Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89

ANNEX IU.K.TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The technical definitions and requirements, as referred to in Article 2(4) and Article 7, are the following:

(1)

Ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin

Ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin possesses the following properties:

(a)

organoleptic characteristics: no detectable taste other than that of the raw material;

(b)

minimum alcoholic strength by volume: 96,0 %;

(c)

maximum level of residues:

(i)

total acidity, expressed in grams of acetic acid per hectolitre of 100 % vol. alcohol: 1,5,

(ii)

esters expressed in grams of ethyl acetate per hectolitre of 100 % vol. alcohol: 1,3,

(iii)

aldehydes expressed in grams of acetaldehyde per hectolitre of 100 % vol. alcohol: 0,5,

(iv)

higher alcohols expressed in grams of methyl2 propanol1 per hectolitre of 100 % vol. alcohol: 0,5,

(v)

methanol expressed in grams per hectolitre of 100 % vol. alcohol: 30,

(vi)

dry extract expressed in grams per hectolitre of 100 % vol. alcohol: 1,5,

(vii)

volatile bases containing nitrogen expressed in grams of nitrogen per hectolitre of 100 % vol. alcohol: 0,1,

(viii)

furfural: not detectable.

(2)

Distillate of agricultural origin

Distillate of agricultural origin means an alcoholic liquid which is obtained by the distillation, after alcoholic fermentation, of an agricultural product or products listed in Annex I to the Treaty which does not have the properties of ethyl alcohol or of a spirit drink but still retains the aroma and taste of the raw material(s) used.

Where reference is made to the raw material used, the distillate must be obtained exclusively from that raw material.

(3)

Sweetening

Sweetening means using one or more of the following products in the preparation of spirit drinks:

(a)

semi-white sugar, white sugar, extra-white sugar, dextrose, fructose, glucose syrup, sugar solution, invert sugar solution, invert sugar syrup, as defined in Council Directive 2001/111/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to certain sugars intended for human consumption(1);

(b)

rectified concentrated grape must, concentrated grape must, fresh grape must;

(c)

burned sugar, which is the product obtained exclusively from the controlled heating of sucrose without bases, mineral acids or other chemical additives;

(d)

honey as defined in Council Directive 2001/110/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to honey(2);

(e)

carob syrup;

(f)

any other natural carbohydrate substances having a similar effect to those products.

(4)

Mixing

Mixing means combining two or more different drinks to make a new drink.

(5)

Addition of alcohol

Addition of alcohol means the addition of ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin and/or distillates of agricultural origin to a spirit drink.

(6)

Addition of water

In the preparation of spirit drinks, the addition of water shall be authorised, provided that the quality of the water is in conformity with [F1any relevant water quality legislation], and that the water added does not change the nature of the product.

This water may be distilled, demineralised, permuted or softened.

[F2In this point, ‘relevant water quality legislation’ means:

(a)

in relation to spirit drinks marketed in England:

(i)

the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2007;

(ii)

the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016;

(ii)

the Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations 2016;

(b)

in relation to spirit drinks marketed in Scotland:

(i)

the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2007;

(ii)

the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2007;

(iii)

the Water Intended for Human Consumption (Private Supplies) (Scotland) Regulations 2017;

(c)

in relation to spirit drinks marketed in Wales:

(i)

the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Wales) Regulations 2015;

(ii)

the Private Water Supplies (Wales) Regulations 2017;

(iii)

the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2018.]

(7)

Blending

Blending means combining two or more spirit drinks of the same category, distinguished only by minor differences in composition due to one or more of the following factors:

(a)

the method of preparation;

(b)

the stills employed;

(c)

the period of maturation or ageing;

(d)

the geographical area of production.

The spirit drink so produced shall be of the same category of spirit drink as the original spirit drinks before blending.

(8)

Maturation or ageing

Maturation or ageing means allowing certain reactions to develop naturally in appropriate containers, thereby giving the spirit drink in question organoleptic qualities previously absent.

(9)

[F3Flavouring

Flavouring means using in the preparation of a spirit drink one or more of the flavourings defined in Article 3(2)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008.]

(10)

Colouring

Colouring means using in the preparation of a spirit drink one or more [F4colours, as defined in entry 2 of Annex 1 to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives].

(11)

Alcoholic strength by volume

Alcoholic strength by volume means the ratio of the volume of pure alcohol present in the product in question at 20 oC to the total volume of that product at the same temperature.

(12)

Volatile substances content

Volatile substances content means the quantity of volatile substances other than ethyl alcohol and methanol contained in a spirit drink obtained exclusively by distillation, as a result solely of the distillation or redistillation of the raw materials used.

(13)

Place of manufacture

Place of manufacture means the place or region where the stage in the production process of the finished product which conferred on the spirit drink its character and essential definitive qualities took place.

(14)

Description

Description means the terms used on the labelling, presentation and packaging; on the documents accompanying the transport of a drink; on the commercial documents, particularly the invoices and delivery notes; and in its advertising.

(15)

Presentation

Presentation means the terms used on the labelling and on the packaging, including in advertising and sales promotion, in images or such like, as well as on the container, including the bottle and the closure.

(16)

Labelling

Labelling means all descriptions and other references, signs, designs or trade marks which distinguish a drink and which appear on the same container, including its sealing device or the tag attached to the container and the sheathing covering the neck of the bottle.

(17)

Packaging

Packaging means the protective wrappings, such as papers, envelopes of all kinds, cartons and cases, used in the transport and/or sale of one or more containers.

Textual Amendments