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Monday 28 January 2019

Patricia Covarrubia

The battle of Pisco

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Peru has scored once more in the international recognition of Pisco, their national drink.
The Registry of Industrial Property of Guatemala recognized Pisco as a Denomination of Origin (DO) produced in Peru. By Guatemala recognising Pisco as a drink from Peru, it prevents the registration of the name and any marketing of Pisco within the Guatemalan market if it has not complied with the Peruvian national regulation.

Back in 2017, 'Pisco' was declared Cultural Heritage of the Peruvian Nation (Law 30639). In the same year, the DO Pisco was also granted (by The Peruvian Institute for the Defense of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property INDECOPI) the character of ‘reputable mark’ due to its well-known status.

It is relevant to mention that Pisco is original to Peru as it is original to Chile – therefore there is a long battle between these two countries over the name ‘Pisco’. Pisco has obtained DOs in both jurisdiction as an original and native drink. Some countries would recognise Pisco as coming from Chile and others, from Peru, but not from both countries at the same time, except the EU. This is so because the EU registered Peruvian Pisco as a DO but acknowledged a previous trade agreement (2002) between Chile and the EU in which Pisco was recognized as a DO from Chile. The note clarifies that the protection granted to "Pisco" as a DO to Peru does not hinder the use of that name for products originating in Chile.

Malasia recognizes Pisco as a DO from Peru as well as, Israel, Nicaragua, Algeria, Cuba, Georgia, Haiti, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Dominica Republic, Venezuela, Nicaragua and India (since November 2018). However, Costa Rica, United States, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam recognize Pisco as a DO from Chile.

More information about Pisco here.

Patricia Covarrubia

Patricia Covarrubia