1. 12. 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 350/59 COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 3458/92 of 30 November 1992 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1014/90 laying down detailed implementing rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, : Havig regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 of 29 May 1989 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks ('), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3280/92(}), and in particular Article 1 (4) (i) (1) (b) thereof, Whereas Article 1 (4) (i) (1) (a) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 lays down the quantities of certain ingre- dients required if the names of certain fruit spirits are to be used ; whereas Article 1 (4) (i) (1) (b) of that Regulation provides for derogations from the contents thus fixed under certain conditions ; Whereas Article 6 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1014/90 (), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1781/91 (¥, thus sets the maximum methyl alcohol content of spirits obtained from certain fruits in small distilleries at 1 500 grams per hectolitre ; whereas that maximum content applies until 31 December 1992 to obtained from pears in distilleries; Whereas experience shows that the derogation should be maintained for all distilleries ; whereas present techniques for producing the spirits in question mean that this measure should enable the final quality of the product and its traditional characteristics to be maintained; whereas, however, an in-depth evaluation of the various effects of the application of this measure should be conducted at the end of a trial period with a view to redu- cing the minimum methyl alcohol cntent as far as possible given, in particular, developments in techniques ; Whereas, however, it is possible to repeal the exception concerning the maximum methyl alcohol content of spirits contained fromarbutus in view of current regional techniques fro producing that spirituous beverage ; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Implementation Committee for Spirit Drinks, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 1014/90 is hereby replaced by the following: ‘Article 6 1. Pursuant to Article 1 (4) (i) (1) (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89, the maximum methyl alcohol content of fruit spirits shall be 1 500 grams per hecto- litre of alcohol at 100 % vol obtained from the follo- wing fruits : — plum (Prunus domestica L.), — mirabelle (Prunus domestica L. var syriaca), — quetsch (Prunus domestica L)), — apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), — pear (Pyrus communis L.). 2. Before 31 December 1994 the Commission shall conduct an evaluation of the application of paragraph 1. On the basis of an in-dept study it shall consider whether the maximum methyl alcohol content may be reduced.’ Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1993. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 30 November 1992. () OJ No L 160, 12. 6. 1989, p. 1. () OJ No L 327, 13. 11. 1992, p. 3. () OJ No L 105, 25. 4. 1990, p. 9. () OJ No L 160, 25. 6. 1991, p. 5. For the Commission Ray MAC SHARRY Member of the Commission