The Brewers of Europe welcomes the decision by the European Commission to open an examination procedure following our complaint over the Tequila Regulatory Council’s (CRT) withholding of export permits for Tequila destined for use in flavoured beer.
European brewers’ freedom to produce and market Tequila flavoured beer must not be curtailed. The Brewers of Europe seeks to ensure that Mexico observes the rules as laid down in an EU-Mexico bilateral Agreement on Spirit Drinks from 1997 and as prescribed by WTO law.
The Brewers of Europe filed a complaint to the Commission on 8 June urging an intervention with the Mexican authorities over the Tequila Regulatory Council’s unilateral trade restriction, in clear violation of its obligations under the 1997 EU-Mexico agreement on spirit drinks and in international trade law (the WTO).
The Brewers of Europe is concerned, not just by the adverse impact of the current restriction on the market-leading Tequila-flavoured beer, but also of the precedent this may set for other beers using Tequila in their aroma and potentially other flavoured beers.
The Brewers of Europe calls upon the European Commission to insist that the Mexican authorities immediately lift the export restriction imposed by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT).
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Related documents
A one-page Q&A put together by The Brewers of Europe is available here.
Contact
Simon Spillane, Communications and Public Affairs Director, sws@brewersofeurope.eu, @brewersofeurope
About us
Based in Brussels, The Brewers of Europe brings together national brewers’ associations from 29 European countries and provides a voice to support the united interests of Europe’s 10,000 breweries. The Brewers of Europe promotes the positive role played by beer and the brewing sector in Europe and advocates the creation of the right conditions to allow brewers to continue to freely, cost-effectively and responsibly brew and market beer across Europe. Follow us on Twitter and visit our website.