage product.

The default assumption is that the product was consumed in Queensland and will then fall within the scheme.

What if we can record that the container will consumed outside of Queensland?

For Manufacturers, the relevant consideration is the point of sale within or into Queensland rather than following the actual consumption destination of a product. Where records can reasonably show that the container is sold outside of Queensland, then this will not be included in the reporting. For example, if an online sale to a customer is sent to an address outside of Queensland, then this container will not need to be reported.

If you are a beverage manufacturer who exports eligible beverage products out of Queensland, then you may enter into an Export Agreement with COEX. The Export Agreement permits you to log your export volumes and to receive a rebate against corresponding sales. Please note, export rebates will only be paid on those containers where a scheme contribution has already been made and those containers end up outside the QLD Containers for Change scheme (i.e. they are sold interstate).

Does this also relate to distillery door sales?

In instances where a direct sale occurs between a Queensland-based distillery cellar door (in its role as a manufacturer) and a customer who makes the purchase while physically present in Queensland, these sales will be regarded as part of the Queensland Container Refund Scheme (CRS).

The rationale behind this determination is that, since the sale occurs within Queensland, involving a Queensland distillery and a customer physically present in the state, it is reasonable to assume that the beverage is intended for use or consumption within Queensland. The residency or consumption location of the consumer outside the state becomes irrelevant in this context.

Will there be audits?

As scheme administrator COEX has a risk-based approach to conduct audits to ensure the Scheme integrity. For some of these audits COEX may engage with external providers. Any observations identified will be treated as ongoing contract management including an educational approach

supporting the manufacturers to meet their compliance requirements. Any instances of intentional or consistent non-compliance will be taken seriously and dealt with appropriately.

What is the transition period for new labelling?

1 January 2027 for the refund label.

1 November 2024 for the barcode (if needed).

There is no requirement to label existing stock such as stock already packed in crates and boxes. The intention should be to get both barcodes (if needed) and refund mark on your product as soon as practicable.

What is the date for implementing the extension to this scheme?

1 November 2023

What happens to containers sold before this date?

Glass wine and spirit containers will not need to be reported before 1 November 2023 for the purposes of calculating scheme contributions.

Do we need to include barcodes on the labels?

Barcodes are a legal requirement to sell scheme-eligible beverages within or into Queensland. They are also required so manufacturers can register products on COEX’s register of approved containers and report sales into the Queensland market as part of the Scheme.

Barcodes also enable eligible containers to be scanned in reverse vending machines (RVMs) or recognised by container refund point staff to enable customers to receive their 10-cent refund.

Does a distillery need to register to be part of the scheme?

Yes, online through COEX webpage: Beverage Manufacturers - Container Exchange. It is a user-friendly form to fill out and is not expected to take more than 5-10 minutes. Once the first stage is completed you should expect to receive a contract within 10 Business Days. The last step is to register your products as soon as you have received your username and password.

How much does the beverage manufacturer pay?

The current price is 13.9 cents per container for glass containers.

Does this apply to all containers?

It applies to containers that are eligible within the scheme, including glass, aluminium cans and recyclable plastics.

What size containers are included in the scheme?

Expansion of the Scheme will include wine and spirit in glass containers from 150ml to 3 litres.

What is the reporting period?

For the purposes of calculating contribution payments, reporting may be monthly, quarterly or yearly, depending on the volume of sales into Queensland in the previous financial year.

For distilleries who sell >300,000 eligible beverage products per year, a default monthly reporting period applies.

For distilleries who sell ≤300,000 eligible beverage products per year, a default quarterly reporting period applies but they may elect to do so monthly.

For distilleries selling less than 100,000 per annum of eligible spirits and wines in glass bottles only, there is a default annual reporting period, at the end of the financial year. These distilleries may also elect to report monthly or quarterly.

Accessing barcodes

The following information is provided for members regarding the process for accessing a barcode, should a manufacturer wish to utilise this service.

1. Queensland wine and pure spirit manufacturers producing 100,000 or less of wine or pure spirit containers can now contact Barcode Qld (details below), providing their contact details and the estimated number of barcodes needed.
2. A manufacturer may request one barcode to cover all their products or a number of barcodes sufficient for all their product range.
3. A unique barcode (or barcode)s will be assigned to the beverage manufacturer.
4. Barcode QLD supplies EAN-13 barcodes to the Queensland producers in the printing formats and also provides education on best practice for labelling using the 1D barcodes
5. These barcodes are then used to complete the Container Exchange product registration process.
6. The costs for the purchase of barcodes through Barcode Qld will be met by the department – there is no cost to the manufacturer.
7. If a manufacturer requires a different barcode or has already purchased a barcode/s they should contact the department to find out how to receive a reimbursement.
8. Where a barcode has already been purchased or will be purchased through another means (eg. GS1) the manufacturer should keep the tax invoice/receipt for this purchase.
9. Where a GS1 barcode is purchased the department will support the initial purchase of the barcode but not the ongoing annual fee.

FAQs for Beverage Manufacturers