Munich Beer Receives European Protection

On July 18, 1998, “Münchener Bier” was registered in the European Union as a Protected Geographical Indication under Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1549/98. The designation protects Munich beer as a regional product and links the protected name to beer produced within the defined geographical area of Munich. The protection was pursued by the Association of Munich Breweries, whose member breweries traditionally used the designation. Use of the protected name is governed by the registered product specification: a brewery must produce qualifying beer within Munich and comply with the specification, rather than gaining the right to the name merely by brewing a Munich-style beer elsewhere.