Appellations or Denominations of Origin (DO's) have been studied recently in the world with the objective of highlighting their importance for sustainable development, for conservation of bio-diversity and for traditional knowledge. Unfortunately, these signs are tied to commerce and intellectual rights. They are tools for commerce and are shaped and adapted to the economic realities of the countries, trade agreements and their public policies and regional conflicts. The current Mexican DO stakeholders proposal to name "Komil" to agave spirits produced outside of the DO area delimited geo-politically is a piece that fits perfectly in the NOM 199 draft, and traditional mezcal (outside DO Mezcal) would have to be called Komiles if this law project (proyecto de Norma Obligatoria Mexicana NOM) is accepted. The diversity of traditional mezcal extensely widespread in Mexico territory, would have to change from mezcal to “komil” which is a term that have never been associated to mezcal. This is not the first time that DO's Mexican stakeholders propose policies against bio-diversity owners of micro regional products. There is something wrong with marketing strategies in DO’s industries, they are pushing desperate measures in order to avoid competition. Something similar has been done some time ago (also during christmas time) with the proposal to make Agave a trademark just for DO’s stakeholders in Mexico. Agave is a genus, is a latin name! The worst is that it is even latent. The national and international lovers of Mexico bio-diversity linked to mezcal were united and their activism in favor of this tradition was loud. If we accept that the aim of the Mexican DO is used as a tool for trade, we agree on not caring about preserving traditions and biodiversity, there are no rules or obligations for sustainability in business. The most important example is the climate change and the bad results of our generation. The problem we are witnessing now is how the obligatory laws (NOM) are changed in order to make competition disapear. The actors of the DO's have many resources to create competitive advantages without falling into these proposals. Moreover, it is clear that if there are interests in conserving cultural heritage of bio mezcales that are held by groups of micro-producers, we have to insure that the name will survive. Holders of traditional ancestral knowledge having “Komil” instead of Mezcal on them, confirms that the DO's Mexican Mezcal and Tequila are not in favor of assets that gave rise to these spirits called mezcal and all its history. It is then clear that the Mexican mandatory standards for laws (NOM), where the rules are established, are texts that can be read as speeches against free competition. It is essential that the Mexican authorities are aware of the impacts of these DO laws and policies, hence the need to comment on the website COFEMER 03/2492/251115 on file) and then in the Mexican Official Journal when the draft is published. Mexico is the center of origin and diversity of the agave, the mezcal maintains traditional ancestral knowledge, it is part of Mexican food culture and it allows micro producers to maintain bio-diversity without migrating.

Ana Valenzuela is a leader research in Agave, Mezcal, Tequila, winner in 2007 for Agave blue species conservation Award by SEMARNAT, Mexican Guvernamental Authority in Natural Ressources. She has not conflict of interest.