The APRV General Meeting discussed key areas of work and accepted a new member into its ranks

On June 24, 2022, the next General Meeting of the members of the Association of Producers of "Russian Vodka" (APRV) took place, during which the participants discussed the issue of controlling the authenticity and characteristics of alcoholic beverages by optical spectroscopy methods, accepted a new member into the Association, and also instructed the Federal State Enterprise "Soyuzplodoimport" to organize work on legal support of registration of geographical indication (GU) "Russian vodka" (GI "Russian vodka") in the European Union.

The event was attended by the heads and representatives of six companies that are current members of the Association: FCP Soyuzplodoimport, LLC Ladoga Group, JSC Moscow Plant Kristall, LLC Bryanskspirtprom, LLC Russian Standard Vodka, PJSC Beluga Group and LLC Stellar Spirits and Botling, the applicant for membership in the Association, as well as representatives of Rosalkogolregulirovaniya, JSC "Rosspirtprom" and the All-Russian Research Institute of Optical and Physical Measurements (VNIIOFI).

A.D. Levin, a leading researcher at VNIIOFI, Doctor of Technical Sciences, told the audience about a unique method for assessing the authenticity of vodka samples using surface-enhanced Raman light scattering on a portable Raman express analyzer, gave an example of using this method in foreign practice, in particular when verifying the authenticity of strong grain drinks (whiskey) without opening the bottle, and he also demonstrated the spectral differences of vodka labeled with NMPT "Russian Vodka" obtained during the experiment, from other vodkas.

Since it is necessary to conduct a number of laboratory tests and studies for the final completion of scientific work, the General Meeting recommended to re-consider this issue at one of the following meetings.

The President of the APRV Vladislav Spirin brought to the General Meeting the appeal of LLC Stellar Spirits and Bottling about joining the Association of Producers of Russian Vodka and put this issue to the vote.

After discussion, the participants of the meeting decided to include Stellar Spirits and Bottling LLC in the Association, noting that the company is a major producer of alcoholic beverages, and for certain types of spirits is one of the five leaders of the Russian alcohol market, located in the Moscow region (Moscow Dmitrov), has a valid license for the production of alcoholic beverages, and the vodka products produced by him (vodka "FAIRY TALE") in 2021 won prizes at international competitions in Hong Kong, London and Moscow, in addition, on April 22, 2022, Rospatent granted LLC Stellar Spirits and Bottling the right to use NMPT "Russian Vodka" when labeling vodka "FAIRY TALE" (certificate No. 65/29).

Whereas one of the members of the APRV – The Federal State Enterprise "Soyuzplodoimport" has many years of experience in conducting lawsuits abroad, including constantly interacting with foreign lawyers who can provide services for the preparation and submission of documents necessary for the settlement of registration issues of the State Enterprise "Russian Vodka" (GI "Russian vodka") to the European Commission, the General Meeting decided to entrust the Federal State Enterprise "Soyuzplodoimport" to attract foreign lawyers to prepare and file objections to the European Commission, with compensation for the costs incurred.

The next meeting of the Association of Producers of "Russian vodka" is scheduled for autumn 2022.