14. 6. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 149/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1601/91 of 10 June 1991 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of aromatized wines, aromatized wine-based drinks and aromatized wine-product cocktails THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 43 and 100a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), In cooperation with the Buropean Parliament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas there are at present no specific Community rules governing aromatized wines, aromatized wine-based drinks and aromatized wine-product coktails hereinafter called ‘aromatized drinks’, in particular with regard to the difinition of such drinks and the requirements concer- ning their description and presentation ; whereas, given the economic importance of these drinks, it is necessary, in order to assist the functioning of the common market, to lay down common provisions on this subject; Whereas these aromatized drinks constitute a major outlet for Community agriculture ; whereas this outlet is largely the result of the reputation which certain of these drinks have acquired throughout the Community and on the world market ; whereas this reputation can be attributed to the quality of the drinks in question ; whereas a certain quality standard should therefore be maintained for the drinks in question if this outlet is to be preserved; whereas the appropriate means of maintaining this quality standard is to define the said drinks, taking into account the traditional practices on which their reputation is based ; whereas, moreover, the terms thus defined should be used only for drinks of the same quality as traditional drinks so as to prevent their being devalued; Whereas it is appropriate that an appropriate framewerok be created for aromatized drinks which are composed for () OJ No C 269, 25. 10. 1986, p. 1. () O] No C 127, 14. S. 1984, p. 185 and OJ No C 129, 20. 5. 1991. () OJ No C 124, 9. 5. 1983, p. 16. the major part of wine or musts, while allowing for deve- lopment and innovation as regards such drinks ; whereas this objective can be achieved the more easily by creating three categories of drinks on the basis of their wine content, alcoholic strength and whether or not alcohol has been added to them; Whereas it is appropriate that Community rules should reserve, for certain territories, the use of geographical ascriptions referring thereto, provided that the stages of production during which the finished product acquires its characteristics and definitive properties are completed in the geographical area in question ; Whereas the customary means of informing the consumer is to include certain information on the label; whereas the labelling of aromatized drinks is subject to the general rules laid down in Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate consu- mer (*), as last amended by Directive 89/395/EEC (%); whereas, in view of the nature of the drinks in question and so that the consumer may have fuller information, provisions additional to these general rules should be adopted ; Whereas, in the mind of the consumer, the reputation of certain aromatized drinks is closely linked to a traditional origin ; whereas, in order to ensure that the consumer is appropriately informed and to take account of these specific cases, it is appropriate to make it compulsory to indicate the origin in cases where the drink does not come from the traditional region of production; Whereas, in order to enable appropriate information to be given on the composition of the drink, certain labelling rules relating to the nature of the alcohol used should be adopted ; () OJ No L 33, 8. 2. 1979, p. 1. () O] No L 186, 30. 6. 1989, p. 17.