Procedure completed
Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
---|---|---|---|
Opinion | AGRI | BUSK Niels (ALDE) | |
Lead | ENVI | SCHNELLHARDT Horst (PPE-DE) | |
Opinion | IMCO | TITLEY Gary (PSE) | |
Opinion | JURI | SPERONI Francesco Enrico (NI) |
Legal Basis EC Treaty (after Amsterdam) EC 095
Activites
- 2008/02/13 Final act published in Official Journal
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2008/01/15
Final act signed
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2008/01/15
End of procedure in Parliament
- #2841
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2007/12/17
Council Meeting
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2007/12/17
Act adopted by Council after Parliament's 1st reading
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2007/06/19
Results of vote in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament
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T6-0259/2007
summary
The European Parliament adopted the resolution drafted by Horst SCHNELLHARDT (EPP-ED, D), and made some amendments to the Commission’s proposal. The amendments were the result of a compromise between Parliament and Council, and the compromise was supported in plenary. The resolution was adopted by 522 votes for, 148 against and 15 abstentions. The key issues were the definition of vodka and whiskey names. Vodka: MEPs settled on a definition of vodka that would allow the drink to be produced from any agricultural material, such as grapes, rice or any other agricultural product provided that they are appropriately labelled. The Environment Committee's position had suggested that traditional vodka only be made from grain, potatoes or sugar beet molasses. (Please see the summary of 30/01/2007.) Vodkas made from other raw materials would have had to clearly indicate what they were made from, with a large label on the bottle (2/3 of the size of the word 'Vodka' on the label. The approach adopted in plenary states that traditional vodka may only be made from grain or potatoes (not molasses), and other raw materials may only be used if they are clearly indicated on the label. Vodkas made from other agricultural raw materials will have to carry the wording ‘produced from. ’ The size of this label, however, would not be specified. Some MEPs from traditional vodka-producing Member States (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden) would have preferred to allow the term 'vodka' only to be applied to spirits made from grain, potatoes and molasses, but their amendments failed to garner enough support among MEPs.Whiskey: the plenary agreed with the decision of the Environment Committee on this issue. The House voted for existing geographical names to remain valid. These may be supplemented by additional descriptions provided they are regulated at national or regional level or are included in the technical specifications, such as "single malt" and/or "Highland" for Scotch whisky. Applications for geographical designations must justified by the Member State of origin. Certain MEPs had argued for equal treatment for vodka and whisky, stating that it was unacceptable that vodka was an open trademark whereas there are a number of restrictions for other registered trademarks such as whisky, champagne and cognac. However, this was rejected on the grounds that, in the case of vodka, the raw material used does not affect the quality of the product. Spirit drinks: the Commission's proposal had originally suggested establishing three categories of spirit drinks, which the Environment Committee rejected, arguing for a single category of 'spirit drinks'. This single category was maintained in the compromise with the Council. Flavourings: the plenary agreed with the Environment Committee and felt that flavourings should be banned for some spirits (such as rum, whisky, cereals-based spirits and wine, brandy ) except for the addition of caramel as a colouring substance. Other spirits might contain additions of alcohol (only of agricultural origin), of colouring substances, sweeteners and flavourings.Comitology: the regulatory procedure with scrutiny will apply to certain aspects of the Regulation, such as the amendment of the Annexes, the establishment of a Community symbol for geographical indications for the spirit drinks sector, and to resolve specific practical problems, such as by making it obligatory, in certain cases, to state the place of manufacture on the labelling to avoid misleading the consumer and to maintain and develop Community reference methods for the analysis of spirit drinks.Entry into force: although the Environment Committee had argued for a two-year transitional period, Parliament decided that the legislation will apply three months after the entry into force of the regulation.To facilitate the transition from the rules provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89, the production of spirit drinks under that Regulation will be permitted during the first year of application of the Regulation. The marketing of existing stocks is also be foreseen until their exhaustion.
- 2007/06/18 Debate in Parliament
- #2793
- 2007/04/16 Council Meeting
- 2007/02/12 Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
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2007/01/30
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
- #2758
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2006/10/24
Council Meeting
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2758
summary
The Presidency noted that a broad majority within the Council could support the general approach on the proposal for a Regulation on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks, as a preliminary basis for discussions with the European Parliament.The Council noted the views expressed by delegations and the intention of the Presidency to keep the Special Committee on Agriculture fully informed and updated on its discussions with the European Parliament, as well as to return to the legal and WTO aspects of this file. The aim of the Finnish Presidency is to make as much progress as possible on this proposal towards reaching a political agreement with the European Parliament at first reading.
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2758
summary
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2006/07/06
Referral to associated committees announced in Parliament
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2006/01/17
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
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2005/12/15
Legislative proposal published
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COM(2005)0125
summary
PURPOSE : to update the EU spirit drinks legislation. PROPOSED ACT : Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.CONTENT : Council Regulation 1576/89/EEC of 29 May 1989 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks and Commission Regulation 1014/90/EEC of 24 April 1990 laying down detailed implementing rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks have proved successful in regulating the spirit drinks sector. However, in the light of recent experience it is necessary to clarify the rules applicable to the definition, description, presentation and protection of certain spirit drinks. Regulation 1576/89/EC should therefore be repealed and replaced by a new Regulation.This proposal aims in particular to update the EU spirit drinks legislation. Based on existing EU legislation on spirit drinks, it largely enhances applicability, readability and clarity, by adapting the regulations to new technical requirements. The draft includes a well defined policy for spirit drinks based on three product categories rooted in the current product definitions. TRIPS and WTO requirements are included to safeguard the protection of EU geographical indications on the world market.Spirit drinks are classified in three categories according to well-defined criteria of production and labelling: spirits, specific spirit drinks and other spirit drinks. The definitions continue to respect the traditional quality practices but are updated where previous definitions were lacking or insufficient or where such definitions may be improved in the light of technological development.The main aspects which guided the draft of this regulation are the following:- enhance applicability, readability and clearness of the regulation based on the present legislation on spirit drinks;- combine the two spirit drinks regulations into one regulation;- introduce a well defined policy for spirit drinks based on three product categories rooted in the present definitions of products;- introduce flexibility by shifting the competence to amend Annexes from the present co-decision procedure of European Parliament and Council to the Commission supported by the Management Committee on Spirit Drinks;- adaptation of the regulations to new technical requirements;- adaptation of the regulations to WTO requirements, including TRIPs;- definition of criteria guiding recognition of new geographical indications.
- DG {'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/', 'title': 'Agriculture and Rural Development'}, FISCHER BOEL Mariann
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COM(2005)0125
summary
Documents
- Legislative proposal published: COM(2005)0125
- Debate in Council: 2758
- Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A6-0035/2007
- Debate in Council: 2793
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T6-0259/2007
- : Regulation 2008/110
- : OJ L 039 13.02.2008, p. 0016
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