The Cámara Nacional de la Industria Tequilera (CNIT) has defended the class’s regulatory physique after the Additive Free Alliance (AFA) mentioned it mustn’t have “unique management” of Tequila.
The CNIT, in any other case often called the Nationwide Chamber of the Tequila Business, penned a letter to The Spirits Enterprise to make clear key factors over a defence that was filed by the AFA in its lawsuit with Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), the class’s regulatory physique.
In March 2025, the CRT filed a lawsuit in opposition to the AFA and S2F On-line within the US District Courtroom for the Center District of Florida’s Jacksonville Division.
The CRT claimed the AFA was deceptive customers by operating an ‘unauthorised’ certification programme, with the lawsuit filed to stop the organisation from infringing on the CRT’s Tequila trademark. It alleged that the AFA’s actions trigger ‘confusion within the market’ and are dangerous to the Tequila sector.
The AFA conducts unbiased evaluations of Tequila manufacturers by laboratory and sensory assessments to see in the event that they comprise components.
Final week, the AFA filed its defence to the CRT’s lawsuit, arguing that the physique mustn’t have “unique and legit management” over the class’s certification.
The AFA known as into query the CRT’s regulatory powers and mentioned current occasions (such because the Mexican authorities’s institution of an analogous entity to the CRT) had “severely undermined” the organisation.
It claims the Mexican authorities ought to personal the Tequila certification mark and have the precise to find out whether or not a product is Tequila, not the CRT. It additionally believes that solely the federal government can authorise the usage of Tequila as a denomination of origin (DO).
In response to the AFA’s defence, the CNIT burdened that the CRT is “not one choice amongst many”. It continued: “[The CRT] is the one organisation formally recognised by the Mexican authorities to examine, look at and confirm compliance with NOM-006-SCFI-2012, the technical and authorized basis of the Tequila denomination of origin (DOT).
“It operates as an inspection unit, certification physique, and authorised laboratory, audited often by nationwide and worldwide entities. Its position will not be topic to business pursuits, however to the strict enforcement of the legislation.”
No ‘scientific proof’
In its defence, the AFA alleged the CRT had licensed adulterated Tequila merchandise that had been labelled as ‘100% agave’.
The AFA mentioned it has performed third-party laboratory testing of 15 Tequilas from 9 completely different distilleries. It found ‘non-agave alcohol’, regardless of the CRT certifying and labelling them as ‘100% agave’. It famous that some accepted merchandise reportedly “substituted agave with cheap alcohol made out of cane sugar”, inflicting hurt to customers, agave farmers and the native economic system.
The CNIT mentioned it was “deeply involved” by this declare, including that it was “with out verifiable scientific proof”.
It continued: “Such accusations, made with out technical transparency or unbiased evaluation, are usually not solely irresponsible – they mislead customers and harm the status of a whole class.”
The CNIT additionally famous that the AFA was “not an accredited or neutral physique”.
It alleged that the AFA “presents itself as a champion of transparency, but actively promotes particular manufacturers whereas discrediting others. This constitutes a transparent battle of curiosity – one can’t declare neutrality whereas performing as decide, beneficiary, and marketer”.
‘Ridiculous declare’
The CNIT additionally accused the AFA of being linked (primarily based on “public proof”) with Julian Rodríguez Parra and Salvador Ibarra Landeros, who it claims had been just lately arrested for extortion in opposition to a Tequila firm and have “been utilized by [the] AFA to unfold misinformation and assist complaints in opposition to well-known Tequila manufacturers”.
When requested for a remark about this alleged affiliation, AFA founder Grover Sanschagrin mentioned: “It is a ridiculous declare. We have no idea the 2 people talked about, nor have we ever had contact with them. It is a determined try and deflect consideration away from some very actual points.”
The CNIT additionally pointed to a present prison investigation involving Grover and his spouse Scarlet Sanschagrin in Mexico, the place they’ve been accused of “health-related crimes because of the manufacture and sale of home made alcohol with out sanitary or administrative permits”.
Sanschagrin instructed The Spirits Enterprise that this was associated to the “well-publicised raid of our house in March 2024”, including: “Sadly, we nonetheless haven’t been given our day in courtroom to answer these false allegations.”
The CNIT additionally claimed the AFA’s current defence submitting “erodes belief throughout your entire Tequila worth chain, from agave farmers to world customers”.
It concluded: “At CNIT, we consider in steady enchancment and within the shopper’s proper to truthful, verified data. We additionally consider legit criticism should be grounded in stable scientific proof – not in speculative campaigns or narratives that commercially profit their promoters.”
The CRT has not supplied a remark regarding the defence filed by the AFA.
Behind the CNIT and CRT
Ana Cristina Villalpando Fonseca, normal director of the CNIT, signed the letter.
When requested for clarification on the excellence between the CNIT and the CRT, Fonseca mentioned the 2 organisations are “two completely separate entities, every with distinct functions”.
She defined that the CNIT is a commerce affiliation that represents the Tequila-producing trade, whereas the CRT is a “fully unbiased and autonomous regulatory physique”.
Fonseca mentioned the CRT is chargeable for “overseeing the regulation of your entire Tequila provide chain – from agave growers to producers and bottlers – guaranteeing compliance with the requirements of the denomination of origin and sustaining the standard and authenticity of Tequila”.
She famous that the CRT “carries out technical inspections, laboratory testing, and certification processes to ensure compliance with the usual and to guard the DO. It operates below the authorisation and supervision of the Mexican authorities, which grants it the authority to implement rules and defend the integrity of the nationwide beverage”.
Explaining the governance construction of the CRT, she mentioned this consists of Tequila producers, agave growers, academia, and authorities representatives, “all with equal voice and participation”.
She added: “It doesn’t symbolize trade pursuits however slightly ensures regulatory compliance, scientific rigour, and transparency in certification.”
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