EU Vodka Vote
The GVA welcomed the vote today in the European Parliament on the new EU Spirit Drink Regulations.
MEPs voted today to accept a compromise package that Ministers had already agreed. This is as good a result as we could have hoped in the circumstances.
"The GVA particularly welcomes the new definition for London Gin" said Edwin Atkinson, the Director General of the Gin and Vodka Association. "This will help us to protect both the consumer and brand owners."
On vodka, the key is that there is no restriction on the raw materials used to produce vodka.
However, in the nature of all compromises, there are areas that are not welcome to all sides of the discussion. For one, there is a new labelling requirement for EU vodka to show the raw materials other than cereals and potatoes. We will be looking to ameliorate the costs and legal concerns that this raises.
For further information contact Edwin Atkinson at
THE GIN AND VODKA ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN
Cross Keys House, Queen Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 1EY
Telephone: 01722 415892 Fax: 01722 415840 Mobile: 07867 513409
E-mail: gva@ginvodka.org.uk
We sought two objectives:
The debate in Brussels has centred on whether:
Today's vote confirmed in plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasburg confirmed that:
The UK gin industry is worth £250,000,000 and the UK Vodka industry has a retail value of £1800, 000,000. Together they account for nearly 50% of the UK spirits market,
MEPs voted today to accept a compromise package that Ministers had already agreed. This is as good a result as we could have hoped in the circumstances.
"The GVA particularly welcomes the new definition for London Gin" said Edwin Atkinson, the Director General of the Gin and Vodka Association. "This will help us to protect both the consumer and brand owners."
On vodka, the key is that there is no restriction on the raw materials used to produce vodka.
However, in the nature of all compromises, there are areas that are not welcome to all sides of the discussion. For one, there is a new labelling requirement for EU vodka to show the raw materials other than cereals and potatoes. We will be looking to ameliorate the costs and legal concerns that this raises.
For further information contact Edwin Atkinson at
THE GIN AND VODKA ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN
Cross Keys House, Queen Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 1EY
Telephone: 01722 415892 Fax: 01722 415840 Mobile: 07867 513409
E-mail: gva@ginvodka.org.uk
Background Note:
The existing regulations for EU Spirit drinks go back to 1989. These needed to be updated.We sought two objectives:
- A new London gin definition. This is a qualitative definition to overcome consumer confusion and to protect the category from poor quality look-alikes.
- A revised Vodka definition. This recognised the flavoured vodka category for the first time and set improved standards for plain vodka.
The debate in Brussels has centred on whether:
- Vodka raw materials should be limited to cereals and potatoes. This would have cut out brands made from sugar beet (mostly from France) or sugar cane (mostly from Brazil and South Africa,)
- Vodka should remain made from any agricultural raw material as at present.
Today's vote confirmed in plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasburg confirmed that:
- London Gin definition is now agreed and will go ahead into law
- Vodka can be made from any raw material including imported sugar cane. However, vodkas not made from cereals and potatoes will have to list the raw materials used. Because producers change raw material frequently due to price and availability, this may be costly and impractical and may raise legal concerns. Much as been achieved already in reducing these concerns but we will further discuss the issue to further ameliorate these worries.
The UK gin industry is worth £250,000,000 and the UK Vodka industry has a retail value of £1800, 000,000. Together they account for nearly 50% of the UK spirits market,