Council Regulation (EEC) No 3677/89 of 7 December 1989 on the total alcoholic strength by volume and the total acidity of certain imported quality wines and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2931/80

COUNCIL  REGULATION (EEC) No 3677/89
of 7 December 1989
on the total alcoholic strength by volume and the total acidity of certain imported quality wines and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2931/80
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 of 16 March 1987 on the common organization of the market in wine (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1236/89 (2), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 70 (2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas, under Article 70 (1) (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87, wines other than sparkling wines and liqueur wines, originating in a third country and intended for direct human consumption, may not be imported into the Community if their total alcoholic strength by volume exceeds 15 % vol of if their total acidity, expressed as tartaric acid, is less than 4,5 grams per litre; whereas Article 70 (2) (a) of that Regulation provides however for exceptions where a wine designated by a geographical ascription has special quality characteristics;
Whereas in the case of certain wines originating in Hungary and Switzerland, a characteristic of which is their special quality and the fact that they are produced in limited quantities, the maximum total alcoholic strength or the minimum total acidity are exceeded or not attained respectively owing to special traditional production methods; whereas the marketing of those wines on the Community market should be permitted; whereas, however, in order that the conditions to be met to qualify for that right are complied with, an attestation from an official agency of the country of origin should be required on the import document introduced by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3590/85 of 18 December 1985 on the certificate and analysis report required for the importation of wine, grape juice and grape must (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2039/88 (4);
Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 2931/80 of 11 November 1980 on certain quality wines originating in the Republic of Austria (5) provides for a derogation, on the same conditions as those laid down by Article 70 (2) (a) of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87, for certain quality wines originating in Austria with a total alcoholic strength by volume exceeding 15 % vol;
Whereas, in the interests of clarity, all the derogations granted pursuant to Article 70 (2) (a) of Regulation (EEC) No 822/87 should be grouped together in a single Regulation; whereas this Regulation should therefore incorporate the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 2931/80 while taking account of the new Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Austria on the control and reciprocal protection of quality wines and 'retsina' wine (6),