Zivania is only made from grapes; all fruits can produce alcohol through distillation, and therefore, they must find other names according to the fruit that will be distilled.
The issue was discussed in yesterday’s session of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, with MPs calling for measures from the Ministry of Agriculture to combat the production and circulation of products labeled as ‘zivania’ in the market. However, these products are not made from grapes but from other fruits, such as apples and pomegranates. The alcoholic beverage with the name ‘zivania’ is registered as a geographical indication of Cyprus and is protected both at the EU level and in several third countries that have signed bilateral agreements with the European Union. To produce and market any alcoholic beverage, the relevant licenses from the Health Service and the Customs Department are required, concerning food production and excise taxes, respectively.
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