The National Intellectual Property Office (Onapi) has authorized select rum producers to use the prestigious Rum Denomination of Origin label on their produce. The announcement comes after eight years of local disputes over who could use the prestigious label.
Denomination of Origin is the protected designation of origin (PDO), known worldwide as a distinctive sign of a geographical nature used to distinguish those agri-food products that owe their quality exclusively or primarily to the place where they are produced and made. Other examples of Denomination of Origin are Champagne, Pisco and Tequila.
Different countries have different rules and regulations when it comes to rum. In the Dominican Republic, to qualify for the Denomination of Origin distinction, rum producers must harvest the sugar cane, ferment, distill, and age the alcohol in oak barrels for a minimum of one year – and it all has to happen within the country’s borders.
A Denomination of Origin is only granted to products that can demonstrate that their qualities, those that made them famous, are due to the geography where they are grown and processed and the ancestral practices preserved there over time.
By obtaining a Denomination of Origin, the protected product is prevented from being counterfeited by others in different territories and/or with different practices. The tradition and the elements that have conferred the reputation are thus preserved.
Nowadays, consumers value much more the quality of the product they are buying and this is why the leading rum producers in the Dominican Republic sought the Denomination of Origin as a guarantee of the quality and unique character of the product.
The Denomination of Origin is a plus for exporters. It adds a superior added value and increases the commercial possibilities of the products. This is because, for a product to be qualified in this way, it must undergo a controlled and suitable cultivation and transformation process, synonymous with product quality assurance and food safety. In addition, Denominations of Origin have the backing of institutions and public bodies, which gives them greater visibility and reliability for potential customers.
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Onapi
Diario Libre
Onapi
Acento
29 November 2021