31974R1532

21 . 6. 74 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 166/ 1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

REGULATION ( EEC) No 1532/74 OF THE COUNCIL of 17 June 1974 amending Regulation (EEC) No 816/70 as regards the rules on the total maximum sulphur dioxide content of wine and the definition of liqueur wine

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN certain quality liqueur wines produced in specified COMMUNITIES, regions and having special characteristics obtainable by means of this treatment ; whereas, except for these Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European quality liqueur wines produced in specified regions, Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 this treatment is not justified for products intended thereof ; for direct human consumption ; whereas, therefore, the definition of liqueur wines produced in the Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ; Community should also be amended in this respect,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parlia­ ment (') ;

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ;

Whereas Article 26a of Council Regulation (EEC) No Article 1 81 6/70 (2) of 28 April 1970 laying down additional provisions for the common organization of the market The second and third subparagraphs of Article 26a of in wine, as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No Regulation (EEC) No 816/70 shall be replaced by the 2592/73 (3), provided for appropriate sulphur dioxide following : contents of certain wines produced in the Community and intended for direct human consumption, other ' However, for a period ending on 31 August 1976, than sparkling wines and liqueur wines, during a tran­ for wines imported from third countries and wines sitional period ; whereas this derogation should be produced in Community wine-growing zones in extended to corresponding wines imported from third which contents higher than those referred to in countries in order to avoid any break in continuity of the first subparagraph are allowed on 1 October these imports ; 1973, the total maximum sulphur dioxide content : Whereas grape musts that have been subjected to dehydration by the direct heat of a fire, which (a) shall be raised to 300 mg/1 for white wines and normally causes partial caramelization, are used in the 250 mg/1 for red wines where these wines have preparation of certain quality liqueur wines produced a residual sugar content, expressed as invert in specified regions ; whereas the definition of liqueur sugar, equal to or greater than 5 g/1 ; wine given under item 1 1 of Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 816/70 should therefore be amended in (b) may be raised to 400 mg/1 for certain quality order to allow the use of this grape must in the prepa­ white wines produced in specified regions and ration of certain quality liqueur wines produced in for certain imported quality white wines specified regions ; having special characteristics of production and preparation .' Whereas experience shows that liqueur wines are prepared by the addition of alcohol or potable spirits to grape must before fermentation only in the case of Article 2

(') OJ No C 40, 8 . 4. 1974, p. 75 . (2) OJ No L 99 , 5 . 5. 1970, p. 1 . Item 11 of Annex II to Regulation ( EEC) No 816/70 (}) OJ No L 269, 26. 9 . 1973, p. 1 . shall be replaced by the following :

No L 166 / 2 Official Journal of the European Communities 21 . 6 . 74

' 11 . Liqueur wine : the product which '(b) Liqueur wine ('vin de liqueur ), that is to say a — is produced in the Community ; product : — has a total alcoholic strength of not less — having a total alcoholic strength of not less than 17-5° and an actual alcoholic than 17-5° and an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 15° and not strength of not less than 1 5 ° and not more than 22 0 and more than 22 ° and — is obtained from grape must or wine, derived from certain of the vine varieties — obtained from grape must or wine* which must come from vine varieties approved in referred to in Article 16 and having a the third country of origin for the produc­ natural alcoholic strength of not less than 12° : tion of liqueur wine, and having a minimum natural alcoholic strength of — by freezing or 12° : — by the addition during or after fermen­ — by freezing or tation : — by the addition during or after fermen­ (i) of neutral alcohol of vinous origin tation having an actual alcoholic (i) of a product derived from the strength of not less than 95 0 or distillation of wine or (ii) of an unrectified product derived from the distillation of wine and (ii) of concentrated grape must or, in having an actual alcoholic the case of certain quality liqueur strength of not less than 52 0 and wines appearing on a list to be not more than 80 ° or adopted of wines for which such (iii) of concentrated grape must or, in practice is traditional, of grape the case of certain quality liqueur must concentrated by direct heat, wines produced in specified which, apart from this operation, regions and appearing on a list to corresponds to the definition of be adopted of wines for which concentrated grape must or, such practice is traditional, of (iii) of a mixture of these products. grape must concentrated by direct heat which, apart from this opera­ However, certain quality liqueur wines tion , corresponds to the definition appearing on a list to be adopted may be of concentrated grape must or obtained from unfermented fresh grape must which does not need to have a minimum (iv) of a mixture of these products. natural alcoholic strength of 12° .' However, certain quality liqueur wines produced in specified regions and appearing on a list to be adopted may be obtained from unfermented fresh grape must which does not need to have a minimum natural alco­ holic strength of 12° .' Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day Article 3 following its publication in the Official Journal of In Annex IV to Regulation (EEC) No 816/70, Addi­ the European Communities. tional Note No 4 (b) of Chapter 22 of the Common Customs Tariff shall be replaced by the following : However, Article 3 shall not apply until 1 July 1974.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States .

Done at Luxembourg, 17 June 1974. For the Council The President J. ERTL