The European Commission is currently drafting uniform EU-level definitions for cider, which are expected to introduce a strict three-tier classification based on the juice content used in fermentation. This proposed regulation has raised alarms in Finland, as the country's beverage industry association, the Brewery and Soft Drink Industry Association, argues that the criteria could distort competition among cider producers across Europe. They stress that the proposed juice content thresholds might unfairly disadvantage producers from regions with diverse cider-making traditions and innovations.

Lasse Pipinen, the CEO of the Brewery and Soft Drink Industry Association, has publicly criticized the plan, stating that it is unreasonable to impose a one-size-fits-all definition on all European ciders. He highlights the rich and innovative history of cider production across various regions in Europe and fears that this bureaucratic approach would stifle creativity and diversity in cider-making practices. The association asserts that consolidating such definitions based solely on juice content might privilege certain countries, where production systems are already tailored to these new regulatory frameworks.

This situation not only impacts the cider producers in Finland but could also set a precedent for the treatment of other drink categories within the EU. As discussions continue, stakeholders in the beverage industry will be keenly watching to see if the new definitions will be amended in response to concerns raised, or if the regulations will proceed in their current form, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape for cider and other fermented beverages in Europe.