Certified Belgian Abbey Beer

The collective trademark may only be used by members of the Union of Belgian Breweries (UBB) having signed an written agreement with the UBB.

The breweries may only use the collective mark if the following conditions are fulfilled :

– as far as "the abbey beers" are concerned that were already present on the market when the collective mark was registered :

1. there has to be a connection with an existing / no longer existing abbey and

2. royalties (1) have to be paid; these can be used to help finance the Abbey's charitable activities, other good works and cultural activities/works that contribute to the cultural preservation of the abbey, allied to the abbey or to another defined organization if the abbey no longer exists

3. any marketing activity or publicity can be verified, checks by the abbey or the defined organization.

– as far as the new abbey beers are concerned (i.e. put on the market after July 12th, 1999) :

1. or the beer is brewed in an existing non-trappist abbey (or an existing abbey that licences a brewery to brew the beer under its responsibility and that commercialises the beer itself) or

2. a beer brewed by an independent brewery having acquired the licence for the use of the name of this beer from an existing abbey (juridical tie by means of a contract). The brewery itself commercialises, distributes the beer and

3. royalties (2) have to be paid to the abbey/order and the order needs to support charitable activities and

4. has to be based on an historical background (the abbey had any history of brewing) and

5. the abbey has a right to check, verify the publicity.

(1) These have to be of an order/size that is prevailing on the Belgian market

(2) Idem