Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 (c. 110)

CHAPTER I U.K. SCOPE, DEFINITION AND CATEGORIES OF SPIRIT DRINKS

Article 2 U.K. Definition of spirit drink

1. For the purpose of this Regulation, ‘spirit drink’ means an alcoholic beverage:

(a) intended for human consumption;

(b) possessing particular organoleptic qualities;

(c) having a minimum alcoholic strength of 15 % vol.;

(d) having been produced:

(i)

either directly:

• by the distillation, with or without added flavourings, of naturally fermented products, and/or

• by the maceration or similar processing of plant materials in ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin and/or distillates of agricultural origin, and/or spirit drinks within the meaning of this Regulation, and/or

• by the addition of flavourings, sugars or other sweetening products listed in Annex I(3) and/or other agricultural products and/or foodstuffs to ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin and/or to distillates of agricultural origin and/or to spirit drinks, within the meaning of this Regulation,

(ii)

or by the mixture of a spirit drink with one or more:

• other spirit drinks, and/or

• ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin or distillates of agricultural origin, and/or

• other alcoholic beverages, and/or

• drinks.

2. However, drinks falling within CN codes 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206 and 2207 shall not be considered spirit drinks.

3. The minimum alcoholic strength provided for in paragraph 1(c) shall be without prejudice to the definition for the product in category 41 in Annex II.

4. For the purpose of this Regulation the technical definitions and requirements are laid down in Annex I.