Article 4(8) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 provides for the adoption of methods to be used for analysing spirit drinks. Reference methods should be used to ensure compliance with Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 and Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1014/90 of 24 April 1990 laying down detailed implementing rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks2, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2140/983, when any official control takes place or in the event of a dispute.

In order to take account of scientific advances and of differences in the equipment of official laboratories, the use of methods based on principles of measurement other than the reference methods described in the Annex hereto should be permitted under the responsibility of the laboratory director, where those methods offer adequate guarantees as regards results and in particular meet the criteria set in the Annex to Council Directive 85/591/EEC of 20 December 1985 concerning the introduction of Community methods of sampling and analysis for the monitoring of foodstuffs intended for human consumption4 and if it can be shown that the variation in the accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility of the results obtained is within the limits of those obtained using the reference methods described in this Regulation. If that condition is met, the use of other analytical methods should be allowed. However, it is important to specify that in cases of dispute other methods may not replace reference methods.