The president of the Association of Industries of Herrera (AEIH) Antonio Taveras agrees with the recent decision of the National Office of Industrial Property (Onapi) that turned down the application for registration of the Denomination of Origin for Dominican Rum presented by the Dominican Association of Rum Producers (Adopron). Taveras said that the Denomination of Origin for Dominican Rum needs to be made within legal parameters but also allowing fair competition in the Dominican market.
Onapi has requested corrections in the documentation presented by Adopron for the denomination registration.
“We understand that the decision by Onapi seeks to establish a fair scheme so that, when approved, the Denomination of Origin for Dominican Rum does not serve to validate the oligopoly that exists, acting against small and medium-sized producers that represent 10% of the market,” said Taveras. He called for considering the interests of small producers grouped under the Association of Dominican Rum-makers (Ardo).
Taveras explained that in the rejected certification registration, the large rum companies had sought that the Denomination of Origin Regulator Council excludes all companies that are not Adopron members.
Taveras motivated that the mediation of the Ministry of Industry & Commerce continue to find a satisfactory solution to the impasse. He says he adheres to the position of the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD) on the need for companies to meet requirements such as climate and land use, exclusive use of Dominican sugar cane and the integration of a regulator council to issue the Denomination of Origin certificates.
The Dominican Association of Rum Producers (Adopron) has rejected the recent decision of the National Office of Industrial Property (Onapi) turning down the application for registration of the Denomination of Origin for Dominican Rum. The entity stated that it is studying Onapi’s ruling and that it will defend its request in the necessary scenarios, as well as the reputation and quality of Dominican rum, a “country-brand” product with well-earned international prestige as a result of the effort made since decades ago by the traditional exporters of the item, that as a whole represent over 90% of Dominican rum exports.
Adopron was incidental in securing the Denomination of Origin that establishes that Dominican rum is only that produced with sugar cane.
26 February 2018
