The International Cider Challenge (ICC) is organised by Agile Media Ltd. The company address is Agile Media Ltd, Suite E, KBF House, 55 Victoria Road Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9LH

By entering the ICC the entrant will be deemed to have read and understood these rules and be bound by them. These rules include any instructions set out with the ICC entry process.

1. ENTRIES

• The ICC is open to anyone who produces, markets or sells cider from any country, including distillers, producers, distributors, agents, pr agencies, independent retailers, retail chains, supermarkets and wholesalers.
• All ciders must be entered with the permission of the brand owners.
• All ciders entered must be commercially available for retail, and in sufficient quantities for it to be reasonable to expect them to be available until at least early 2027. No specially prepared samples will be accepted.
• The brand name you enter will be published in International Cider Challenge magazine, online at www.internationalciderchallenge.com and on the certificates. The ICC takes no responsibility for brands spelt incorrectly during the booking process
• Please adhere to the deadlines set out on this website. Late entries may not be accepted.
• Entries will only be accepted by completing the full entry process online along with the payment of the appropriate entry fee.
• There is no limit to the number of products that may be submitted but each product is a separate entry and subject to a separate entry fee.
• Entries from Russia or Belarus cannot currently be accepted. This is because the UK government has imposed a range of sanctions measures, including trade and financial sanctions, under The Russia (Sanctions) EU Exit 2019 Regulations.
• Any entry form which is incomplete, late or illegible and which does not otherwise comply with these rules, will be deemed invalid.

2. SAMPLES AND SHIPPING

• Entrants are responsible for all shipping costs. Please refer to the shipping instructions on our website and on your email confirmation.
• All products submitted for judging are shipped at the entrant’s sole risk and expense. ICC accept no liability for loss, damage, or delays occurring in transit, customs clearance, or prior to confirmed receipt, accompanying image of the delivery at our designated warehouse address. Products must be securely packaged.
• Entrants are strongly advised to arrange appropriate insurance for all samples during shipping and customs transit. ICC does not provide insurance coverage for submitted entries.
• All delivery costs, customs duties, import taxes, and any related charges must be pre-paid by the entrant. ICC will not accept delivery of samples where such charges are outstanding.
• Each bottle sample you send must be fully supported with the correct documentation showing that UK Duty has either been paid, or is due to be paid under total duty suspension, before it is released onto the UK market. It is an offence under UK law to avoid payment of UK Duty and is payable even though the samples are not for commercial use.
• Due to volume of products received by our warehouse, we are unable to confirm receipt on an individual basis. Please ensure your courier provides secure confirmation of delivery/receipt by our warehouse (including an image of your delivery at the warehouse). No responsibility is accepted by the ICC for goods lost or delayed before official receipt.
• In the rare event that an entry is damaged or lost after receipt but before judging, ICC will contact the entrant and request a replacement sample. Replacements must be supplied at the entrant’s expense and within the competition’s stated deadlines. Entry fees will not be refunded.
• ICC reserves the right to disqualify entries that are not received, are incomplete, or arrive after the stated deadline, with no obligation to refund entry fees.
• ICC shall not be held liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential loss or damages arising from participation in the competition, including but not limited to loss of profit, business disruption, or reputational impact. By submitting an entry to the ICC, entrants confirm acceptance of these terms.
• Products must be in date for consumption on 25th August 2026.
• Products will be retained by the Organiser and will not be returned.
  

3. REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS

• Entries may be withdrawn any time up to 13th June 2026, subject to a 50% administration charge. After this date, entry fees are non-refundable.
• Duplicated entries will not be refunded. Please check that your agent or producer has not already entered the same cider brand.

4. PAYMENTS

• Payment terms for invoices are strictly 15 days (or prior to judging if sooner). Please note that if payment or proof of payment is not received prior to judging then products will be removed from the competition. Agile Media Ltd takes no responsibility for the returning of any products received on this basis.

5. JUDGING

• The ciders will be blind tasted by an expert and independent panel of judges selected by the organiser. The judges will give the products a score accordingly. The score is intended as a guide for judges only in determining which medal should be awarded. Bronze, Silver and Gold medals will be awarded according to a consensus reached by the judging panel. The best of the best will be awarded Trophy medals.
• The Organiser reserves the right to move ciders into the appropriate category, if deemed to be incorrectly entered.
• The judges’ decision on all matters concerning the competition is final and legally binding. No correspondence will be entered into.
• The organisers reserve the right to alter the judging panel and categories without prior notice to entrants. In all respects, the agreed judging decision is final.

6. RESULTS

• Winners will be notified of results by email using contact details provided during the entry process.
• All results notified to winners are embargoed until the publishing date outlined in the notification email.
• A list of medallists will appear in on www.internationalciderchallenge.com and in the International Cider Challenge supplement once judging is complete. Product images may also be used.
• Participants consent to their names and photographs being used in any competition publicity unless otherwise requested in writing.

7. MEDAL ARTWORK

• Any award winner may publicise its award provided the year in which it was won is stated.
• Those awarded medals may publicise their award in association with the relevant product provided the year in which it was won is stated. Those awarded are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the International Cider Challenge medal logo in connection with its own award for a period of 3 years from the date it is issued.