Collective marks

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Collective marks

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Beer - Collective marks

Collective marks

Logo bière d'abbaye nl-ang

Certified Belgian Abbey Beer

The collective trademark may only be used by members of the Union of Belgian Breweries (UBB) having signed an written agreement with the UBB.

The breweries may only use the collective mark if the following conditions are fulfilled :

– as far as "the abbey beers" are concerned that were already
present on the market when the collective mark was registered :

1. there has to be a connection with an existing / no longer
     existing abbey and

2.  royalties (1) have to be paid; these can be used to help
     finance the Abbey's charitable activities, other good works
     and cultural activities/works that contribute to the cultural
     preservation of the abbey, allied to the abbey or to another
    defined organization if the abbey no longer exists

3.  any marketing activity or publicity can be verified, checks by
      the abbey or the defined organization.

– as far as the new abbey beers are concerned (i.e. put on the market after July
12th, 1999) :

1.  or the beer is brewed in an existing non-trappist abbey (or an
     existing abbey that licences a brewery to brew the beer under
     its responsibility and that commercialises the beer itself) or

2. a beer brewed by an independent brewery having acquired the
     licence for the use of the name of this beer from an existing
     abbey (juridical tie by means of a contract). The brewery
   itself commercialises, distributes the beer and

3. royalties (2) have to be paid to the abbey/order and the order
    needs to support charitable activities and

4. has to be based on an historical background (the abbey had any history of brewing) and

5. the abbey has a right to check, verify the publicity.

(1) These have to be of an order/size that is prevailing on the Belgian market
(2) Idem

Logo STG en

Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)

This mention does not refer to the origin but highlights traditional character, either in the composition or means of production.

ex. : Faro, Lambic, Gueuze, Kriek, … and their derivatives

Logo BBP

Belgian Beer Paradise

The common trademark "Belgian Beer" may only be used by members of the Union of the Belgian Breweries (UBB) having signed an written agreement with the UBB.

The trademark may only be used for :

– trademark beers of good quality, private labels excluded;

   –   beer brewed by an excisable brewery established in Belgium (Belgian
      brewery), or beer brewed by a foreign brewery which has acquired the licence
      for this beer from an excisable brewery in Belgium which brews and markets
      this beer in Belgium, or beer brewed by a subsidiary of an excisable brewery
      established in Belgium which brews this beer in Belgium;

– beers identified by their own name, own commercial name or trade mark.

Logo Authentic Trappist Product

Authentic Trappist Product

There are only 7 trappist breweries in the world! Only beer brewed at an abbey, under the watchful eye of the Cistercian monastic community living there, can rightfully use the strictly controlled name of "Trappiste".

Of the numerous Belgian beers, only Orval, Chimay, Rochefort, Westvleteren, Westmalleand Achel are entitled to use the "Trappiste" name and one in The Netherlands : Koningshoeven.

The denomination “Trappist” is also used for other products manufactured in the Cistercian monasteries and under the supervision of the monks and nuns. It indicates that they are the manufacturers.

The logo 'Authentic Trappist Product' gives to the consumer some information and guarantees about the produce. It states that the product respect precise production criteria defined by the International Trappist Association (ITA). These criteria are the following :

– the product must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist abbey

– the product must be brewed under control of Trappist monks

– the economic purpose of the brewery must be directed toward assistance
and not toward financial profit.