After 20 years of negotiations, on June 28th 2019, the Agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, the common market of South America, was concluded.
IG Grappa has been granted very high protection, with different grades in different countries:
- Paraguay: immediate protection of the denomination;
- Uruguay: immediate protection of the term Grappa. Users of the term "Grapamiel" have been granted grandfathering, ie the possibility of continuing to use this term provided they are able to demonstrate their use for a continuous period and guaranteeing a label that clarifies the origin of the product. A closed list of the manufacturers authorized to use the term will be attached to the agreement (page 19 of the Agreement);
- Brazil and Argentina: 7 years of phasing-out is needed. Once this term is reached, the protection will be complete and the term Grappa can no longer be used. (Page 14 Annex IIA).