Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
5.13
Article 3(3) provides that the ethyl alcohol used to dilute or dissolve colorants,
flavourings or any other authorised additives used in the preparation of spirit
drinks shall be ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin.
5.14
Article 3(4) provides that alcoholic beverages shall not contain alcohol of
synthetic origin, nor other alcohol of non-agricultural origin within the mean-
ing of Annex I to the Treaty.
6. Categories of spirit drinks
5.15
Article 4 provides that spirit drinks shall be classified into categories according
to the definitions laid down in Annex II to the Spirits Regulation.
7. General rules concerning the categories of spirit drinks
5.16
Article 5(1) of the Spirits Regulation provides that without prejudice to the
specific rules laid down for each of the categories numbered 1 to 14 in Annex
II,
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the spirit drinks defined therein shall:
(a) be produced by the alcoholic fermentation and distillation exclusively obtained
from the raw material provided for in the relevant definition for the spirit drink
concerned;
(b) have no addition of alcohol as defined in Annex I(5), diluted or not;
(c) not contain added flavouring substances;
(d) only contain added caramel as a means to adapt colour;
(e) solely be sweetened to round off the final taste of the product, according to Annex
I(3).
5.17
The maximum level for the products used for rounding off listed under Annex
I(3)(a) to (f ) shall be decided upon in accordance with the regulatory procedure
with scrutiny referred to in Art 25(3). The particular legislation of the Member
States shall be taken into account.
5.18
Article 5(1) provides that without prejudice to the specific rules laid down for
each of the categories numbered 15 to 46 in Annex II,
10
the spirit drinks
defined therein may:
9
These categories of spirits are: 1. Rum, 2. Whisky or Whiskey, 3. Grain spirit, 4. Wine Spirit, 5. Brandy or
Weinbrand, 6. Grape marc spirit or grape marc, 7. Fruit marc spirit, 8. Raisin spirit or raisin brandy, 9. Fruit
spirit, 10. Cider spirit and perry spirit, 11. Honey spirit, 12. Hefebrand or lees spirit, 13. Bierbrand or eau de vie
de bière, 14. Topinambur or Jerusalem artichoke spirit.
10
These categories of spirit are: 15. Vodka, 16. Spirit (preceded by the name of the fruit) obtained by maceration
and distillation, 17. Geist (with the name of the fruit or the raw material used), 18. Gentian, 19. Juniper-
flavoured spirit drinks, 20. Gin, 21. Distilled gin, 22. London gin, 23. Caraway-flavoured spirit drinks, 24.
