ANNEX IISPIRIT DRINKS

Categories of spirit drinks

25.Aniseed-flavoured spirit drinks

  1. (a)

    Aniseed-flavoured spirit drinks are spirit drinks produced by flavouring ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin with natural extracts of star anise (Illicium verum Hook f.), anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), or any other plant which contains the same principal aromatic constituent, using one of the following processes or a combination thereof:

    1. (i)

      maceration and/or distillation,

    2. (ii)

      redistillation of the alcohol in the presence of the seeds or other parts of the plants specified above,

    3. (iii)

      addition of natural distilled extracts of aniseed-flavoured plants.

  2. (b)

    The minimum alcoholic strength by volume of aniseed-flavoured spirit drinks shall be 15 %.

  3. (c)

    Only natural flavouring substances and F1flavouring preparations as defined in Article 1(2)(b)(i) and Article 1(2)(c) of Directive 88/388/EEC may be used in the preparation of aniseed-flavoured spirit drinks.

  4. (d)

    Other natural plant extracts or aromatic seed may also be used, but the aniseed taste must remain predominant.