Council Regulation (EEC) No 1625/86 of 6 May 1986 amending Regulation (EEC) No 355/79 laying down general rules for the description and presentation of wines and grape musts

COUNCIL  REGULATION (EEC) No 1625/86
of 6 May 1986
amending Regulation (EEC) No 355/79 laying down general rules for the description and presentation of wines and grape musts
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 organization of the market in wine (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3805/85 (2), and in particular Article 54 (1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate consumer (3), as last amended by Directive 86/197/EEC (4), provides for the introduction of the principle of the compulsory indication of the actual alcoholic strength of all alcoholic beverages; whereas, on the other hand, in Article 10a thereof it provides for the determination, by specific provisions, of detailed rules governing the indication of the alcoholic strength by volume on the labelling of products falling within heading Nos 22.04 and 22.05 of the Common Customs Tariff;
Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 355/79 (5) as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3805/85 (6) provides that, on a temporary basis, the indication of alcoholic strength is optional, laying down however that the Member States may make it compulsory; whereas, in accordance with the abovementioned Regulation, the Council must decide by 31 August 1987 on the definitive common arrangements for the indication of the alcoholic strangth by volume of wines and grape musts applicable after that date;
Whereas information on the alcoholic strength by volume of wines and grape musts, particularly on the actual alcoholic strength, appears necessary in order to describe on the labelling the nature of the product and thus to facilitate consumer choice; whereas provision should therefore be made that a compulsory indication of the actual alcoholic strangth by volume be given for the products in question,