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New guidelines to safeguard Irish gin category

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has provided new guidelines for the production of Irish gin in order to protect both trade and consumers against potentially misleading products.

A map of gin producers across Ireland

The new guidelines stipulate that for a product to be labelled ‘Irish gin’ it must follow a certain production process. In addition to water and alcohol, the only other raw materials that can be used for making gin are botanicals and the predominant flavour must be juniper.

Additional flavourings or plants with flavours may also be added to create variants like pink gin, which has welcomed a number of entrants in recent years.

The guidelines also include the use of place names, the listing of allergen information and the packaging material used.

Trade group Drinks Ireland | Spirits welcomed the new guidance, which will help to safeguard the industry against products that appear similar to gin and have been marketed to appear as gin.

The rules will also help to further support producers in complying with EU regulations, the trade body noted.

David Boyd-Armstrong, co-founder of Rademon Estate Distillery and chair of the Irish Gin Working Group in Drinks Ireland | Spirits, said: “Ireland’s gin industry has gone from strength to strength in recent years. In the domestic market, gin has maintained its position as the fastest-growing spirit, and Irish gin in particular has become increasingly popular.

“There are now many Irish gin producers and numerous Irish gin brands on the island of Ireland, and consumers at home and abroad are responding positively to the diverse and distinct tastes being created here.

“However, as Irish gin grows in popularity, there is increased chance that the consumer may be misled on what it is that they are consuming. This can undermine the high-quality products being created by our Irish gin industry.

“Drinks Ireland and its gin-producing and brand-owning members welcome the new FSAI guidance, which we believe will be good for the consumer and good for the industry.”

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