ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES 
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COM (83) 062 
 
 
 
Vol. 1983/0 023 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Communit y and the European Atom ic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), t his file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februa r 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 v om 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C O M (83) 62 fin a l 
Brussels, 14 February 1983
Recommendation fo r a  
COUNCIL DECISION
authorizing the Commission to negotiate an agreement with Mexico on 
the mutual recognition of appellations of o rig in  fo r s p iritu o u s bever­
ages
(submitted to the Council by the Commission)
C0M(83) 62 fin a l

COMMUNICATION T O  TH E COUNCIL
EXPLANATORY M E M O R A N D U M
Subject : CEE/Mexico, mutual recognition of appellations of 
o rig in  fo r s p iritu o u s  beverages
The E E C  and Mexico concluded an Agreement in 1975 designed 
in te r a lia  "to  e stablish and encourage commercial and economic 
cooperation . . .  so as to contribute . . . .  to the balance of th e ir
reciprocal trade at the highest level _ _". Since that tim e, of
th
e issues raised w ith in  the framework of th is  Agreement the only 
major outstanding one is the request of Mexico fo r recognition 
of the Mexican a p p e lla tio n  of o rig in  "T e q u ila ".
The matter was examined in the 113 Committee and they noted 
that Mexico's request had been discussed with government experts 
on alcohol who had no objections i f  a  reciprocal agreement could 
be reached. The 113 Committee concluded that there is an agreement 
on the p rin c ip le  of mutual recognition of the appellations of 
o rig in  in question (Tequila and ce rta in  sp iritu o u s  beverages of 
Member S tates); and the delegations of Member States undertook 
to transm it d ir e c tly  to the Services of the Commission, before 
the end of October, the li s t  of s p iritu o u s  beverages which could 
be included in the agreement foreseen with Mexico.
In view of the Community's commitment to cooperation with 
Mexico on trade matters and the advantage to be gained in having 
the Community l i s t  of a ppellations of o rig in  recognised by Mexico 
in exchange fo r our recognition of T equila, the Commission recom­
mends that the d ire c tiv e s  fo r n egotiation s should include the 
concept of the basis of re c ip ro c ity , and the p o s s ib ility  to revert 
to the aspects of control at a  la te r date.
As the Community regulation on s p iritu o u s  beverages has not 
yet been adopted, the aspect of control and p ro te c tio n  should 
p ro v is io n a lly  be assumed by the in d iv id u a l governments concerned,

-  2 -
in Line with th e ir national L e g is la tio n , u n til such time as a  
Community p o lic y  has been established and the matter may be 
raised again with Mexico. The agreement with Mexico on mutual 
recognition of appellations of o rig in  fo r s p iritu o u s beverages 
should not prejudice any eventual Community regulation or 
d ire c tiv e  on the m atter.
The Commission submits fo r th is  purpose a  recommendation 
fo r a  Council Decision authorising the Commission to negotiate 
an agreement with Mexico (see Annex I ) .

AN N EX I
REC O M M EN D ATIO N  F O R  A  COUNCIL DECISION
authorizing the Commission to negotiate an agreement with Mexico on the 
mutual recognition of appellations of o rig in  fo r sp iritu o u s  beverages
TH E  COUNCIL O F  TH E E U R O P E A N  COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty e s ta b lis h in g  the European Economic Community, 
and in p a rtic u la r A rtic le  113 th e re o f,
Having regard to the recommendation from the Commission,
Whereas Mexico has requested the opening of negotiations with the 
European Economic Community on recognition of the designation of 
o rig in  "T e q u ila ",
H A S  DECIDED A S  FOLLOW S:« '
Sole A rtic le
The Commission is hereby authorized to negotiate an Agreement between 
the European Economic Community and Mexico on recognition and possible 
control of the designation of o rig in  "T e q u ila ".
The Commission s h a ll conduct the negotiation s in consultation with the 
Special Committee provided fo r in A rtic le  113 of the Treaty in order to 
secure the recognition and possible control by Mexico fo r its  part of 
designations of o rig in  fo r the s p iritu o u s  beverages of the Member 
States of the European Community lis te d  in the Annex.
Done at Brussels,
For the Counci l 
The President

L is t of s p iritu o u s beverages submitted by the Member 
States with a view to negotiations with Mexico on 
the mutual recognition of designations of o rig in
Federal Republic of Germany
a) Gin
- Steinhaeger
b) F ruit s p ir its :
- Schwarzwaelder Himbeergeist
-  Schwarzwaelder Kirsch
c) Liqueurs and s p e c ia litie s
- Bayerischer Gebirgsenzian
-  Benediktbeurer K lostergold
-  Chiemseer K lo s te rlik o e r
-  E tta le r K lo s te rlik o e r
- Koenigsberger Baerenfang
-  O stpreussischer Baerenfang
-  Stonsdorfer
- B erliner Kümmel
- Hamburger Kümmel
-  Münchener Kümmel
d) Rum:
-  Flensburger R um  
Denmark
Dansk akvavit
United Kingdom
Scotch whisky 
Iris h  whiskey
Greece
Ouzo
Greek sp e c ia lty  brandy 
Greek Brandwein S pezialtet
I re land
Iris h  whiskey 
Iris h  P o t s t ill whiskey 
Uisce Beatha Eireanach 
Iris h  cream Liqueurs 
Iris h  mist 
Cork Dry Gin