Industry welcomes juice content definition

August 19 2010

The National Association of Cider Makers has welcomed the Government announcement of proposals that for the first time set a legal minimum juice content for cider.

'Introducing a limit is good news for consumers as for the first time the cider duty rate is denied to products considered to have insufficient connection to cider or perry,' said NACM advisor, Nick Bradstock. ‘This of course has the effect of protecting the integrity of UK cider and providing certainty to consumers that if something is called 'cider' then it meets the main criteria and characteristics that consumers would reasonably expect that product to contain.'

At the same time it gives a robust definition that reassures small and large cider makers alike that the long term investment required to plant orchards and make cider is both recognised and encouraged. 

The level set of 35% of juice of Specific Gravity of at least 1.033 is to allow the inclusion of early and late season or low-gravity juice varieties and is accepted by NACM as a reasonable minimum.  

'It’s also important to have the definitive conditions set out so clearly now and for the future,' said Nick. 'The announcements earlier this year of change to come in the qualifications for cider duty did raise a degree of uncertainty among commentators and, for a craft and for businesses as dependent on long-term investment in orcharding and operations as cider making is, this was unhelpful.  We welcome the clarity brought to the definition of cider.'

The official notification of the proposals can be found here

© NACM 2008