More on how the law defines things, this time for anti-competitive rather than pro-competitive purposes …
“Tequila” is registered appellation of origin for spirits produced in five Mexican states. A storm is now brewing over proposals in Mexico sponsored by the tequila industry that would limit the use of the word “agave” — the genus of the blue agave plant from which Tequila is distilled — in connection with both tequila itself and other spirits (mezcal and banacora) distilled from various agave species.
Resistance is growing. Even the botanical community is pointing out the absurdity of the limiting use of a genus when the tequila industry itself relies on a particular species. Given opposition by Cofemer, Mexico’s Commission on Regulatory Improvement (within the Ministry of the Economy), adoption of the standard is far from a sure thing.
- Coverage from The Economist (“Storm in a shot glass”).
- Opposition by the Tequila Interchange Project (“Stop Nom 186”).
- Coverage and opposition by Diffords Guide.
- Homepage of the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry (CNIT).
- The NOM-186 proposal (in Spanish), from the Ministry of the Economy. A related proposal comes from IMPI, Mexico’s Institute of Industrial Property, or intellectual property agency.