[ParlTrack]

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) In some cases, food business operators may be required or may want to indicate the origin of spirit drinks to draw consumers’ attention to the qualities of their product. ~~Such origin indications should comply with harmonised criteria.~~ Therefore, specific provisions on the indication of the country of origin or place of provenance in the presentation and labelling of spirit drinks should be laid down.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA, Julie GIRLING

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 a (new)

(18a) In line with international obligations of the Union under the framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as well as bilateral trade deals, in order to strengthen geographical indicators and combat counterfeiting of spirit drinks, this Regulation aims to prevent third parties from bringing goods brought, in the course of trade, into the union without being released for circulation, where such goods come from third countries and bear without authorisation a geographical indicator that is identical or which cannot be distinguished in its essential aspects.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA, Julie GIRLING

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22

(22) In order to take into account evolving consumer demands, technological progress, developments in the relevant international standards and the need to improve the economic conditions of production and marketing, the traditional ageing processes and, in exceptional cases, the law of the importing third countries, and in order to ensure the protection of geographical indications, and also allowing for the importance of traditional practise within a Member State, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the amendment of or derogations from the technical definitions and requirements of the categories of spirit drinks and the specific rules concerning some of them referred to under Chapter I of this Regulation, the labelling and presentation referred to under Chapter II of this Regulation, the geographical indications referred to under Chapter III of this Regulation and the checks and exchange of information referred under Chapter IV of this Regulation.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 a (new)

Article 2 a The technical definitions , as referred to in Article 2(2), are the following: (1) ‘ethylalcohol of agricultural origin’ means an alcoholic liquid which possesses the following properties: (a) organoleptic characteristics: no detectable taste other than that of the raw materials used in its production; (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’ means an alcoholic liquid which is obtained by the distillation, after alcoholic fermentation which does not have the properties of ethyl alcohol or of a spirit drink but still retains the aroma and taste of the raw materials used; (3) ‘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/EC1a; (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/EC1b; (e) carob syrup; (f) any other natural carbohydrate substances having a similar effect to the products referred to in points (a) to (e); (4) ‘addition of alcohol’ means the addition of ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin or distillates of agricultural origin or both to a spirit drink. The use of alcohol of agricultural origin for dilute or dissolution of colours, flavouring or any other authorised additives used in the preparation of spirit drinks shall not be considered as addition of alcohol; (5) ‘addition of water’ means addition of water which may be distilled, demineralised, permuted or softened in the preparation of spirit drinks. This addition is authorised provided that the quality of the water is in conformity with Council Directive 98/83/EC1c and Directive 2009/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council1d and that the alcoholic strength of the spirit drink, after the addition, still complies with the minimum alcoholic strength by volume provided for under the relevant category of spirit drink; (6) ‘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; (7) ‘maturation or ageing’ means the process of developing certain reactions naturally, in appropriate containers, with the purpose of giving the spirit drink in question organoleptic qualities previously absent; (8) ‘flavourings’ mean ‘flavourings’ as defined in point (a) of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008; (9) ‘flavouring substance’ means ‘flavouring substance’ as defined in point (b) of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008; (10) ‘natural flavouring substance’ means ‘natural flavouring substance’ as defined in point (c) of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008; (11) ‘flavouring preparation’ means ‘flavouring preparation’ as defined in point (d) of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008; (12) ‘other flavouring’ means ‘other flavouring’ as defined in point (h) of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008; (13) ‘colours’ mean ‘colours’ as defined in point 2 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council1e; (14) ‘colouring’ means using in the preparation of a spirit drink one or more colours, as defined in point 2 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008; (15) ‘alcoholic strength by volume’ means the ratio of the volume of pure alcohol present in the product in question at 20 °C to the total volume of that product at the same temperature; (16) ‘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 re-distillation of the raw materials used; (17) ‘packaging’ means the protective wrappings, cartons, cases, containers and bottles used in the transport or sale of spirit drinks; (18) ‘of agricultural origin’ means obtained from agricultural products listed in Annex I to the TFEU or processed foodstuffs originating exclusively from such products, suitable for human consumption. _______________ 1a. Council Directive 2001/111/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to certain sugars intended for human consumption (OJ L 10, 12.1.2002, p. 53). 1b. Council Directive 2001/110/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to honey (OJ L 10,12.1.2002, p. 47). 1c. Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (OJ L 330, 5.12.1998, p. 32). 1d. Directive2009/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters (OJ L 164, 26.6.2009, p.45). 1e. Regulation(EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December2008 on food additives (OJ L 354, 31.12.2008, p. 16).

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA, Julie GIRLING

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2

The delegated acts referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph shall, while allowing for the importance of traditional practice within a Member State, be limited to meeting demonstrated needs resulting from evolving consumer demands, technological progress, developments in relevant international standards or needs for product innovation.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA, Julie GIRLING

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1

1. Where the origin of a spirit drink is indicated, it shall correspond to the country or territory of origin in accordance with Article 60 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council16 . __________________ 16Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament anplace where the character and essential qualities were conferred ofn the ~~Council of 9 October 2013 lay~~spirit dringk d~~own the Union Customs Code (OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1)~~uring the production process.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA, Julie GIRLING

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Without prejudice to the first paragraph, in the case of spirit drinks produced in the Union and intended for export, the particulars provided for in this Regulation may be repeated in a language other than an official language of the European Union.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA, Julie GIRLING

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3

3. In exceptional cases where the law of the importing third country so requires, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 43 concerning derogations from the provisions on presentation and labelling contained in this Chapter.deleted

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 2 – paragraph 1

‘Distillate of agricultural origin’ means an alcoholic liquid which is obtained by the distillation, after alcoholic fermentation, ~~of agricultural 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 materials used.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 a (new)

'of agricultural origin' means obtained from agricultural products listed in Annex I to the Treaty or processed foodstuffs originating exclusively from such products, suitable for human consumption."

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 4

(4) ‘'Addition of alcohol’' means the addition of ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin or distillates of agricultural origin or both to a spirit drink. The use of alcohol of agricultural origin for dilute or dissolution of colours, flavouring or any other authorised additives used in the preparation of spirit drinks shall not be considered as addition of alcohol.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – section 1 – part 2 – point d

(d) Whisky or whiskey shall not be sweetened or flavoured, nor contain any additives other than plain caramel (E150a) used for colouring.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – section 1 – part 12 – point a

(a) Hefebrand or lees spirit is a spirit drink produced exclusively by the distillation at less than 86 % vol. of lees of wine or of lees of fermented fruit.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – section 1 – part 15 – point a – paragraph 3

Maximum levels of residue for ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin used to produce vodka shall meet those set out in point (1) of Annex I, except that the methanol content shall not exceed 10 grams per hectolitre of 100 % vol. alcohol.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – section 1 – part 15 – point b

(b) The ~~minimum~~ alcoholic strength by volume of vodka shall be ~~37.5~~not less than 37.5 % and no more than 80 %.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – section 1 – part 15 a (new)

15a. Vodka may be sweetened in order to round off the final taste. However, the final product may not contain more than 10 g of sweetening substances per litre, expressed as invert sugar equivalent.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – section 1 – part 15 b (new)

15b. Vodka cannot be coloured.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – section 1 – part 31 – point a

(a) Flavoured vodka is vodka which has been given, during its production process, a predominant flavour other than that of the raw materials.

2017/09/11
Committee: ENVI

Bolesław G. PIECHA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – section 1 – part 31 – point c

~~(c) Flavoured vodka may be sweetened, blended, flavoured, matured or coloured.~~deleted