CNIT backs CRT over Tequila exclusivity claim
The Cámara Nacional de la Industria Tequilera (CNIT) has defended the category’s regulatory body after the Additive Free Alliance (AFA) said it should not have “exclusive control” of Tequila.
The CNIT, otherwise known as the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry, penned a letter to The Spirits Business to clarify key points over a defence that was filed by the AFA in its lawsuit with Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), the category’s regulatory body.
In March 2025, the CRT filed a lawsuit against the AFA and S2F Online in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida’s Jacksonville Division.
The CRT claimed the AFA was misleading consumers by running an ‘unauthorised’ certification programme, with the lawsuit filed to prevent the organisation from infringing on the CRT’s Tequila trademark. It alleged that the AFA’s actions cause ‘confusion in the marketplace’ and are harmful to the Tequila sector.
The AFA conducts independent evaluations of Tequila brands through laboratory and sensory assessments to see if they contain additives.
Last week, the AFA filed its defence to the CRT’s lawsuit, arguing that the body should not have “exclusive and legitimate control” over the category’s certification.
The AFA called into question the CRT’s regulatory powers and said recent events (such as the Mexican government’s establishment of a similar entity to the CRT) had “severely undermined” the organisation.
It claims the Mexican government should own the Tequila certification mark and have the right to determine whether a product is Tequila, not the CRT. It also believes that only the government can authorise the use of Tequila as a denomination of origin (DO).
In response to the AFA’s defence, the CNIT stressed that the CRT is “not one option among many”. It continued: “[The CRT] is the only organisation officially recognised by the Mexican government to inspect, examine and verify compliance with NOM-006-SCFI-2012, the technical and legal foundation of the Tequila denomination of origin (DOT).
“It operates as an inspection unit, certification body, and authorised laboratory, audited regularly by national and international entities. Its role is not subject to commercial interests, but to the strict enforcement of the law.”
No ‘scientific evidence’
In its defence, the AFA alleged the CRT had certified adulterated Tequila products that were labelled as ‘100% agave’.
The AFA said it has conducted third-party laboratory testing of 15 Tequilas from nine different distilleries. It discovered ‘non-agave alcohol’, despite the CRT certifying and labelling them as ‘100% agave’. It noted that some approved products reportedly “substituted agave with inexpensive alcohol made from cane sugar”, causing harm to consumers, agave farmers and the local economy.
The CNIT said it was “deeply concerned” by this claim, adding that it was “without verifiable scientific evidence”.
It continued: “Such accusations, made without technical transparency or independent review, are not only irresponsible – they mislead consumers and damage the reputation of an entire category.”
The CNIT also noted that the AFA was “not an accredited or impartial body”.
It alleged that the AFA “presents itself as a champion of transparency, yet actively promotes specific brands while discrediting others. This constitutes a clear conflict of interest – one cannot claim neutrality while acting as judge, beneficiary, and marketer”.
‘Ridiculous claim’
The CNIT also accused the AFA of being linked (based on “public evidence”) with Julian Rodríguez Parra and Salvador Ibarra Landeros, who it claims were recently arrested for extortion against a Tequila company and have “been used by [the] AFA to spread misinformation and support complaints against famous Tequila brands”.
When asked for a comment about this alleged association, AFA founder Grover Sanschagrin said: “This is a ridiculous claim. We do not know the two individuals mentioned, nor have we ever had contact with them. This is a desperate attempt to deflect attention away from some very real issues.”
The CNIT also pointed to a current criminal investigation involving Grover and his wife Scarlet Sanschagrin in Mexico, where they have been accused of “health-related crimes due to the manufacture and sale of homemade alcohol without sanitary or administrative permits”.
Sanschagrin told The Spirits Business that this was related to the “well-publicised raid of our home in March 2024”, adding: “Unfortunately, we still have not been given our day in court to respond to these false allegations.”
The CNIT also claimed the AFA’s recent defence filing “erodes trust across the entire Tequila value chain, from agave farmers to global consumers”.
It concluded: “At CNIT, we believe in continuous improvement and in the consumer’s right to truthful, verified information. We also believe legitimate criticism must be grounded in solid scientific evidence – not in speculative campaigns or narratives that commercially benefit their promoters.”
The CRT has not provided a comment in regards to the defence filed by the AFA.
Behind the CNIT and CRT
Ana Cristina Villalpando Fonseca, general director of the CNIT, signed the letter.
When asked for clarification on the distinction between the CNIT and the CRT, Fonseca said the two organisations are “two entirely separate entities, each with distinct purposes”.
She explained that the CNIT is a trade association that represents the Tequila-producing industry, while the CRT is a “completely independent and autonomous regulatory body”.
Fonseca said the CRT is responsible for “overseeing the regulation of the entire Tequila supply chain – from agave growers to producers and bottlers – ensuring compliance with the standards of the denomination of origin and maintaining the quality and authenticity of Tequila”.
She noted that the CRT “carries out technical inspections, laboratory testing, and certification processes to guarantee compliance with the standard and to protect the DO. It operates under the authorisation and supervision of the Mexican government, which grants it the authority to enforce regulations and protect the integrity of the national beverage”.
Explaining the governance structure of the CRT, she said this includes Tequila producers, agave growers, academia, and government representatives, “all with equal voice and participation”.
She added: “It does not represent industry interests but rather ensures regulatory compliance, scientific rigour, and transparency in certification.”
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