Article 3U.K.
1.With the exception of juniper-flavoured spirit drinks as defined in Article 1 (4) (m) (1), for the spirit drinks listed below, the minimum alcoholic strength by volume for release for human consumption in the Community under one of the names listed in Article 1 (4), with the exception of certain specific products whose alcoholic strength is indicated in Annex III, shall be as follows:
—40 % | whisky/whiskey pastis |
—37,5 % | rum Rum-Verschnitt wine spirit grape marc spirit fruit marc spirit raisin spirit fruit spirit [X1cider spirit, cider brandy and perry spirit] gentian spirit gin/distilled gin akvavit/aquavit vodka grappa ouzo Kornbrand |
—36 % | brandy/Weinbrand |
—35 % | grain spirit/grain brandy anis |
—32 % | Korn |
—30 % | caraway-flavoured spirit drinks (except akvavit/aquavit) |
—25 % | fruit spirit drinks |
—15 % | aniseed-flavoured spirit drinks (except ouzo, pastis, anis) |
| the other products referred to in Article 1 (4) and not listed above. |
2.National provisions may set a minimum alcoholic strength by volume which is higher than the values referred to in paragraph 1 for the spirit drinks listed in Annex II. Member States shall notify the Commission of such alcoholic strengths within three months of:
either the entry into force of this Regulation, in the case of existing provisions,
or their adoption, in the case of any provisions which may be adopted after this Regulation comes into force.
The Commission shall ensure that they are published in the ‘C’ series of the Official Journal of the European Communities.
3.The Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, may fix minimum alcoholic strengths by volume for categories of drinks other than those referred to in paragraph 1.
4.Before 31 December 1992, the Council will review the minimum alcoholic strength of whisky/whiskey on the basis of a market study by the Commission.