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

32. Liqueur U.K.

(a)

Liqueur is a spirit drink:

(i)

having a minimum sugar content, expressed as invert sugar, of:

• 70 grams per litre for cherry liqueurs the ethyl alcohol of which consists exclusively of cherry spirit,

• 80 grams per litre for gentian or similar liqueurs prepared with gentian or similar plants as the sole aromatic substance,

• 100 grams per litre in all other cases;

(ii)

[F1 produced using ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin or a distillate of agricultural origin or one or more spirit drinks or a mixture thereof, which has been sweetened and to which one or more flavourings, products of agricultural origin or foodstuffs have been added.]

(b)

The minimum alcoholic strength by volume of liqueur shall be 15 %.

(c)

[F2 Flavouring substances as defined in Article 3(2)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 and flavouring preparations as defined in Article 3(2)(d) of that Regulation may be used in the preparation of liqueur. However, only natural flavouring substances as defined in Article 3(2)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 and flavouring preparations as defined in Article 3(2)(d) of that Regulation shall be used in the preparation of the following liqueurs:]

(i)

Fruit liqueurs:

• blackcurrant,

• cherry,

• raspberry,

• mulberry,

• bilberry,

• citrus fruit,

• cloudberry,

• arctic bramble,

• cranberry,

• lingonberry,

• sea buckthorn,

• pineapple;

(ii)

plant liqueurs:

• mint,

• gentian,

• aniseed,

• génépi,

• vulnerary.

(d)

The following compound terms may be used in the presentation of liqueurs F3 ... where ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin is used to mirror established production methods:

• prune brandy,

• orange brandy,

• apricot brandy,

• cherry brandy,

• solbaerrom, also called blackcurrant rum.

As regards the labelling and presentation of those liqueurs, the compound term must appear on the labelling in one line in uniform characters of the same font and colour and the word ‘liqueur’ must appear in immediate proximity in characters no smaller than that font. If the alcohol does not come from the spirit drink indicated, its origin must be shown on the labelling in the same visual field as the compound term and the word ‘liqueur’ either by stating the type of agricultural alcohol or by the words ‘agricultural alcohol’ preceded on each occasion by ‘made from’ or ‘made using’.

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/235 of 18 February 2016 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks.

F2 Substituted by Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties for use in and on foods and amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/91, Regulations (EC) No 2232/96 and (EC) No 110/2008 and Directive 2000/13/EC (Text with EEA relevance).

F3 Words in Annex 2 category 32(d) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Agricultural Products, Food and Drink (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1637), regs. 1(7), 17(20)(e)