Tequila may disappear from the market of Russia and other EAEU countries

The sale of tequila may be banned in the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, after the entry into force of the technical regulation on the safety of alcoholic beverages. The Mexican authorities turned to the Russian Federation with a request to support the amendment of the document. This was reported by the Vedomosti newspaper with reference to a copy of the appeal.

The Ambassador of Mexico Norma Pensado appealed to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk with a request to include tequila and mezcal in the technical regulations of the EAEU. So, the document establishes a requirement for the content of methanol in alcoholic beverages: in terms of anhydrous alcohol, it should not exceed 0.05%. Moreover, according to the Mexican standard, the permissible level of methanol in tequila varies from 0.03 to 0.3%.

As reported by the publication, the Mexican government is concerned about the lack of regulation of tequila and mezcal in the technical regulations. Overchuk's representative said that at a meeting on November 3, the members of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission agreed to postpone the entry into force of the technical regulation by one year (until January 1, 2022). According to him, the Russian side was offered to amend the document by April 30 next year. The request is currently pending.