This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Meetings between Miguel Ceballos Baron and Heineken'.




Ref. Ares(2018)450886 - 25/01/2018
Ref. Ares(2019)4296704 - 05/07/2019
To: 
CEBALLOS BARON Miguel (CAB-MALMSTROM); RUEDA CATRY Cristina (CAB-
HOGAN); MARTIN-PRAT Maria (TRADE); CLARKE John (AGRI);  Art.4.1(b)
Art.4.1(b)
 (TRADE); 
Art.4.1(b)
 (TRADE);  Art.4.1(b)
 (AGRI); 
Art.4.1(b)
 (AGRI); 
 (AGRI); 
 (TRADE); 
Art.4.1(b)
Art.4.1(b)
Art.4.1(b)
 (TRADE);  Art.4.1(b)
 (TRADE);  Art.4.1(b)
 (TRADE) 
Subject: 
Flash report - Meeting with Heineken on FTA GIs negotiations with Mexico, 25 
January 2018 
Flash report – Meeting with Heineken on FTA GIs negotiations with Mexico 
Participants  
Heineken: 
Art.4.1(b)
Art.4.1(b)
COM: Miguel Ceballos (CAB Malmström), Cristina Rueda (CAB Hogan),  Art.4.1(b)
 (TRADE, 
B3) 
Heineken representatives explained their concerns regarding the envisaged incorporation of the 
1997 Spirits Agreement with Mexico into the future modernised FTA.
Art.4.2(a)
Heineken’s use of Tequila in beer is currently being disputed on the grounds of Mexican laws in 
the Netherlands and France by the  Tequila Producers Association (Consejo Regulador del 
Tequila – CRT), claiming that it is only permitted to produce and commercialise alcoholic drinks 
in which either 25% or 50% of the alcohol originates from Tequila. This would in the case of 
Heineken notably change the product category from beer into spirits.  
There is an application via EU Regulations for the registration of Tequila as a GI in the EU. 
The EU side took note while providing references to the overall context of the negotiations with 
Mexico. In this regard, the EU explained its approach to the incorporation of old-generation 
Wines and Spirit Agreements into comprehensive modernised FTAs and clarified EU practice in 
enforcement by means of domestic regulations and how this is articulated in FTA relevant 
provisions. 
Art.4.1(b)
European Commission
DG TRADE 
Unit B.3. Intellectual Property and Public Procurement 

Art.4.1(b)
B-1049 Brussels/Belgium
Tel: +
E-Mail: Art.4.1(b)
@ec.europa.eu