Chapter 7
Regulatory Aspects Concerning Yerba
Mate Tea
Abstract The regulatory situation concerning yerba mate commerce in South
America and worldwide should be discussed. Yerba mate is a critical economic
resource for South American people working in farms and associated industries. As
a single example, this plant has been defined the national infusion in Argentina
some year ago, and similar feelings can be easily observed in Brazil and other
South American countries (Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay) also meaning that all
included economies rely on this product with a peculiar importance for several regions
only. At present, yerba mate represents a global commerce worldwide with notable
economic incomes. However, the ineffective control and management of the agribusiness industry have forced many small farmers to abandon their homes and cultivations because of the impossibility to guarantee high production amounts. Yerba mate
market is essentially an oligopolistic system, and the same thing is true for the past.
The commercialisation of fair trade and organic yerba mate products has partially
determined some amelioration for agricultural workers because of the interest in
ethical policies and ethnic products (alternative foods). As a result, more regulation
should be needed. This chapter concerns the regulatory situation in Argentina and
Brazil, the two main yerba mate producers.
Keywords Authenticity · European union · Geographical indication · INYM ·
MERCOSUR · South america · Yerba mate
Abbreviations
DOU
Diário Oficial da União
EU
European Union
GI
Geographical indication
INYM
Instituto Nacional de la Yerba Mate
MERCOSUR Mercado Común del Sur
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Iommi, Chemistry and Safety of South American Yerba Mate Teas,
Chemistry of Foods, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69614-6_7
69
Regulatory Aspects Concerning Yerba
Mate Tea
Abstract The regulatory situation concerning yerba mate commerce in South
America and worldwide should be discussed. Yerba mate is a critical economic
resource for South American people working in farms and associated industries. As
a single example, this plant has been defined the national infusion in Argentina
some year ago, and similar feelings can be easily observed in Brazil and other
South American countries (Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay) also meaning that all
included economies rely on this product with a peculiar importance for several regions
only. At present, yerba mate represents a global commerce worldwide with notable
economic incomes. However, the ineffective control and management of the agribusiness industry have forced many small farmers to abandon their homes and cultivations because of the impossibility to guarantee high production amounts. Yerba mate
market is essentially an oligopolistic system, and the same thing is true for the past.
The commercialisation of fair trade and organic yerba mate products has partially
determined some amelioration for agricultural workers because of the interest in
ethical policies and ethnic products (alternative foods). As a result, more regulation
should be needed. This chapter concerns the regulatory situation in Argentina and
Brazil, the two main yerba mate producers.
Keywords Authenticity · European union · Geographical indication · INYM ·
MERCOSUR · South america · Yerba mate
Abbreviations
DOU
Diário Oficial da União
EU
European Union
GI
Geographical indication
INYM
Instituto Nacional de la Yerba Mate
MERCOSUR Mercado Común del Sur
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Iommi, Chemistry and Safety of South American Yerba Mate Teas,
Chemistry of Foods, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69614-6_7
69