5. 5. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 120/3 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Regulation: 
I. amending Regulation (EEC) No 358/79 on sparkling wines produced in the 
Community and defined in item 13 of Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 337/79 
II. laying down general rules for the description and presentation of sparkling wines and 
aerated sparkling wines 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 21 March 1983) 
I 
Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 358/79 on sparkling 
wines produced in the Community and defined in item 13 of Annex II to Regulation 
(EEC) No 337/79 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 43 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par­
liament, 
Whereas, for reasons of clarity and logic, Article 8 of 
Council Regulation (EEC) No 358/79 0, the 
(') OJNoL54, 5. 3. 1979, p. 130. 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, 
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 
337/79 of 5 February 1979 on the common organ-provisions of which are now contained in Regulation 
(EEC) No .../.., should be deleted, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 358/79 is hereby 
deleted. 
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 September 
1984. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and 
directly applicable in all Member States. 
ization of the market in wine ('), as last amended by 
Regulation (EEC) No 3082/82 (2), and in particular 
Article 54 (1) thereof, 
(') OJNoL54, 5. 3. 1979, p. 1. 
O OJ No L 326, 23. 11. 1982, p. 1. II 
Proposal for a Council Regulation laying down general rules for the description and 
presentation of sparkling wines and aerated sparkling wines 
No C 120/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 5.5.83 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas Article 54 of Regulation (EEC) No 337/79 
makes provision for the adoption of general rules for 
the description and presentation of products in the 
wine sector; whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 
355/79 of 5 February 1979 laying down general rules 
for the description and presentation of wines and 
grape musts ('), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) 
No 3685/81 (2), does not apply to sparkling wines or 
aerated sparkling wines; whereas rules should be 
established for the description and presentation of the 
latter products; 
Whereas the purpose of description and presentation 
should always be to provide potential buyers and 
public bodies responsible for organizing and 
supervising the marketing of the products concerned 
with sufficiently clear and accurate information to 
enable them to form an opinion of the products; 
whereas rules should therefore be drawn up to ensure 
that this purpose is served; 
Whereas, in the case of descriptive items, a distinction 
should be made between mandatory information 
needed to identify a sparkling or aerated sparkling 
wine and optional information designed mainly to 
indicate the intrinsic qualities of a product or to 
distinguish it clearly from other, competing products 
on the market in sparkling and aerated sparkling 
wines; whereas, in order to facilitate the marketing of 
the said products, it should be left to the parties 
concerned to choose the optional information they 
wish to include, without provision of an exhaustive 
list; whereas the choice of optional information 
should nevertheless be restricted to details which are 
not inaccurate or liable to create confusion in the 
minds of those for whom the information is intended; 
Whereas Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 
December 1979 on the approximation of the laws of 
the Member States relating to the labelling, pres­
entation and advertising of foodstuffs for the sale to 
the ultimate consumer (3) has been amended by 
Directive .../.. (4); whereas the amendment includes 
a requirement for labels on products containing more 
than 1,2 % by volume of alcohol to specify the 
ingredients and alcoholic strength; whereas, in the 
case of products of the wine sector, provision is also 
made for the ingredients and alcoholic strength to be 
indicated in accordance with specific provisions; 
(') OJ No L 54, 5. 3. 1979, p. 99. 
(*) OJ No L 369, 24. 12. 1981, p. 1. 
O OJNoL33, 8.2. 1979, p. 1. 
(4) Proposal for an amending Directive published in 
OJNoC281,26. 10. 1982, p. 3. Whereas, in order not to interfere with customary 
practice and in order to establish conditions for fair 
competition on the market in sparkling wines, aerated 
sparkling wines and other sparkling beverages, precise 
rules should be laid down regarding the manner in 
which mandatory information and some optional 
items of information are given; 
Whereas the characteristic features of sparkling and 
aerated sparkling wines are determined principally by 
natural and technical factors at all stages from the 
cultivation of the vine to the wine-making process; 
whereas, therefore, in order to ensure uniform 
treatment of these products, conditions should be 
defined — as for wine — under which the name of a 
Member State or the adjective derived from that 
name may be used in combination with the name of 
the product; 
Whereas the presentation of sparkling and aerated 
sparkling wines traditionaly includes special features, 
such as the form of the closure, which distinguish 
these products from other beverages; whereas rules 
should therefore be laid down regarding the 
appearance of these special features; 
Whereas provision should be made for the adoption 
of transitional arrangements to facilitate the 
changeover from national to Community rules on 
description and presentation, in particular so that 
products which comply with national rules on 
description and presentation applying before the entry 
into force of this Regulation, but not with the new 
Community rules, may be marketed, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
1. This Regulation lays down general rules for the 
description and presentation of: 
(a) the sparkling wines defined in item 13 of Annex 
II to Regulation (EEC) No 337/79 originating in 
the Community; 
(b) the aerated sparkling wines originating in the 
Community defined in item 14 of Annex II to 
Regulation (EEC) No 337/79; 
(c) the sparkling wines defined in Article 2 of 
Council Regulation (EEC) No 339/79 (s) ori­
ginating in non-member countries; and 
O OJ No L 54, 5. 3. 1979, p. 57. 
5.5.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 120/5 
(d) the aerated sparkling wines defined in Article 2 of 
Regulation (EEC) No 339/79 originating in non-
member countries. 
The sparkling wines referred to in the preceding 
subparagraph under (a) shall comprise: 
— the sparkling wines referred to in Title II of 
Council Regulation (EEC) No 358/79 (»), 
— the quality sparkling wines referred to in Title III 
of the same Regulation, and 
— the quality sparkling wines produced in specified 
regions referred to in the fourth paragraph of 
Article 1 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 
338/79 (2), hereinafter called 'quality sparkling 
wines psr\ 
2. The rules referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply 
to the description of the products there indicated: 
(a) on labels; 
(b) in registers and in the accompanying and other 
documents prescribed by Community legislation, 
hereinafter called 'official documents', other than 
customs documents; 
(c) in commercial documents, particularly in invoices 
and delivery notes; and 
(d) in advertising material, in so far as special 
provision is made for such purpose in this Regu­
lation. 
3. The rules referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply 
to the presentation of the products there indicated in 
respect of: 
(a) containers, including the closure; 
(b) labelling; 
(c) packaging. 
4. The rules referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply to 
products held for sale and to products put on the 
market. 
TITLE I 
Description 
Article 2 
1. In the case of the products referred to in Article 
1(1), the description on the labelling shall include the 
following information: 
(a) the product category, in accordance with Article 
4(2); (b) the nominal volume of the product, in accordance 
with Council Directive 75/106/EEC (3); 
(c) the actual alcoholic strength, by volume, in 
accordance with Article 4 (3); 
(d) the residual sugar content of the product, in 
accordance with Article 4 (4); 
(e) the ingredients, in accordance with Article 4 (5). 
2. In the case of the products referred to in Article 
1 (1) (a) and (b), the description on the labelling shall 
include, in addition to the information specified in 
paragraph 1, the name or business name of the 
producer and the names of the commune and 
Member State in which the producers' head office is 
situated, in accordance with Article 4 (6). 
In the case of quality sparkling wines psr, the 
description on the labelling shall also include the 
name of the specified region in which the grapes used 
to make the product were harvested. 
In the case of the quality sparkling wines of the 
aromatic type referred to in Article 18 of Regulation 
(EEC) No 358/79, the description on the labelling 
shall also include the following information: 
— either the name of the vine variety from which 
they were obtained, 
— or the words 'produced from aromatic varieties of 
grape'. 
3. In the case of the products referred to in Article 
1 (1) (c) and (d), the description shall include the 
following information in addition to the information 
specified in paragraph 1: 
(a) the name or business name of the importer and 
the names of the commune and Member State in 
which the importer's head office is situated, in 
accordance with Article 4 (7), 
(b) the name or business name of the producer and 
the names of the commune and non-member 
country in which the producer's head office is 
situated, in accordance with Article 4 (6). 
Article 3 
1. In the case of products referred to in Article 
1 (1), the description on the labelling may be 
supplemented by other particulars, provided that: 
— they are not liable to mislead the persons for 
whom the information is intended, particularly as 
regards the mandatory information specified in 
Article 2 and the optional information specified in 
Article 5, 
— where appropriate, the provisions of Article 5 are 
observed. 
(') OJNoL54, 5. 3. 1979, p. 130. 
(2) OJ No L 54, 5. 3. 1979, p. 48. (>) OJNoL42, 15. 2. 1975, p. 1. 
NoC 120/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 5.5.83 
2. It shall be for the producer or the importer to 
prove the accuracy of any information used to 
describe a product as referred to in Article 1 (1), 
when requested to do so by the authority responsible 
for the application of this Regulation. 
Article 4 
1. The items of information specified in Article 2: 
— shall appear together within the same visual field 
on the container, and 
— shall be presented in clear, legible and indelible 
characters which are large enough to stand out 
well from the background on which they are 
printed and to be distinguished clearly from other 
written or pictorial matter. 
2. The product category referred to in Article 
2(1) (a) shall be indicated by one the following 
expressions: 
(a) in the case of a sparkling wine as referred to in 
Title II of Regulation (EEC) No 358/79, 
'sparkling wine': 
(b) in the case of a quality sparkling wine as referred 
to in Title III of Regulation (EEC) No 358/79, 
'quality sparkling wine'; 
(c) in the case of a quality sparkling wine psr, 
'quality sparkling wine produced in a specified 
region' or 'quality sparkling wine psr' or a 
specific traditional term assigned by the Member 
State in which production took place and 
contained in a list to be drawn up, or two of 
these expressions used in combination; 
(d) in the case of a sparkling wine originating in a 
non-member country, 'sparkling wine'; 
(e) in the case of an aerated sparkling wine orig­
inating in the Community or in a non-member 
country, 'aerated sparkling wine'. 
The designation referred to in the preceding subpara­
graph under (e) shall be given in characters at least 
8 mm high. 
3. The actual alcoholic strength referred to in 
Article 2 (1) (c) shall be indicated by the 
corresponding figures, rounded to the nearest unit, 
followed by the symbol '% vol'. 
4. The residual sugar content of the product, as 
referred to in Article 2 (1) (d), shall be indicated by 
the term: 
— 'extra brut': 
if the residual sugar content is between 0 and 
6 g/1, — 'brut': 
if the residual sugar content is less than 15 g/1, 
— 'extra dry': 
if the residual sugar content is between 12 and 
20 g/1, 
— 'dry': 
if the residual sugar content is between 17 and 
35 g/1, 
— 'semi-dry': 
if the residual sugar content is between 33 and 
55 g/1, 
— 'sweet': 
if the residual sugar content is more than 50 g/1. 
If the residual sugar content of the product justifies 
the use of two of the terms specified in the preceding 
subparagraph, the producer or importer must choose 
to use one such term only. 
Notwithstanding Article 2 (1), it shall not be 
compulsory to indicate the residual sugar content of 
the quality sparkling wines psr produced in Italy, 
referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 12 
(5) of Regulation (EEC) No 338/79. 
5. Only the ingredients listed below shall be 
indicated on the labelling of the products referred to 
in Article 1 (1), provided they have been used in the 
wine-making process or added to such product: 
— wine, 
— concentrated grape must, 
— rectified concentrated grape must, 
— sucrose, 
— sulphur dioxide (E220), 
— potassium metabisulphite (E224), 
— sorbic acid (E200), 
— potassium sorbate (E202), 
— L-ascorbic acid (E300), 
— citric acid (E330), 
— tartaric acid (E334). 
The labelling of products originating in non-member 
countries, as referred to in (c) and (d) of the first 
subparagraph of Article 1 (1), shall also indicate the 
ingredients within the meaning of Article 6 (4) of 
Directive 79/112/EEC which are not listed in the 
preceding subparagraph and have been used in the 
wine-making process or added to such products. 
5.5.83 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 120/7 
Indication of the ingredients on the labelling shall be: 
(a) by designating their category followed by their 
specific name or EEC number in the case of 
ingredients in the categories listed in Annex II to 
Directive 79/ 112/EEC; 
(b) preceded by the phrase 'produced using the 
following ingredient(s):'. 
6. The producer of a product referred to in Article 
1 (1) means the natural or legal person or group of 
persons by whom, or on whose behalf, production is 
carried out. Production means the processing of fresh 
grapes, grape musts and wines into a product referred 
to in Article 1(1). 
The name or business name of the producer and the 
names of the commune and Member State in which 
the producers' head office is situated shall be given in 
full. 
Where the product has been produced on behalf of a 
producer, the name or business name of the person 
who has actually carried out production, and the 
names of the commune and Member State or non-
member country where production has taken place, if 
indicated, may be given in full on one line or in code. 
7. The name or business name of the importer and 
the names of the commune and Member State in 
which the importers' head office is situated shall be 
indicated on one line in characters of the same type, 
size and colour. 
Article 5 
1. The name of a geographical unit other than a 
specified region, and smaller than a Member State or 
a non-member country, may be used only to 
supplement the description of: 
— a quality sparkling wine psr, 
— a quality sparkling wine, or 
— a sparkling wine originating in a non-member 
country. 
Use of such name shall be allowed only if: 
(a) it conforms to the rules of the Member State or 
non-member country in which the sparkling wine 
was produced; 
(b) the geographical unit in question is exactly 
defined; (c) all the grapes from which the product was 
obtained came from that geographical unit; 
(d) in the case of quality sparkling wines psr, the 
geographical unit is situated within the specified 
region whose name the wine bears; 
(e) in the case of quality sparkling wines, the name 
of that geographical unit is not laid down for 
describing a quality sparkling wine psr. 
Notwithstanding the provision contained in the 
preceding subparagraph under (c), Member States 
may authorize use of the name of a geographical unit 
smaller than a specified region to supplement the 
description of a quality sparkling wine psr if at least 
85 % of the product was obtained from grapes 
harvested in that unit. 
2. The name of a vine variety may be used only to 
supplement the description of: 
— a quality sparkling wine psr, 
— a quality sparkling wine whose description 
contains the name of a geographical unit, 
— a sparkling wine operating in a nonrmember 
country whose description contains the name of a 
geographical unit. 
Use of the name of a vine variety shall be allowed 
only if: 
(a) at least 85 % of the product was obtained from 
grapes belonging to the variety in question, with 
the exception of the products contained in the 
'liqueur de tirage' or the 'liqueur d'expedition'; 
(b) the cultivation of the variety and its use for the 
products which were obtained from it conform to 
Community provisions or to the provisions of the 
non-member country in which the grapes used 
were harvested; 
(c) the name used appears: 
— in the classification of vine varieties adopted 
pursuant to Article 31 (4) of Regulation 
(EEC) No 337/79 or, in the case of products 
originating in non-member countries, on a list 
of vine varieties officially adopted or 
recognized in the non-member country in 
which the grapes were harvested, or 
— where applicable, on a list of synonyms to be 
drawn up; 
(d) the variety has a preponderant effect on the 
nature of the product in question; 
(e) the name of the variety cannot be confused with 
the name of a specified region or geographical 
NoC 120/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 5.5.83 
unit used to describe another wine produced in 
the Community or imported. 
However, in the case of quality sparkling wines psr 
produced in their territory, Member States may 
prescribe that the vine variety may be indicated only 
if the product was obtained entirely form grapes of 
the variety in question. 
3. The term 'reserve', whether or not combined 
with other terms, may be used only to describe: 
— a quality sparkling wine psr, 
— a quality sparkling wine, or 
— a sparkling wine originating in a non-member 
country whose description contains the name of a 
geographical unit. 
Use of this term shall not be allowed: 
— in the case of the quality sparkling wines psr 
produced in Italy, referred to in the second 
paragraph of Article 12 (5) of Regulation (EEC) 
No 338/79, unless the product spent at least six 
months without interruption in contact with the 
lees, 
— in the case of the other products referred to in the 
preceding subparagraph, unless the product spent 
at least nine months without interruption in 
contact with the lees. 
4. The expression 'bottle-fermented' may be used 
only to describe: 
— a quality sparkling wine psr, 
— a quality sparkling wine, or 
— a sparkling wine originating in a non-member 
country whose description contains the name of a 
geographical unit. 
Use of this expression shall be allowed only if the 
product: 
(a) was made sparkling by alcoholic fermentation in 
the bottle; 
(b) spent at least six months without interruption in 
the bottle in contact with the lees; and 
(c) was separated from the lees by filtering using the 
decantation method or by disgorging. 
5. The expression 'Champagne method' or 'bottle-
fermented by the Champagne method' shall be used 
only to describe: — a quality sparkling wine psr, 
— a quality sparkling wine, or 
— a sparkling wine originating in a non-member 
country whose description contains the name of a 
geographical unit. 
Use of these expressions shall be allowed only if the 
product: 
(a) was made sparkling by alcoholic fermentation in 
the bottle; 
(b) has spent at least nine months without inter­
ruption in the bottle in contact with the lees; and 
(c) was separated from the lees by disgorging. 
6. The vintage year may be used only in the 
description of: 
— a quality sparkling wine psr, 
— a quality sparkling wine, or 
— a sparkling wine originating in a non-member 
country whose description contains the name of a 
geographical unit. 
Reference to the vintage year shall be allowed only if 
at least 85 % of the product was obtained from 
grapes harvested in the year in question, with the 
exception of the products contained in the 'liqueur de 
tirage' or the 'liqueur d'expedition'. 
However, Member States may prescribe that the 
vintage year may be given for quality sparkling wines 
psr produced in their territory only if the product was 
obtained entirely from grapes harvested in the year in 
question, with the exception of the products 
contained in the 'liqueur de tirage' or the 'liqueur 
d'expedition'. 
7. Reference to superior quality or to a method 
of production, other than those referred to in 
paragraphs 3, 4 and 5, shall be allowed only in the 
case of: 
— a quality sparkling wine psr, 
— a quality sparkling wine, or 
— a sparkling wine originating in a non-member 
country. 
Such references shall be subject 
(a) in the case of quality sparkling wines and quality 
sparkling wines psr: 
— to conditions to be laid down in implementing 
provisions, which may provide for chemical 
analysis and organoleptic examination of each 
batch, 
5.5.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 120/9 
— or, in the absence of such implementing 
provisions, to conditions laid down by the 
Member State in which the product was 
produced; 
(b) in the case of sparkling wines originating in non-
member countries, to the condition that such 
references are employed on the internal market of 
the non-member country in which production 
took place in accordance with the national rules 
of that country and are employed on the 
Community market in accordance with the rules 
which may be laid down as necessary in the 
implementing provisions. 
Expressions referring to superior quality may be 
limited to those contained in a list to be laid down in 
the implementing provisions. 
8. The expression 'blanc de blancs' or equivalent 
expressions may be used only for products obtained 
from grapes belonging to vine varieties listed as white 
grape varieties in the classification drawn up pursuant 
to Article 31 (4) of Regulation (EEC) No 337/79. 
9. A Member State or non-member country may 
not be indicated by the use of its name, or of the 
adjective derived from its name, in combination with 
the name of the product unless the product is made 
exclusively from grapes harvested and processed into 
wine on the territory of the Member State or non-
member country in which it has been produced. 
Article 6 
1. Each Member State shall accept the description 
of products as referred to in Article 1 (1) which 
originate in other Member States and are put on the 
market in its territory, provided that such description 
conforms to Community rules and is allowed 
pursuant to this Regulation in the Member State in 
which the product was produced. 
2. The term 'quality sparkling wine' may be 
replaced by the term 'Sekt'. The term 'quality 
sparkling wine produced in a specified region' or 
'quality sparkling wine psr' may be replaced by the 
term 'Sekt bestimmter Anbaugebiete' or 'Sekt bA'. 
3. The implementing provisions may allow: 
— the term 'sparkling wine', where used to describe 
a sparkling wine originating in a non-member 
country; to be replaced by the word 'Sekt' if the 
provisions of the non-member country where the 
product was produced are equivalent to those 
contained in Title III of Regulation (EEC) No 
358/79; — the particulars specified in Article 5 (2), (3), (4) 
and (6) to be used to describe a sparkling wine 
originating in a non-member country whose 
description does not contain the name of a geo­
graphical unit, if the provisions of that non-
member country are substantially equivalent to 
those contained in the abovementioned provisions. 
4. The information specified in Articles 2 and 3 
shall be given in one or more of the official languages 
of the Community. In the case of products put on the 
market in their territory, Member States may allow 
this information to be given also in a language other 
than an official language of the Community where 
the use of such language is traditional and customary 
in the Member State concerned or in a part of its 
territory. 
However: 
(a) in the case of quality sparkling wines psr and 
quality sparkling wines, the official language of 
the Member State in whose territory production 
took place shall be used: 
— for the name of the specified region, as 
referred to in the second subparagraph of 
Article 2 (2), 
— for the name of another geographical unit, as 
referred to in Article 5(1), 
— for an expression indicating superior quality, 
as referred to in Article 5 (7); 
(b) in the case of products originating in non-
member countries, 
— the use of an official language of the non-
member country in which production took 
place shall be allowed, provided that the 
information specified in Article 2 (1) is also 
given in an official language of the 
Community, 
— the translation of some of the information 
specified in Article 3 into an official language 
of the Community may be governed by 
implementing provisions. 
Article 7 
1. In the case of the products referred to in Article 
1 (1), the description in the registers kept by 
producers, in official documents and, where an 
accompanying document is not made out, in 
commercial documents, shall include: 
— the mandatory information specified in Article 2 
(1) (a) and (d) and, as appropriate, (2) or (3); 
— the information specified in Article 5, in so far as 
it appears or is intended to appear on the 
labelling. 
NoC 120/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 5.5.83 
The description in registers kept by persons other 
than producers shall include the information referred 
to in the preceding subparagraph. In such cases, the 
information referred to in the second indent may be 
replaced in the registers by the number of the 
accompanying document and the date on which it 
was made out. 
2. The information referred to in paragraph 1 may 
be given in code. The code must be such as to enable 
the designated authority referred to in Article 64 (1) 
of Regulation (EEC) No 337/79 to identify rapidly 
the description of the sparkling wine concerned. 
3. The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall 
be given in accordance with Articles 3, 4 and 5. 
TITLE II 
Presentation 
Article 8 
The containers used for the production and storage 
of the products referred to in Article 1 (1) shall be 
marked in indelible writing, in such a way as to 
enable the designated authority to identify their 
contents rapidly by reference to registers or 
equivalent documents. 
However, in the case of containers with a nominal 
volume not exceeding 60 litres which are filled with 
the same product and stored together in the same 
batch, the batch as a whole may be marked instead of 
the individual containers, provided that the batch is 
clearly separated from other batches. 
Article 9 
1. The products referred to in Article 1 (1) may be 
held for sale and put on the market only in glass 
bottles which: 
(a) conform with Directive 75/106/EEC; 
(b) are closed with: 
— a mushroom-shaped stopper made of cork or 
other material permitted to come into contact 
with foodstuffs, held in place by a fastening, 
surmounted by a cap and sheathed in foil 
completely covering the stopper and all or 
part of the neck of the bottle, 
— any other suitable closure in the case of 
bottles with a nominal content not exceeding 
0,20 litres; 
(c) bear labelling conforming to the provisions of this 
Regulation. However, exceptions to (b) and (c) of the preceding 
subparagraph may be made in the implementing 
provisions in respect of the sale of quality sparkling 
wines and quality sparkling wines psr between wine-
makers in areas adjoining the place where the product 
was made, provided that the designated authority can 
identify the wine rapidly by reference to registers or 
equivalent documents. 
2. For the purposes of this Regulation, labelling 
shall mean all descriptions and other references, 
symbols, illustrations and marks which serve to 
distinguish the product and which appear on the same 
container, including the closure, tags attached to the 
container and the sheathing covering the neck of 
bottles. 
Descriptive details, symbols and other marks shall not 
form part of the labelling if they: 
— are prescribed by the tax laws of the Member 
States, 
— refer to the manufacturer or volume of the 
container and are inscribed directly and indelibly 
thereon, 
— are used for monitoring bottling operations and 
are specified in detailed rules to be laid down, 
— are used to identify the product by means of a 
code number or machine-readable symbol, 
— refer to the price of the product concerned. 
3. In so far as labelling is not governed by this 
Regulation, it may be governed by implementing 
provisions, in particular as regards: 
(a) the positioning of labels on containers; 
(b) the minimum size of labels; 
(c) the arrangement on labels of the various items 
comprising the description; 
(d) the size of the characters on labels; 
(e) the use of symbols, illustrations and brand names. 
Article 10 
1. For the purposes of this Regulation, packaging 
means protective wrappings such as paper, straw 
envelopes of all kinds, cartons and cases, used in the 
transport of one or more containers. 
2. The packaging may not bear information 
relating to the packed product which does not comply 
with Articles 3, 4 and 5. 
5.5.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 120/11 
TITLE III 
General provisions 
Article 11 
1. The description of the products referred to in 
Article 1 (1) may not: 
(a) be liable to mislead the persons for whom they 
are intended, in particular: 
(i) as regards the characteristics of the product 
such as its nature, identity, quality, 
composition, quantity, storage life, origin or 
provenance and the method used in making 
it, 
(ii) by attributing to the product effects or 
properties which it does not possess, 
(iii) by suggesting that the product possesses 
special characteristics which are in fact 
possessed by all similar products; 
(b) attribute to the product properties for preventing, 
treating or curing human ailments or make 
allusion to such properties. 
2. Paragraph 1 shall also apply: 
(a) to the presentation of the products referred to in 
Article 1 (1), in particular as regards their shape 
and design including the shape and design of the 
packaging used, the way in which they are sold 
and the setting in which they are displayed; 
(b) to the advertising of the said products. 
Article 12 
1. The designations in Article 4 (2) and the term 
'Sekt' shall be used only for the products referred to 
in Article 1 (1). 
2. Without prejudice to provisions on the harmon­
ization of laws, paragraph 1 shall not affect the right 
of Member States to allow as the description of a 
beverage: 
— in the form of a composite name, the use of the 
expression 'sparkling wine' accompanied by the 
name of a fruit falling within Chapter 8 of the 
Common Customs Tariff, where such beverage 
was obtained by alcoholic fermentation of that 
fruit, 
— other composite names including the expression 
'sparkling wine', where such beverage was 
obtained by alcoholic fermentation of a product 
referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 
48 (5) and the fourth subparagraph of Article 50 
(3) of Regulation (EEC) No 337/79. The composite names referred to in the preceding 
subparagraph shall be indicated on the labelling in 
characters of the same type and colour and of a 
height which enables them to stand out clearly from 
other information. 
Article 13 
1. Products as referred to in Article 1 (1), whose 
description or presentation does not conform to the 
provisions of this Regulation or the detailed rules 
adopted for its implementation, may not be held for 
sale or put on the market in the Community or 
exported. 
Derogations from the provisions of this Regulation 
may be provided for in the implementing provisions 
in respect of the description of products as referred to 
in Article 1 (1) intended for export, where the 
legislation of the importing non-member country so 
requires. 
2. The authority referred to in Article 64 (1) of 
Regulation (EEC) No 337/79, of the Member State 
where the product is, shall decide on the use to be 
made of products whose description or presentation 
does not conform to the provisions referred to in 
paragraph 1 and shall, where appropriate, take the 
necessary steps to sanction the infringement 
committed according to its gravity. 
Such decisions and measures to be taken by the 
authority referred to in the preceding subparagraph 
may include: 
— authorization to hold the product in question for 
sale, to put it on the market in the Community or 
to export it, provided that its description or pres­
entation is changed to conform to the provisions 
referred to in paragraph 1, 
— directions to deliver the product in question for 
distillation, vinegar-making or other industrial 
uses, 
— directions to return the product to the consignor, 
— directions to destroy the product in question. 
Article 14 
Transitional arrangements shall be adopted in the 
implementing provisions concerning: 
— the putting on the market of products whose 
description and presentation do not conform to 
the provisions of this Regulation, 
— the use of stocks of labels or other labelling 
accessories printed or manufactured before the 
date of entry into force of this Regulation. 
NoC 120/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 5.5.83 
Article 15 
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 September 
1984. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and 
directly applicable in all Member States. 
Amendment to the proposal for a Council Directive on crude oil-saving through the use 
of substitute fuel components in petrol (') 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council pursuant to Article 149 (2) of the EEC Treaty 
on 21 April 1983) 
TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION 
OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES TEXT AMENDED BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
Preamble and recitals unchanged 
Article 1 
Member States shall take all such steps as may be 
necessary to ensure that there are no legal or 
administrative obstacles on their respective territories 
to the production, sale, distribution and use of petrol 
blends containing organic oxygenates as substitute 
fuel components which are in conformity with the 
technical Annex. Such blended fuels must be usable 
safely and with similar performance to current petrol 
by vehicles propelled by spark-ignition internal 
combustion engines currently in use or being offered 
for sale without requiring any modification to such 
vehicles. Article 1 
Member States shall take all such steps as may be 
necessary to ensure that there are no legal or 
administrative obstacles on their respective territories 
to the production, sale, distribution and use of petrol 
blends containing organic oxygenates as substitute 
fuel components which are in conformity with the 
technical Annex. Such blended fuels must be usable 
safely and with similar performance to current petrol 
by vehicles propelled by spark-ignition internal 
combustion engines currently in use or being offered 
for sale without requiring any modification to such 
vehicles. 
Member States shall ensure consumer protection such 
that significant variations in the calorific value of 
blended fuels relative to unblended fuels are reflected 
in the price charged at the pump to the general public. 
Articles 2 to 8 unchanged 
Annex unchanged 
(*) OJ No C 229, 2. 9. 1982, p. 4.