One of the operators detected is marketing its products through operators in the United Kingdom, so this information has been passed on to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food so that it can inform the British authorities of this fraud.

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Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment

Inspectors of Agri-Food Quality and Local Produce, following a complaint filed with this Directorate General, which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment, have carried out a series of official controls in establishments producing and distributing spirits, as well as in retail outlets in Ibiza.

During the inspections, a total of 138 litres of herbal liqueur fraudulently packaged and labelled as Hierbas Ibicencas were seized.

From the investigations arising from this complaint, it has been found that one of the operators detected is marketing its products through operators in the United Kingdom, so the Regional Ministry of Agriculture has passed this information on to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food so that it can inform the British authorities of this fact and prevent this product from being marketed in their territory.

Joan Llabrés, director general of Agri-Food Quality and Local Produce, reminded the public that “monitoring the use of the geographical indications protected by the various geographical indications and protected designations of origin of the Balearic Islands is a priority for the Inspection Service. These actions represent blatant consumer fraud and unfair competition against operators who act correctly. The operators detected are taking advantage of the reputation of Ibizan herbs and the name of Ibiza to market products that do not meet the legal requirements to be marketed as such,” he added.

The Directorate General reminds the public that the production and marketing of Ibizan herbs is regulated and protected under a geographical indication, and that the use of this designation to market products not covered by the indication is a serious offence in agri-food matters.

To use the name Hierbas Ibicencas on their labels, producers of Ibizan herbs must be registered in the Register of the Geographical Indication, which is managed and controlled by the Directorate-General for Agri-food Quality and Local Produce.

At present, three operators are registered in the Register: Marí Mayans, Aniseta and Can Rich. In 2023 they produced some 440,000 litres of Ibizan herbs with a geographical indication.