From May 13, new EU regulations regarding the names of spirit drinks will come into force. Separating a category of potato spirits seems to be a chance for this product to become a Polish specialty on the EU market.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development informs in a press release that pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on geographical indications in relation to wine, spirits and agricultural products and traditional specialties and expressions guaranteed quality standards used optionally in relation to agricultural products, the provisions on alcoholic products were changed.
The regulation was published on April 23, 2024, and its provisions will enter into force on the 20th day after publication, i.e. on May 13 this year.
The new regulations introduce, among others: new definitions of spirit drinks that can be produced in the European Union, which is intended to ensure transparency of information for consumers, and for Poles it may become an opportunity to redefine and promote potato spirit.
What has changed in EU rules on spirit drinks?
The previously applicable EU regulations for spirit drinks did not define a separate category for potato spirits – these products were treated together with fruit spirits.
In 2019, the European Commission took the position that spirit drinks made from potato distillate could be classified as fruit spirits. Such a classification, due to limitations in the definition of fruit spirit, did not cover all methods of producing potato distillates used in Poland – informs the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2022, at the initiative of our country, a discussion was initiated on the separation of potato spirits, which will be able to be distilled, like whiskey, to below 94.8%. vol. Potato spirits will also be made from potato tubers and not, for example, potato peelings. Thanks to Poland’s comments, the labeling of such a product will allow the use of both the legal name: “potato spirit” and “potato spirit”.
In its announcement, the Ministry emphasizes that it seems that this group of spirits may become a Polish specialty on the EU market. Will we use it?
For now, the list of traditional products kept by the Ministry includes one spirit – Warmian honey spirit, produced from honey and entered in 2013. Potato spirit is not classified as a traditional product, but the analysis of the assortment of spirit drink producers clearly shows that they are aware of the distinctive nature of this product. product and promote it in their offer as a premium product.
What is spirit?
Okowita, commonly known as vodka, derives its name from the Latin aqua vitae, meaning water of life. Originally, it was simply an old Polish term for vodka made from potatoes or grain, or for unrefined, raw spirit. In practice, what distinguishes spirit from vodka is the distillation process, which takes place at a lower temperature, takes much longer and is much more complicated than in the case of vodka. It cannot be obtained by diluting spirit with water. Therefore, spirit is a nobler drink than pure vodka.
According to the new regulations, potato spirit is a spirit drink produced exclusively by alcoholic fermentation and distillation of potato tubers to less than 94.8 percent. volume, so that the distillate has an aroma and flavor derived from the raw materials used. The minimum alcohol content in this product is 38%. vol. Potato spirit must not contain added alcohol or flavorings. To adjust the color of this drink, you can only use caramel. However, in order to complement the final taste, the product may be sweetened, but the final product may not contain more than 10 grams of sweetening products per liter (expressed as invert sugar). A methanol content limit has also been set for potato spirit – says the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in a press release.
Spirit made from birch and maple sap
The EU regulation also defines separate categories of spirit drinks produced from raw materials that are not explicitly defined in EU law as agricultural products, such as birch sap and maple sap, as well as bread.
The rule regarding the possibility of producing spirit drinks only from raw materials of agricultural origin was introduced in order not to allow the use of waste food products in the production of spirit drinks. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development justifies the changes as follows:
The introduction of a new definition of birch sap or maple sap spirit resulted from the need to take into account the specificity of the market for such products available in Estonia. However, in the case of using bread for alcoholic fermentation and distillation, it was specified that the raw material must be fresh so that expired bread, i.e. unfit for human consumption, is not used for the production of the spirit drink.
Spirit drinks meeting the requirements of the new categories will use the name of the category as their legal name. Therefore, consumers will find the following new names on the labels of finished products: birch sap spirit, maple sap spirit, birch sap and maple sap spirit, bread spirit.
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