CELEX: 51990EC1014
Language: en
Date: 2007-02-06
Title: Draft Commission Regulation (EC) No …/.. of […] laying down detailed implementing rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks (codified version)

EN

|[pic]                     |COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES                                                                           |

                                        Brussels,
                                        C(2006)

                                                                      Draft

                                                        COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No …/..

                                                                      of […]

                     laying down detailed implementing rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks

                                                                (Codified version)

                                            ê 1014/90 (adapted)

                                                                      Draft

                                                        COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No …/..

                                                                      of […]

                     laying down detailed implementing rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks

                                                            (Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 of 29 May 1989 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation  of
spirit drinks[1], and in particular Article 1(4)(f)(1)(a), (g), (i)(1) Ö (b) and Õ (d), (i)(2), (l)(1) and (r)(1) thereof,

Whereas:

                                            ê 

   1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1014/90 of 24 April 1990 laying  down  detailed  implementing  rules  on  the  definition,  description  and
      presentation of spirit drinks[2] has been substantially amended several times[3]. In the interests of  clarity  and  rationality  the  said
      Regulation should be codified.

                                            ê 1014/90 Recital 1

   2) Detailed rules of application of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 must be adopted to provide essential clarifications  of  the  principles  laid
      down in that Regulation and supplementary rules thereto.

                                            ê 1014/90 Recital 2

   3) These clarifications and additional rules should in the first instance  take  account  of  the  criteria  followed  when  Regulation  (EEC)
      No 1576/89 itself was adopted. It is also appropriate to use as a basis the traditions and customs of the  various  Community  regions,  at
      least insofar as these are compatible with the single market. Another criterion  should  be  that  of  avoiding  all  possible  sources  of
      confusion in the information given on labels and guaranteeing that the consumer is given the  fullest  and  clearest  information  possible
      where labelling is concerned.

                                            ê 1014/90

   4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the implementation Committee for Spirit Drinks,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

                                                                    Article 1

For the purposes of Article 1(4)(f)(1)(a) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 the quantity of lees that may be added to grape marc in the  preparation
of grape marc spirit may not exceed 25 kg of lees per 100 kg of grape marc used. The quantity of alcohol derived from the  lees  may  not  exceed
35 % of the total quantity of alcohol in the finished product.

                                                                    Article 2

For the purpose of Article 1(4)(g) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 fruit marc spirit is the spirit  drink  obtained  solely  by  fermentation  and
distillation at less than 86 % vol. of fruit marc except grape marc. Redistillation at the same alcoholic strength is authorised.

The minimum quantity of volatile substances shall be 200 g per hectolitre of alcohol at 100 % vol.

The maximum methyl alcohol content shall be 1 500 g per hectolitre of alcohol at 100 % vol.

The maximum hydrocyanic acid content shall be 10 g per hectolitre of alcohol at 100 % vol. in the case of stone-fruit marc spirit.

The sales designation shall be the name of the fruit followed by “marc spirit”. If  marcs  of  several  different  fruits  are  used,  the  sales
designation shall be “fruit marc spirit”.

                                                                    Article 3

1. For the purpose of Article 1(4)(i)(1)(d) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 the name of the fruit may replace “spirit” preceded  by  the  name  of
the fruit solely in the case of the following fruits:

(a)   mirabelle (Prunus domestica L. var. syriaca);

(b)   plum (Prunus domestica L.);

(c)   quetsch (Prunus domestica L.);

(d)   arbutus (Arbutus unedo L.);

(e)   Golden Delicious apple.

                                            ê 1014/90 (adapted)

2. Should there be a risk that the final consumer does not easily understand one  of  the  designations  Ö referred  to  in  paragraph  1 Õ,  the
labelling shall include the word “spirit”, possibly supplemented by an explanation.

                                            ê 1014/90

                                                                    Article 4

1. Spirit drinks as referred to in Article 1(4)(i)(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 may be designated by “spirit” preceded by the  name  of  the
fruit if the label also bears the words “produced by maceration and distillation”.

                                            ê 1014/90 (adapted)

2. Ö Paragraph 1 Õ covers spirit drinks obtained from the following fruits:

                                            ê 1014/90

(a)   blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.);

(b)   strawberry (Fragaria L.);

(c)   bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.);

(d)   raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.);

(e)   redcurrant (Ribes vulgare Lam.);,

(f)   sloe (Prunus spinosa L.);

(g)   rowanberry (Sorbus domestica L.);

(h)   service-berry (Sorbus domestica L.);

(i)   hollyberry (Ilex cassine L.);

(j)   checkerberry (Sorbus torminalis L.);

(k)   elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.);

(l)   rosehip (Rosa canina L.);

(m)   blackcurrant (ribes nigrum L.).

                                            ê 2675/94 Art. 1, pt. 1 (adapted)

3. Ö Paragraph 1 Õ covers, for products produced in the French overseas territories and departments, spirit drinks obtained  from  the  following
fruits:

                                            ê 2675/94 Art. 1, pt. 1

(a)   banana (Musa paradisiaca);

(b)   passion fruit (Passiflora edulis);

(c)   ambarella (Spondias dulcis);

(d)   hog plum (spondias mombin).

                                            ê 1014/90

                                                                    Article 5

                                            ê Corrigendum 1014/90 (OJ L 166, 20.6.1992, p. 38)

For the purpose of Article 1(4)(l)(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 the quantity of fruit used shall be a minimum  of  5 kg  per  20  litres  of
alcohol at 100 % vol. used.

                                            ê 3458/92 Art. 1 (adapted)

                                                                    Article 6

1. Pursuant to Article 1(4)(i)(1)(b) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89, the maximum methyl alcohol content of fruit spirits shall be  Ö fixed  at  1
200 g Õ per hectolitre of alcohol at 100 % vol. obtained from the following fruits:

(a)   plum (Prunus domestica L.);

(b)   mirabelle (Prunus domestica L. var syriaca);

(c)   quetsch (Prunus domestica L.);

(d)   apple (Malus domestica Borkh.);

(e)   pear (Pyrus communis L.), Ö except for Williams pears ( Pyrus communis Williams), for which that content shall be fixed  at  1  350  g  per
       hectolitre of alcohol at 100 % vol. Õ

                                            ê 2626/95 Art. 1. (adapted)

2. Community and imported products referred to in paragraph 1, bottled, as the case may be, before 1  January  1998  or  1  January  2000,  which
comply with the rules on methyl alcohol content in force before those dates may be held for sale, released into circulation and exported  Ö until
stocks are exhausted Õ .

                                            ê 2523/97 Art. 1

3. Pursuant to Article 1(4)(i)(1)(b) of Regulation (EEC)  No 1576/89,  the  maximum  methyl  alcohol  content  of  fruit  spirits  prepared  from
redcurrants and blackcurrants (Ribes species), service berries (Sorbus  aucuparia)  and  elderberries  (Sambucus  nigra)  shall  be  1 350 g  per
hectolitre of alcohol at 100 % vol. and the maximum methyl alcohol content of fruit spirits prepared  from  raspberries  (Rubus  idaeus  L.)  and
blackberries (Rubus fruticosus L.) shall be 1 200 g per hectolitre of alcohol at 100 % vol.

4. The fruit spirits referred to in paragraph 3, prepared in Austria and held at 31 December 1997 for sale to the final user in  accordance  with
the provisions on methanol content in force at that date in Austria may be put on the market and exported until stocks are exhausted.

                                            ê 1014/90

                                                                    Article 7

By way of derogation from Article 1(4)(r)(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89, the minimum sugar content of 100 g per litre is reduced to:

(a)   80 g per litre for gentian liqueurs prepared with gentian as the sole aromatic substance;

(b)   70 g per litre for cherry liqueurs the ethyl alcohol of which consists solely of cherry spirit.

                                            ê 1180/91 Art. 1

                                                                    Article 8

1. The terms additional to the sales designation that are indicated in Annex I shall be reserved for the products defined thereunder.

2. Spirit drinks not meeting the specifications adopted for the products defined in Annex I may not be designated by the terms indicated for  the
defined products.

                                            ê 1781/91 Art. 1

                                                                    Article 9

1. Pursuant to Article 6(1), second indent, of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89, the use of a generic term in a compound term shall be  prohibited  in
the presentation of a spirit drink unless the alcohol in that drink originates exclusively from the spirit drink cited.

                                            ê 1781/91 Art. 1 (adapted)

2. Ö Only Õ the following compound terms may be used in the presentation of liqueurs produced in the Community:

                                            ê 1781/91 Art. 1

(a)   prune brandy;

(b)   orange brandy;

(c)   apricot brandy;

(d)   cherry brandy;

(e)   solbaerrom, also called blackcurrant rum.

3. As regards the labelling and presentation of the liqueurs indicated in paragraph 2, the compound term must appear  on  the  labelling  in  one
line in type of a single fount and colour and the word “liqueur” must appear in immediate proximity in characters no smaller than this fount.

If the alcohol does not come from the spirit drink indicated, its origin must be shown on the labelling in the same visual field as the  compound
term and “liqueur”, either by stating the type of agricultural alcohol or by the words “agricultural alcohol” preceded on each occasion by  “made
from” or “made using”.

                                            ê 2675/94 Art. 1, pt. 2 (adapted)

                                                                    Article 10

1. Where a spirit drink listed in Article 9 of Regulation (EEC)  No 1576/89  is  mixed  with  No 1576/89,  and/or  one  or  more  distillates  of
agricultural origin, the sales description “spirit” or “spirit drink” must be shown clearly and visibly, without any other qualifying term, in  a
prominent position on the label.

                                            ê 2675/94 Art. 1, pt. 2 (adapted)
                                            è1 Corrigendum 2675/94 (OJ L 308, 2.12.1994, p. 19)

The first subparagraph shall not apply to the description and presentation of such mixtures when they meet one of the definitions  laid  down  in
Article 1(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 and save as otherwise provided for in Article 9 Ö of this Regulation Õ.

2. Without prejudice to the provisions of Directive Ö 2000/13/CE of the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council Õ[4]  on  the  labelling  of
ingredients of spirit drinks, the labelling and presentation of the products resulting from the mixtures Ö referred to in paragraph 1 Õ may  only
show one of the generic terms listed in Article 1(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 if the term does not form part of  the  sales  è1 description
but falls within the same visual field, in a list showing ç the proportions of all the alcoholic ingredients contained in the  mixture,  preceded
by the words “mixed spirit drink”. Those words must be in uniform characters of the  same  typeface  and  colour  as  those  used  in  the  sales
description. They must be no larger than half the size of the characters used for the sales descriptions.

3. The proportion of each alcoholic ingredient shall be equal to the percentage by volume of  pure  alcohol  it  represents  in  the  total  pure
alcohol content by volume of the mixture Ö referred to in paragraph 1 Õ. It shall be expressed in “% vol.”  in  descending  order  of  quantities
used.

                                            ê 

                                                                    Article11

Regulation (EEC) No 1014/90 is repealed.

References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance  with  the  correlation
table in Annex III.

                                            ê 1014/90 (adapted)

                                                                    Article 12

This Regulation shall enter into force on Ö the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union Õ.

                                            ê 1014/90

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, […]

      For the Commission
      […]
      Member of the Commission

                                            ê 1180/91 Art. 1

                                                                     ANNEX I

1.    “Vruchtenjenever” or “Jenever met vruchten”: a liqueur or other spirit drink

       (a)  obtained by flavouring «jenever» with fruit, plants or parts thereof or by adding fruit juice, distillates of  concentrated  flavours
           extracted from fruit or plants, or other distillates;

       (b)  that may be given additional flavouring by natural or nature-identical flavours;

       (c)  that may be sweetened;

       (d)  with the organoleptic characteristics of the fruit concerned;

       (e)  with a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 20 %.

      The name of the fruit concerned may replace “vruchten”.

2.    “Berenburg” or “Beerenburg”: a spirit drink

       (a)  produced using ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin;

       (b)  macerated with fruit or plants or parts thereof,

       (c)  containing as specific flavour distillate of gentian root (Gentiana lutea L.), of juniper berries  (Juniperus  communis  L.)  and  of
           laurel leaves (Laurus nobilis L.);

       (d)  varying in colour from light to dark brown;

       (e)  that may be sweetened to a maximum content equivalent to 20 g per litre of invert sugar;

       (f)  with a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 30 %.

3.    “Guignolet”:

      a liqueur obtained by maceration of cherries in ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin.

4.    “Punch au rhum”:

      a liqueur with alcohol content provided exclusively by «rhum».

5.    “Pastis de Marseille”:

      a pastis with an anethole content of 2 g per litre and an alcoholic strength by volume of 45 %.

6.    “Sloe gin”:

      a liqueur produced by maceration of sloes in gin with the possible addition of sloe juice,

       (a)  produced using natural flavouring substances only;

       (b)  with a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 25 %.

7.    “Topinambur”:

      a spirit drink produced solely by fermentation of Jerusalem artichoke tubers (Helianthus tuberosus L.), with a minimum  alcoholic  strength
       by volume of 38 %.

8.    “Hefebrand”:

      a spirit drink produced solely from lees of wine or of fermented fruit, with a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 38 %.

      The term “Hefebrand” may be supplemented by the name of the basic material used.

9.    “Sambuca”:

      a colourless aniseed-flavoured liqueur

       (a)  containing distillates of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), star anise (Illicium verum L.) or other aromatic herbs;

       (b)  with a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 38 %;

       (c)  with a minimum sugar content equivalent to 350 g per litre of invert sugar;

       (d)  with a natural anethole content of not less than 1 g and not more than 2 g per litre.

10.   “Mistrà”:

      a colourless liqueur flavoured with aniseed or natural anethole

       (a)  with an anethole content of not less than 1 g and not more than 2 g per litre;

       (b)  that may also contain a distillate of aromatic herbs;

       (c)  with an alcoholic strength by volume of not less than 40 % and not more than 47 %;

       (d)  containing no added sugar.

11.   “Maraschino” or “Marrasquino”:

      a colourless liqueur the flavour of which is given mainly by a distillate of marasca cherries or of the product of macerating  cherries  or
       parts of cherries in alcohol

       (a)  with a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 24 %;

       (b)  with a minimum sugar content equivalent to 250 g per litre of invert sugar.

12.   “Nocino”:

      a liqueur the flavour of which is given mainly by maceration and/or distillation of whole green walnut kernels (Jugians regia L.)

       (a)  with a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 30 %;

       (b)  with a minimum sugar content equivalent to 100 g per litre of invert sugar.

                                            ê 2140/98 Art. 1

13.   “Bierbrand” or “Eau de vie de bière” a spirit drink:

       (a)  obtained exclusively by direct distillation of fresh beer with an alcoholic strength by volume  of  less  than  86 %  such  that  the
           distillate obtained has organoleptic characteristics resulting from the beer;

       (b)  with a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 38 %, for supply for human consumption in the Community.

                                                                  _____________

                                            é

                                                                     ANNEX II

                                                Repealed Regulation with its successive amendments

|Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1014/90                                               |(OJ L 105, 25.4.1990, p. 9)                    |
|Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1180/91                                              |(OJ L 115, 8.5.1991, p. 5)                    |
|Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1781/91                                              |(OJ L 160, 25.6.1991, p. 5)                   |
|Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3458/92                                              |(OJ L 350, 1.12.1992, p. 59)                  |
|Commission Regulation (EC) No 2675/94                                               |(OJ L 285, 4.11.1994, p. 5)                   |
|Commission Regulation (EC) No 1712/95                                               |(OJ L 163, 14.7.1995, p. 4)                   |
|Commission Regulation (EC) No 2626/95                                               |(OJ L 269, 11.11.1995, p. 5)                  |
|Commission Regulation (EC) No 2523/97                                               |(OJ L 346, 17.12.1997, p. 46)                 |
|Commission Regulation (EC) No 2140/98                                               |(OJ L 270, 7.10.1998, p. 9)                   |

                                                                  _____________

                                                                    ANNEX III

                                                                Correlation Table

|Regulation (EC) No 1014/90                                           |This Regulation                                                      |
|Article 1                                                            |Article 1                                                            |
|Article 2                                                            |Article 2                                                            |
|Article 3, first paragraph, introductory words                       |Article 3(1), introductory words                                     |
|Article 3, first paragraph, first indent                             |Article 3(1)(a)                                                      |
|Article 3, first paragraph, second indent                            |Article 3(1)(b)                                                      |
|Article 3, first paragraph, third indent                             |Article 3(1)(c)                                                      |
|Article 3, first paragraph, fourth indent                            |Article 3(1)(d)                                                      |
|Article 3, first paragraph, fifth indent                             |Article 3(1)(e)                                                      |
|Article 3, second paragraph                                          |Article 3(2)                                                         |
|Article 4, first paragraph                                           |Article 4(1)                                                         |
|Article 4, second paragraph, introductory words                      |Article 4(2), introductory words                                     |
|Article 4, second paragraph, first indent                            |Article 4(2)(a)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, second indent                           |Article 4(2)(b)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, third indent                            |Article 4(2)(c)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, fourth indent                           |Article 4(2)(d)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, fifth indent                            |Article 4(2)(e)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, sixth indent                            |Article 4(2)(f)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, seventh indent                          |Article 4(2)(g)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, eighth indent                           |Article 4(2)(h)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, ninth indent                            |Article 4(2)(i)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, tenth indent                            |Article 4(2)(j)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, eleventh indent                         |Article 4(2)(k)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, twelfth indent                          |Article 4(2)(l)                                                      |
|Article 4, second paragraph, thirteenth indent                       |Article 4(2)(m)                                                      |
|Article 4, third paragraph, introductory words                       |Article 4(3), introductory words                                     |
|Article 4, third paragraph, first indent                             |Article 4(3)(a)                                                      |
|Article 4, third paragraph, second indent                            |Article 4(3)(b)                                                      |
|Article 4, third paragraph, third indent                             |Article 4(3)(c)                                                      |
|Article 4, third paragraph, fourth indent                            |Article 4(3)(d)                                                      |
|Article 5                                                            |Article 5                                                            |
|Article 6(1), introductory words                                     |Article 6(1), introductory words                                     |
|Article 6(1), first indent                                           |Article 6(1)(a)                                                      |
|Article 6(1), second indent                                          |Article 6(1)(b)                                                      |
|Article 6(1), third indent                                           |Article 6(1)(c)                                                      |
|Article 6(1), fourth indent                                          |Article 6(1)(d)                                                      |
|Article 6(1), fifth indent                                           |Article 6(1)(e)                                                      |
|Article 6(2)                                                         |Article 6(1)(e)                                                      |
|Article 6(3)                                                         |Article 6(2)                                                         |
|Article 6(4)                                                         |Article 6(3)                                                         |
|Article 6(5)                                                         |Article 6(4)                                                         |
|Article 7, introductory words                                        |Article 7, introductory words                                        |
|Article 7, first indent                                              |Article 7(a)                                                         |
|Article 7, second indent                                             |Article 7(b)                                                         |
|Article 7a, first paragraph                                          |Article 8(1)                                                         |
|Article 7a, second paragraph                                         |Article 8(2)                                                         |
|Article 7b(1)                                                        |Article 9(1)                                                         |
|Article 7b(2), introductory words                                    |Article 9(2), introductory words                                     |
|Article 7b(2), first indent                                          |Article 9(2)(a)                                                      |
|Article 7b(2), second indent                                         |Article 9(2)(b)                                                      |
|Article 7b(2), third indent                                          |Article 9(2)(c)                                                      |
|Article 7b(2), fourth indent                                         |Article 9(2)(d)                                                      |
|Article 7b(2), fifth indent                                          |Article 9(2)(e)                                                      |
|Article 7b(3)                                                        |Article 9(3)                                                         |
|Article 7c, first paragraph                                          |Article 10(1), first subparagraph                                    |
|Article 7c, second paragraph                                         |Article 10(1), second subparagraph                                   |
|Article 7c, third paragraph                                          |Article 10(2)                                                        |
|Article 7c, fourth paragraph                                         |Article 10(3)                                                        |
|-                                                                    |Article 11                                                           |
|Article 8                                                            |Article 12                                                           |
|Annex                                                                |Annex I                                                              |
|-                                                                    |Annex II                                                             |
|-                                                                    |Annex III                                                            |

                                                                  _____________

                                                             -----------------------
[1]   OJ L 160, 12.6.1989, p. 1. Ö Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the  Council  (OJ
      L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1). Õ
[2]   OJ L 105, 25.4.1990, p. 9. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2140/98 (OJ L 270, 7.10.1998, p. 9).
[3]   See Annex II.
[4]   OJ L Ö 109, 6.5.2000, p. 29 Õ .