Legal Battle continues about what is Jamaican Rum

Rum is a key part of Jamaica’s cultural identity, but what exactly does Jamaico rum?

This issue is at the center of the dispute that continues to play on the Caribbean Island, as some producers want to strengthen the rules of what is possible, and cannot be called “Jamaica Roma”.

Last October, the Intellectual Property Office Jamaica (JIPO) approved amendments to the Geographic Re instruction (GI) for Rum Jamaica, which was originally established in 2016. The biggest change is that aging abroad is now prohibited.

The amendment was caused by the Spirits Basin Association (SPA), a trade organization that seeks to perform as the only voice for six Jamaica distillery -Appleton (belonging to J. Urai and nephew), Clandon, Hampden -Main, Long -Square, New York.

The SPO argument is that the EU and the United States needed a stronger Guy for official recognition in two key export markets.

It states that this will give the Jamaica rum a greater protection against competitors, as well as leading to what they drink, recognizing it as a premium -produced to high characteristics in a certain geographical place.

But the amendment has caused a rather excitement to Jamaica because one of the largest manufacturers claims to stop it.

This company, National Rum Jamaica (NRJ), owns Long Pond and 73% Clanden. NRJ consists of three shareholders-Uzhod Jamaica, Demerara’s distillers from Guyana and Barbadas distillery West Indies Rum (Wird).

The key factor is that Wird has been owned by the French firm Maison Ferrand since 2017. His business model is heavily based on the export of rum in the volume and aging abroad – what is not allowed in the new gastrointestinal tract of Jamaica.

He claims that rum, outside Jamaica, is still a Jamaican rum, and that the island has been exported and outdated abroad over the centuries.

Thus, the NRJ appeals to the jeep’s decision, and the hearing is scheduled for April 28.

The association of alcohol pools claims that Wird has just begun problems with the geographical indication after the absorption of Mason Feroard.

“What we say is when you really believe in Jamaica Rum, age in Jamaica,” says Christopher Gentles, CEO of SPA.

Usually rum is made by fermentation, and then the distillation of the molasses of the sugar cane, a thick residue similar to the return, was made from harvested plants after refined sugar.

Mr -n Gentles says that Roma aging before it is sold, and what does it by Jamaica, the false authenticity and uniqueness of the products. And so he adds that “we were a little embarrassed” objection to NRJ.

SPA also notes that exports and aging of the spirits abroad means that Jamaica lacks processes with the value added, such as processing, spilling, marking and distribution, as well as other secondary benefits of the local economy, such as Rum tourism.

Both NRJ and Maison Ferrard refused to comment.

The use of GISs makes the product distinctive and opens three potential value sources, according to Deva Glazhi, a professor of law on intellectual property at the University of Oxford.

“The first is just a price prize. The study shows that products can charge a price that is 1.5 to 2.7 times more than standard.”

This is not always displayed in profits, because GI products are often more expensive, he adds.

The second reason is “they secure production in this region.” This prevents the product from becoming common and lose its value – like the cheek cheese, which was originally from a certain part of the UK, but now is a word for a generalized type of cheese.

Finally, Professor Ganggei says GIS helps advertise the region and “opens other aspects of history and geography”, citing the successful French wine tourism industry.

Examples of successful and long -standing GIS – Scottish whiskey, champagne and Parma Ham.

Another country of the Caribbean, similarly involved in the dispute over Guy and Rum – Barbadas. Currently, there is no scheme on the island.

Barbadas has five distillery, and four agreed to the wording of the proposed Barbados Rum Gi. The only opponent was a noise that owns such brands as Cockspur.

Similar to the situation in Jamaica, it object to the proposed rules against aging abroad.

Failure to comply with Barbadas to get GI to pluck other manufacturers, including Richard Power, owner of the distillery on Foursquare Island. “We need to have internal industries that are being rooted here, tied here, which cannot be separated from it,” he says.

Returning to Jamaica, SPA wants the country to apply for protection against EU geographical classification, but this cannot happen until things are over in Jipo.

Mr -n Gentles hopes you can reach a compromise, even if it means that both sides are not quite happy. “This firm believes that one day we will put it behind,” he says.

And although SPA hopes that a stronger Guy will increase recognition and business, it is also about the pride for a product closely related to Jamaica’s history.

In the following days after the October Jamaica newspaper Gleanere, Jipo supported, saying there were many examples of the firms “without an association with Jamaica trying to match the island’s mysticism.”

He came to the conclusion: “If foreign structures become owners of uniquely Jamaica products, there must be a commitment to support the brand integrity.”