Sake’s slender escape from EU ban highlights commerce blind spot

VERONA, Italy — Though Japanese sake narrowly averted a European Union import ban ensuing from a brand new packaging regulation, the shut name highlighted the problem of navigating the bloc’s complicated commerce guidelines.

“Is not sake a distilled alcoholic beverage?” Japanese diplomats had been shocked by a query from a European Fee official in early January. Sake is brewed, not distilled, from sake rice.