European Union agriculture ministers met in Luxembourg in October 2006 to debate new rules defining which spirits may legally be called vodka. Finland, holding the EU presidency at the time, led a push by Nordic countries to limit the designation to spirits distilled from grain, apples, or sugar molasses.
Under the Nordic proposal, vodkas made from other raw materials, including grapes, would be required to display that fact prominently on the label. Sweden, the bloc's largest vodka producer, and Poland both backed the effort, citing the value of preserving traditional production methods.
The European Commission and Britain opposed the restrictions, warning that tighter rules could disrupt the EU's internal market and create complications at the World Trade Organization. A Commission source said the Nordic push appeared designed to benefit those countries commercially.
The debate formed part of broader EU talks on updating regulations governing alcohol and spirits production and labeling. The European Parliament was scheduled to issue its initial opinion the following March, after which ministers would revisit the question.
The outcome carries real economic weight: a Vinexpo study projected global vodka consumption would grow by 11.4 percent between 2003 and 2008, reflecting the drink's rising popularity across Western markets.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in October 2006, in its own words.