Ministry of Agriculture working on more rigorous definition of Polish vodka

2010-08-23

The Ministry of Agriculture is working on regulations that would more precisely define the methods of vodka production in Poland. At present, in accordance with the act on strong spirits production from 2006, the manufacturers are allowed to label their spirits “Polish Vodka” only if they use raw materials such as grains and potatoes of Polish origins for the production. The Ministry, however, has proposed to reduce the spectrum of raw materials to rye and potatoes.

The idea of the Ministry is supported by the Polish Vodka Association, which unites such producers as Wyborowa, Akwawit-Brasco, Polmos Bielsko-Biala and Polmos Jozefow distilleries as well as the Domestic Council of Alcohol Distillation and Production of Biofuels (KRGiPB). The latter organisations claim that the rigorous definition would increase the prestige of Polish vodka.

In turn, Polmos Lublin, CEDC and Belvedere, which belong to the Polish Spirits Industry (PPS) association, call for a definition of Polish vodka that would include the word “grains” instead of “rye”.