Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) has delivered a decision on an application filed by National Rums and The Spirits Pool Association to rectify the Jamaica Rum Geographical Indication (GI).

JIPO, the local intellectual property administrator, on October 2, 2024, announced that it ruled in favour of the Spirits Pool Association.

By doing so, it has “affirmed eight years of research and work that went into the crafting of the Jamaica Rum GI”, according to the Spirits Pool Association.

Based on the ruling, to be considered Jamaica Rum the product can only be manufactured in Jamaica using naturally filtered limestone water from limited and specific geographical zones; it should be aged in small barrels (no larger than 250 litres) made from food-grade wood; and it must be produced from sugar cane substrates such as molasses and sugar cane juice, using special distillation stills made with copper.

More importantly, no sugar or other materials should added after distillation and it is aged only in Jamaica.

“We believe that this decision will preserve the authenticity of the production process which ensures the quality of Jamaica Rum and inures to the benefit of Jamaica and the Jamaican people. This will go a far way to protect the Jamaica Rum Industry which earns revenues of more than US$160 million per annum,” the Spirits Pool Association outlined in a statement.

“We always believed that there was a level of diligence, integrity and intellectual erudition that have attended the craftsmanship of all the Jamaican GIs, and our country should be proud of the capacity of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office that guided the registration of “Jamaica Jerk” and “Jamaica Rum” and that advised the Jamaica Coffee Industry,” it continued

Spirits Pool Association was supported by a legal team led by Sanya Goffe and Camille Garrison of Hart Muirhead Fatta.

NRJ responds

In the meantime, National Rums of Jamaica (NRJ) has voiced its concern about the recent ruling by JIPO, noting that the judgment “introduces new regulations which may alter how Jamaican Rum is produced and marketed.

“This decision could have detrimental consequences for NRJ, the Jamaican rum industry, and the broader economy,” the company stated further.

Defending its stewardship of rum production in Clarendon at the Moneymusk Factory and Long Pond in Trelawny, NRJ said it is committed to preserving Jamaican Rum’s authenticity and heritage.

“We are currently reviewing all available options to protect our longstanding rum traditions and ensure the future sustainability of this important industry. We remain dedicated to safeguarding the legacy and quality of Jamaican Rum for generations to come and to protecting Jamaica’s deeply rooted rum traditions.”