Aromatised wines, aromatised wine-based drinks and aromatised wine-product cocktails: definition, description and presentation

The European Parliament adopted, by 522 to 105 with 34 abstentions, a legislative resolution amending, at first reading of the codecision procedure, the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the general rules on the definition, description and presentation of aromatised wines, aromatised wine-based drinks and aromatised wine-product cocktails (recast).

The Commission’s proposal was adapted in line with the recommendations of the Consultative Working Party of the Legal Services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission.

The amendments are the result of a compromise between Parliament and Council.

It was agreed that the Commission will have power to adapt the Regulation in order to:

• decide on the specific descriptions;
• adopt definitions other than those already provided for in this Regulation;
• adopt methods of analysis of the products covered by this Regulation;
• determine the processes for products being prepared for the purpose of obtaining the finished products;
• adopt special provisions governing the use of terms referring to a certain property of the product and the rules governing the labelling of aromatised drinks in containers not intended for the final consumer;
• adopt the necessary measures for the uniform application of the Community's provisions in the aromatised drinks sector;
• draw up the list of products eligible for supervision and protection and,
• establish the exceptions concerning aromatised drinks intended for exportation.

These measures will be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny.