Bottles of red wine imported from Australia and New Zealand are displayed sale at a Metro Supermarket in Shanghai, June 12, 2018. (PHOTO / IC)

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Commerce on Monday announced its decision to launch anti-subsidy probe into wine imports from Australia.

The move was made in response to a request from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association on behalf of the domestic industry, which claimed such wine imports had received subsidies from the Australian government, the Ministry of Commerce said

The probe into imports of wine in containers holding two liters or less is expected to end before Aug 31, 2021, but may extend to Feb 28, 2022 in certain circumstances, according to a statement published on the ministry's website. 

ALSO READ: China probes Australian wine imports

The move was made in response to a request from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association on behalf of the domestic industry, which claimed such wine imports had received subsidies from the Australian government, the ministry said.

Related Australian wine industries or companies may have benefited from a total of 40 subsidies from the government, according to the request from the association.

On Aug 18, China launched an anti-dumping probe on wine imports from Australia. 

READ MORE: China launches anti-dumping probe into Australian wine