Czech Republic - The Czech Republic has asked the European Union to protect the country's traditional beer to preserve its uniqueness, an official said Friday, December 3. Jan Vesely, the head of the Czech Beer and Malt Association, said the typical lager produced in the country known also as Czech-type Pilsner or Pilsener has unique features and deserves protection, according to Associated Press.

The lager distinctive for its golden color and rich taste was made for the first time in 1842 in the Czech town of Plzen (Pilsen in English). Its style became dominant in the country and was later imitated by brewers in many other countries. According to Vesely, the EU protection would ensure that only such lager using traditional technology based on specific fermentation and using local raw materials such as hops and malt can be called "Czech beer." He said beer producers in the Czech Republic would be allowed to make other types of beer but would not then be allowed to call it "Czech beer."

Vesely could not say when the request for protection was filed by the Industrial Property Office on behalf of the country. The Czech Republic joined the EU on May 1 along with nine other mostly former communist nations.

Czechs are the world's biggest per-capita beer drinkers. Separately, one of the country's famed lagers, Budejovicky Budvar, already enjoys protection by the EU as a regional product.