spirit drinks regulations
The Spirit Drinks Regulations 2008, which came into
force on 16 January 2009, provide for the enforcement in the UK of
the EC Regulation on spirit drinks of 15% alcohol and above and
revoke and replace the 1990 Spirit Drinks Regulations.
The EC legislation lays down the rules on the
definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection
of geographical indications of spirit drinks and aims to protect
consumers from counterfeit practices. The main changes arising out
of the new EC regulation concern the registration of geographical
indications via a technical file, the labelling of vodka produced
from materials other than cereals and potatoes, clarifying the
requirements relating to the production of whisky, and tightening
the London Gin definition.
The UK Regulations make the failure to comply
with the provisions of the EC Regulation an offence and create an
additional offence to protect geographical indications. From 16
January, it is an offence to sell spirit drinks as being from a
particular geographical location if they are not from that
location.
The 2008 Regulations also give enforcement
authorities new powers in relation to the enforcement of EC
requirements including the power to give improvement notices and to
impose monetary penalties by penalty notice.
The UK Regulations, SI 2008/3206, are at
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/pdf/uksi_20083206_en.pdf.
