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The European Commission announced on Thursday that the iconic Mexican tequila was now part of their Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) list since they considered that the beverage quality was deeply rooted in its geographic origin: The central and western regions of Mexico.
This recognition implies that the European Union will now work to promote and protect the product by eliminating unfair competition and misleading of consumers by non-genuine products in their territory.
Through a press release, the European Parliament in Brussels informed that the ingredients used for the elaboration and processing of tequila, such as the Agave tequilana plant, also known as “blue agave,” can only be found in specific locations such as the city of Tequila , in the Mexican state of Jalisco .
Furthermore, European specialists pointed out that the Agave tequilana plant has existed since pre-Columbian times, and that even the word “tequila” is derived from the ancient Náhuatl language , one of the most widely spoken indigenous languages in Mexico.
Thus, tequila has now been included on a list of 31 geographical indications from countries outside the EU that benefit from the same protection accorded to European products.
At the request of Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) Brussels announced the application for protection, to which the Spanish Liquor Union and the Vinum et Spiritus federation initially opposed, alleging that the conditions set by the Mexican council were incompatible with free trade and free competition.
However, the EU office in Brussels decided to set a limit on the production of tequila to guarantee the product’s quality and reputation.
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