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Designation of Origin

Hello once again,

Here a head’s up on the newest debate rumbling in the pisco World. We’ll be keeping you update as this develops.

Till next time,

Hans

APRA factions insist on expanding the designation of origin of Pisco

"I think it will be a big mistake and it will be hara-kiri. We don’t have to worry any more; we are doing Chile a favor". Johnny Schuller’s voice, president of the Association of Pisco Tasters of Pisco, sounded angry on the other end of the line. The reason: the two proponed laws, presented by congressmen Mario Alegría and Luis Alva Castro, which seek to expend the designation of origin (DO) of pisco to other regions of Peru. With this expansion Peru’s position with respect to pisco would loose ground in the international arena.

Alegría’s Project was presented on the 30th of April and was sent to the Commission of Foreign Tourism and Trade of the Congress. While Alva’s was on the 7th of May and was sent to the Production Commission. And even though both coincide in wanting to expand the DO, they are different in that Alegría is requesting the expansion for the entire country while Alva is only asking for the Áncash and La Libertad regions.

In that sense, Alva indicated that the Valleys of Cascas (in the province of Gran Chimú) and Moro (Chimbote) they have been making a distilled spirit from grapes for over 50 years, but that production cannot be called pisco. Alva indicates that in the short term, this area could beat the grape production (and of the distilled spirit) of Ica and for that reason it is necessary to expand the DO of Pisco. Alegría, on his part, maintains that to restrict the DO is "to miss the opportunity of becoming more competitive than Chile".

The voice of the Pisco producers
However, for Schuller both Projects are ignorant of the international regulations regarding DO, in the sense that to associate Pisco to a specific region, is to be influenced by the geography, depend on a recognized and certified quality, and have a historical tradition.

"Unfortunately, we still do not understand the concept of DO. It is still not understood that cognac is a French distilled spirit, but that it is NOT produced all over France; or that jerez (sherry) is a wine that is NOT produced all over Spain".

Schuller clarified that it is not that the Pisco producers are against the idea that the distilled spirit be produced in these other locations, but that because of the international norms, this product cannot be called Pisco. "Pisco already has its region", he added.

José Moquillaza, Executive Director of the Regulating Council on the Designation of Origin of Pisco(CRDO), indicated that what is most recommendable World be that these new areas producing the distilled spirit, invest in the creation of indication of origin, another category of geographic indication, more flexible than a DO and also protected by international norms on intellectual property. "The CRDO Pisco is offering to cooperate with them to get international help and to develop indications of origin and to generate a reputation for their own regions".

Point of View
The change cannot by law
Miguel Sánchez Chief of the Office of Distinctive Signs of Indecopi

The Dos in our country are regulated by the Andean Decision 486, a supranational norm that establishes the administrative system for its recognition. This decision indicated that the Office of Distinctive Signs of Indecopi be the authority to administer the recognition system for the DO.

To expand the production area for the DO of pisco through a law and not through the administrative process established and enforced by the Office of Distinctive Signs would mean the overriding of our administrative system for the recognition of the DO and to make vulnerable the supranationality of Decision 486.

Should they expand the pisco production areas to other geographic areas which do not present the same natural factors (weather and soil) and human (traditional pisco producing methods), then it would end up distorting some of the elements inherent in the concept of the DO and it would be an attempt against the consistency of our legal defense in the international arena.

Taken from:

http://www.elcomercio.com.pe/ediciononline/html/2008-05-20/la-bancada-aprista-insiste-ampliar-denominacion-origen-pisco.html


Add a comment :
2 comments

ceci says :
21-05-08,06:40:53

Definetely DP has its rules, perhaps mr. alegria and luis alva castro should be taught an elementary lesson on DO... it is so embarassing that they do not see the implications of toying and disrespecting intelectual property which eventually will only be a negative for Peru.... get up to speed mr A and AC..... for Peru's sake!!!!!

Juan luis says :
22-05-08,01:05:34

Imagine france expanding the Champagne´s DO!!! Well.. I guess that for Alva Castro and for Luis Alegria is the same to drink brandy or cognac... what can we expect then...



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