Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/383 of 16 February 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 2870/2000 laying down Community reference methods for the analysis of spirit drinks, and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2009/92 determining Community analysis methods for ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin in the preparation of spirit drinks, aromatized wines, aromatized wine-based drinks and aromatized wine-product cocktails

1 This Regulation applies to ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin as defined by Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787 of the European Parliament and of the Council .

2 The Union reference methods of analysis for ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin shall be those set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

3 For the purposes of this Regulation, ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin shall be considered as a distillate whose alcoholic strength by volume shall be measured directly as set out in Appendix II of Chapter I of the Annex. However, where the alcohol sample is not clear or suspended particles are visible, the sample shall be distilled.

4 For the determination of volatile substances the calibration with the standard solution C prepared in absolute ethanol shall be required to achieve appropriate matrix matching between samples and standard solutions detailed in Chapter III.2 of the Annex.

5 For the determination of furfural, as detailed in Chapter X of the Annex, ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin shall be diluted by two through the addition of water so as to double its initial volume and reach an alcoholic strength by volume compatible with the calibration solutions. Results for the analysis of furfural shall be converted to grams per hectolitre of 100 % vol. alcohol in accordance with the equation ‘Concentration of furfural in grams per hectolitre of 100 % vol. alcohol = Concentration of furfural in mg/l x 10/alcoholic strength by volume (% vol)’, where alcoholic strength by volume (% vol) is the alcoholic strength of the measured sample as determined in Chapter I of the Annex.

6 For the determination of 14C content in ethanol, the method set out in Chapter XI of the Annex shall be used.

Regulation (EEC) No 2009/92 is repealed.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.