Rum is a key part of the Jamaica cultural identity, but what exactly does Rum Jamaican do?
This is a question at the center of the dispute that continues to rush on the Caribbean island, because some manufacturers want to strengthen the rules of what can be called “Jamaica Rum”.
In October last year, the Jamaica Office for Intellectual Property (JIPO) approved the amendments to the geographical indication tag (GI) for Jamaica Rum, which was originally set in 2016. The biggest change is that the aging of the rum abroad is now forbidden.
Amendment was invited by the Spirits Pool (SPA) association, a trade organization that seeks to speak as a unique voice for six Jamaica Rum distillery – Appleton (owned by J Wraya and nephew), Clarendon, Hampden estate, Long Rind, New Yarmouth and Worthy Park Estate.
The argument of SPO is that it is necessary to make a stronger GI so that the appeal will officially recognize on its two key export markets – the EU and the USA.
He says this would provide Jamaican Ruma better protection against competitors, and it has led to recognize more prints as a top product made for high specifications in a particular geographical position.
But the amendment has caused a rather confusion on Jamaica, because one of the biggest manufacturers claims he will get him out of work.
This company, National Rums from Jamaica (NRJ), owns Long Pond and 73% Clarendon. The NRJ consists of three shareholders-the recess of Jamaica, Demerara Destyllers of Guyana and the Ruma West Indies distillery based in Barbados (Wild).
The key factor is that Wild has been owned by the French Spirits Maison Ferrand since 2017. His business model relies greatly on the export of rum in scattered and aging abroad – something that is not allowed in the new GI -in Jamaica.
He claims that Rum Star is still a Jamaican rum outside Jamaica, and that the island has been brought up by the island for centuries and has been rumor abroad.
And so, NRJ attracts Jipo verdict, with hearing scheduled for April 28.
The Spirits Pool Association says that Wild has just started having problems with geographical indications after its takeover of Maison Ferrard.
“What we say is, if you truly believe in Jamaica Rum, they grow old at Jamaica,” says Christopher Gentles, Spa director.
Rum is usually made by fermenting and then distillation of sugar reed melas, a thick rest of a shade -like substance after a refined sugar is produced from the harvested plants.
Mr. Gentles says it is of the greatest importance to aging the rum before being sold and that it undertakes the authenticity and uniqueness of the product outside Jamaica. And so, he adds that we were “a little confused” by NRJ’s complaint.
SPA also points out that exports and aging of ghosts abroad means that Jamaica misses processes with added value such as refining, flaking, marking and distribution, as well as other secondary benefits to a local economy like rum tourism.
Both NRJ and Maison Ferrard refused to comment.
The use of GIS makes the product characteristic and opens three potential sources of value, according to Dev Gangjee, professor of intellectual ownership rights at the University of Oxford.
“First is simply a premium price. The research shows that products can charge a price 1.5 to 2.7 times more than standards.”
This is not always reflected in profit because GI products are often more expensive to make, he adds.
The second reason is “those anchored in that region”. This prevents the product generic and loses its value – like Cheddar cheese, which was originally from a certain part of the UK, but now it is a generalized type of cheese.
And finally, Prof. Gangjee says GIS helps advertising the region and “opens other aspects of history and geography”, citing the French successful wine industry.
Examples of successful and longtime GIS are Scotch whiskey, champagne and Parma Ham.
Another Caribbean country is similarly involved in the GI -ai rum dispute is Barbados. Currently the island does not have a scheme.
Barbados has five distillery, and four agreed on the formulation of the proposed Barbados Rum Gi. The only complaint was Wird, who owns brands like a cockspur.
Similar to the situation on Jamaica, he complains to the proposed rules against aging abroad.
The failure of Barbados to get GI frustrated other manufacturers, including Richard Seale, owner of the Foursquare Island Distileria. “We need to have intrinsic industries that are rooted here, tied here, which cannot be separated from here,” he says.
Return to Jamaica, Toplice wants to sign up for the classification of the classification of protected geographical indications of the EU, but this cannot happen until the procedure in JIPO is concluded.
Mr. Gentles hopes that there will be a compromise, even if that means that both sides are not completely happy. “My company I believe we will put it behind one day,” he says.
And while the spa hopes that the stronger GI will encourage and do business, it is proud of the product with intimately related to the history of Jamaica.
In the days after October, the ruling newspaper Jamaica, Gleaner, supported the decision of JIPO, saying that there were many examples of “without a Jamaica association trying to administer the Misto of the Island brand”.
It is concluded: “When foreign subjects become owners of unique Jamaican products, there should be a commitment to firmly maintain the brand integrity.”
