COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2626/95 of 10 November 1995 amending  Regulation (EEC) No 1014/90 laying down detailed implementing rules on the definition, description  and presentation of spirit drinks
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), as last amended by the Act of  Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Articles 1 (4) (i) (1) (b) and 15  thereof,
Whereas Article 6 of 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), as last  amended by Regulation (EC) No 1712/95  (3), raised the maximum methyl alcohol content of certain  fruit spirits to 1  500 grams per hectolitre of alcohol at 100  % volume, subject to an evaluation  of the application of this provision by the Commission on the basis of an in-depth study on whether  the maximum methyl alcohol content can be reduced;
Whereas the study carried out by the Commission demonstrates that it is possible to reduce the  maximum methyl alcohol content to levels similar to those laid down for fruit spirits in Regulation  (EEC) No 1576/89 although such a reduction would be difficult, particularly for small distilleries  which do not have adequate technical and financial resources to comply quickly with a maximum limit  fixed at a lower level; whereas it would be advisable for health reasons to reduce the methyl  alcohol content of all fruit spirits to the lowest possible levels; whereas it is therefore  proposed to introduce gradually and in stages a new maximum limit for the methyl alcohol content of  the fruit spirits listed in Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 1014/90;
Whereas transitional measures are necessary in order to permit the sale of products bottled before  the entry into force of the new maximum methyl alcohol content;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the  Implementation Committee for Spirit Drinks,
Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 1014/90 is amended as follows:
1.  Paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:
'2.  The maximum methyl alcohol content of fruit spirits derived from the fruits listed in  paragraph 1 shall be:
-  1  350 grams per hectolitre of alcohol at 100  % volume, from 1 January 1998, and -  1  200 grams per hectolitre of alcohol at 100  % volume from 1 January 2000, with the exception  of that derived from Williams pears (Pyrus communis Williams).` 2.  The following paragraph 3 is added:
'3.  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.`
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in  the Official Journal of the European Communities.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all  Member States.