Geographical origin of spirit drinks

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks, the use of the names of spirit drinks in the presentation and labelling of other foodstuffs, the protection of geographical indications for spirit drinks, and the use of ethyl alcohol and distillates of agricultural origin in alcoholic beverages

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

It aims to provide rules on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks*, including their use in other foods, and on the protection of geographical indications* (GIs) for spirit drinks.
It includes clearer labelling rules for spirit drinks such as whisky, brandy, wine spirit and vodka, and also for combinations of such spirit drinks with other foods. These rules are applicable across the European Union (EU) and are in line with the rules on providing food information to consumers.
It also aims to ensure further harmonisation of the production methods for spirit drinks allowed throughout the EU, for instance concerning the maximum sugar content of a number of spirit drinks.
It aims to further simplify GI procedures, with the aims of:
- enabling the European Commission to focus only on elements of EU significance;
- clearer definitions of amendments at the national and EU level, fully respecting the subsidiarity principle;
- reducing the time period for processing applications.
It aims to enhance the protection of GIs:
- when products are used as ingredients;
- when in conflict with trade marks; and
- against goods in transit in the EU’s territory.
It repeals Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 with effect from 25 May 2021, except for Chapter III (geographical indications) which was repealed with effect from 8 June 2019).

KEY POINTS

Scope

The regulation covers the definition of spirit drinks and the categories of spirit drinks allowed in the EU.
It contains detailed rules on their production, description, presentation and labelling, along with the use of the names of spirit drinks in the presentation and labelling of other foodstuffs.
Spirit drinks is one of the four sectors covered by EU rules on geographical indications. The other sectors are food, wine and aromatised wines.

Ethyl alcohol

The alcohol used in the production of spirit drinks and other alcoholic beverages, and to dilute or dissolve colours, flavourings or any other authorised ingredients, should be exclusively ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin, distillates of agricultural origin or spirit drinks of categories 1 to 14 of Annex I to the regulation.

A delegated act – Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1303 – amends Regulation (EU) 2019/787, updating the definition of and requirements for ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin in line with technical progress. Ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin is now defined as a liquid which complies with the following requirements:

it has been obtained through alcoholic fermentation, followed by distillation exclusively of agricultural products listed in Annex I to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;
it has no detectable taste other than that of the raw materials used in its production;
its minimum alcoholic strength by volume (also known as ‘% vol. alcohol’) is 96.0%;
its maximum levels of residues do not exceed the following:
- ethyl acetate: 1.3 grams per hectolitre of 100% vol. alcohol,
- acetaldehyde (sum of ethanal and 1,1-diethoxyethane): 0.5 grams per hectolitre of 100% vol. alcohol,
- higher alcohols (sum of: propan-1-ol, butan-1-ol, butan-2-ol, 2-methylpropan-1-ol, 2-methylbutan-1-ol and 3-methylbutan-1-ol): 0.5 grams per hectolitre of 100% vol. alcohol,
- methanol: 30 grams per hectolitre of 100% vol. alcohol,
- furfural: 0.5 grams per hectolitre of 100% vol. alcohol.

Protection of geographical indications

Geographical indications which conform with the product specifications are protected against:

any direct or indirect commercial use of a registered name of products (not covered by the registration) where those products are comparable or where using the name exploits the reputation of the protected name, including products used as an ingredient;
any misuse, imitation or evocation, even if the true origin of the products or services is indicated or if the protected name is translated or accompanied by an expression such as ‘style’, ‘type’, ‘method’, ‘as produced in’, ‘imitation’, ‘flavour’, ‘like’ or similar, including when products are used as an ingredient;
any other false or misleading indication of the origin, nature or essential qualities of the product used to convey a false impression of the product’s origin;
any other practice which could mislead the consumer as to the true origin of the product.

Product specification

Product specifications include at least:

the name to be protected as a geographical indication, as used in the original script, together with Latin equivalent (if relevant);
the category of the spirit drink;
the characteristics, including the raw materials used and the principal characteristics of the product and comparison with spirit drinks of the same category;
the definition of the geographical area;
the production methods, particularly any authentic and unvarying local production methods;
the link between quality, reputation or another characteristic of the spirit drink and its geographical origin;
any specific labelling or packaging requirement.

Registration

Applications to register a geographical indication can only be submitted by groups who work with the spirit drink concerned.
An EU Member State can provisionally grant protection to a name at the national level, with effect from the date on which an application is submitted to the Commission.
Within 3 months from the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, countries within and outside the EU, and non-EU residents with a legitimate interest, may submit a notice of opposition to the Commission.
The Commission keeps a publicly accessible electronic register of recognised geographical indications, to be created by means of delegated acts.
Member States carry out checks on the use of registered geographical indications and spirit drinks in general, and must take the necessary measures in the event of breaches of the rules.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 8 June 2019 as regards the rules relating to geographical indications.
It has applied since 25 May 2021 as regards the other rules on the production, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

Quality schemes explained (European Commission)
Geographical indications (Your Europe).

KEY TERMS

Spirit drink. An alcoholic beverage intended for human consumption which possesses particular properties of taste and aroma and has a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 15% (14% for advocaat or egg liqueur).

Geographical indication. A denomination identifying a product as originating in a country, region or locality where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic of the product is essentially due to its geographical origin. Natural, human and process factors contribute to these distinctive characteristics.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2019/787 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks, the use of the names of spirit drinks in the presentation and labelling of other foodstuffs, the protection of geographical indications for spirit drinks, the use of ethyl alcohol and distillates of agricultural origin in alcoholic beverages, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, pp. 1–54).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2019/787 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.