14.2.6 Spirit drinks as defined in Regulation (EC) No 110/2008

GB food category, from assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, Part D, as at 28 June 2024.

In Great Britain an additive may be used only in the foods and under the conditions listed for them. Since 1 April 2025 those conditions are Annex II as it stood on 28 June 2024, read with the FSA and FSS register of authorisations. This page shows what is listed for this category. It does not infer anything from broader categories: where Annex II extends a broader category's provisions to its subcategories, it says so in that category's own listing. See the broader category 14.2.

Listed for this category

Additive	Maximum level	Conditions	Citation
Amaranth E123	30 mg/kg or mg/l	except: spirit drinks as defined in Article 5(1) and sales denominations listed in Annex II, paragraphs 1-14 of Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 and spirits (preceded by the name of the fruit) obtained by maceration and distillation, Geist (with the name of the fruit or the raw material used), London Gin, Sambuca, Maraschino, Marrasquino or Maraskino and Mistrà.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)
Annatto extracts, bixin-based E160b(i)	10 mg/kg or mg/l	only liqueurs.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)
Caramel I – plain caramel E150a	quantum satis	Authorised under E 150a-d, Caramels. except: fruit spirits, spirits (preceded by the name of the fruit) obtained by maceration and distillation Geist (with the name of the fruit or the raw material used), London Gin, Sambuca, Maraschino, Marrasquino or Maraskino and Mistrà. Whisky, whiskey can only contain E 150a.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024), under E 150a-d, Caramels
Caramel II - sulfite caramel E150b	quantum satis	Authorised under E 150a-d, Caramels. except: fruit spirits, spirits (preceded by the name of the fruit) obtained by maceration and distillation Geist (with the name of the fruit or the raw material used), London Gin, Sambuca, Maraschino, Marrasquino or Maraskino and Mistrà. Whisky, whiskey can only contain E 150a.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024), under E 150a-d, Caramels
Caramel III - ammonia caramel E150c	quantum satis	Authorised under E 150a-d, Caramels. except: fruit spirits, spirits (preceded by the name of the fruit) obtained by maceration and distillation Geist (with the name of the fruit or the raw material used), London Gin, Sambuca, Maraschino, Marrasquino or Maraskino and Mistrà. Whisky, whiskey can only contain E 150a.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024), under E 150a-d, Caramels
Caramel IV - sulfite ammonia caramel E150d	quantum satis	Authorised under E 150a-d, Caramels. except: fruit spirits, spirits (preceded by the name of the fruit) obtained by maceration and distillation Geist (with the name of the fruit or the raw material used), London Gin, Sambuca, Maraschino, Marrasquino or Maraskino and Mistrà. Whisky, whiskey can only contain E 150a.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024), under E 150a-d, Caramels
FD&C Yellow No. 6 E110	100 mg/kg or mg/l	except: spirit drinks as defined in Article 5(1) and sales denominations listed in Annex II, paragraphs 1-14 of Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 and spirits (preceded by the name of the fruit) obtained by maceration and distillation, Geist (with the name of the fruit or the raw material used), London Gin, Sambuca, Maraschino, Marrasquino or Maraskino and Mistrà. Note (61): The total quantity of E 104, E 110, E 124 and the colours in Group III shall not exceed the maximum listed for Group III.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)
Glycerol ester of wood rosin E445	100 mg/kg or mg/l	only cloudy spirit drinks.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)
Gold E175	quantum satis	only liqueurs.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)
Karaya gum E416	10,000 mg/kg or mg/l	only egg-based liqueurs.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)
Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids E475	5,000 mg/kg or mg/l	only emulsified liqueurs.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)
Ponceau 4R (Cochineal red A) E124	170 mg/kg or mg/l	except: spirit drinks as defined in Article 5(1) and sales denominations listed in Annex II, paragraphs 1-14 of Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 and spirits (preceded by the name of the fruit) obtained by maceration and distillation, Geist (with the name of the fruit or the raw material used), London Gin, Sambuca, Maraschino, Marrasquino or Maraskino and Mistrà. Note (61): The total quantity of E 104, E 110, E 124 and the colours in Group III shall not exceed the maximum listed for Group III.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)
Propylene glycol alginate E405	10,000 mg/kg or mg/l	only emulsified liqueurs.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)
Quinoline yellow E104	180 mg/kg or mg/l	except: spirit drinks as defined in Article 5(1) and sales denominations listed in Annex II, paragraphs 1-14 of Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 and spirits (preceded by the name of the fruit) obtained by maceration and distillation, Geist (with the name of the fruit or the raw material used), London Gin, Sambuca, Maraschino, Marrasquino or Maraskino and Mistrà. Note (61): The total quantity of E 104, E 110, E 124 and the colours in Group III shall not exceed the maximum listed for Group III.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)
Silver E174	quantum satis	only liqueurs.	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)

Permitted as members of an additive group

Annex II authorises some additives collectively. Each group below shares one set of conditions for this category.

E 220–228: Sulphur dioxide — sulphites — 8 additivesML = 50. only distilled alcoholic beverages containing whole pears. Note (3): Maximum levels are expressed as SO 2 relate to the total quantity, available from all sources, an SO 2 content of not more than 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/l is not considered to be present.

E 338–341, E 343 and E 450 — 452: Phosphoric acid — phosphates — di-, tri- and polyphosphates — 26 additivesML = 1000. except: whisky, whiskey. Note (1): The additives may be added individually or in combination. Note (4): The maximum level is expressed as P 2 O 5. E 450 (ix) is not included.

E 473–474: Sucrose esters of fatty acids, Sucroglycerides — 2 additivesML = 5000. except: whisky, whiskey. Note (1): The additives may be added individually or in combination.

Sucroglycerides E474
Sucrose esters of fatty acids E473

E 481–482: Stearoyl-2-lactylates — 2 additivesML = 8000. only emulsified liqueurs. Note (1): The additives may be added individually or in combination.

Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate E482
Sodium stearoyl lactylate E481

Group I — 167 additivesquantum satis. except whisky or whiskey; E 420, E421, E 953, E965, E 966, E 967 and E 968 may not be used except in liqueurs.

Acetic acid E260
Acetic and fatty acid esters of glycerol E472a
Acetylated distarch adipate E1422
Acetylated distarch phosphate E1414
Acetylated oxidized starch E1451
Agar E406
Alginic acid E400
Alpha-tocopherol E307
Ammonium alginate E403
Ammonium bicarbonate
Ammonium carbonate
Ammonium carbonates E503
Ammonium hydroxide E527
Argon E938
Ascorbic acid E300
Ascorbyl palmitate E304
Ascorbyl stearate E304(ii)
Calcium 5'-guanylate E629
Calcium 5'-inosinate E633
Calcium 5'-ribonucleotides E634
Calcium acetate E263
Calcium alginate E404
Calcium ascorbate E302
Calcium carbonate E170
Calcium chloride E509
Calcium citrate E333
Calcium di-L-glutamate E623
Calcium gluconate E578
Calcium hydroxide E526
Calcium lactate E327
Calcium malate, D, L-
Calcium malates E352
Calcium oxide E529
Calcium sulfate E516
Calcium tartrate E354
Carbon dioxide E290
Carob bean gum E410
Carrageenan E407
Citric acid E330
Citric and fatty acid esters of glycerol E472c
Delta-tocopherol E309
Diacetyltartaric and fatty acid esters of glycerol E472e
Dicalcium citrate E333(ii)
Dipotassium 5'-guanylate E628
Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides E635
Disodium citrate E331(ii)
Disodium guanylate E627
Disodium inosinate E631
Distarch phosphate E1412
Erythritol E968
Ethyl cellulose E462
Fatty acids E570
Gamma-tocopherol E308
Gellan gum E418
Gluconic acid E574
Glucono delta-lactone E575
Glutamic acid E620
Glycerin E422
Glycine E640
Guanylic acid, 5'- E626
Guar gum E412
Gum arabic (Acacia gum) E414
Gum tragacanth E413
Helium E939
Hydrochloric acid E507
Hydrogen E949
Hydroxypropyl cellulose E463
Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate E1442
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E464
Hydroxypropyl starch E1440
Inosinic acid, 5'- E630
Invertase E1103
Isomalt (Hydrogenated isomaltulose) E953
Konjac flour E425
L-Cysteine E920
Lactic acid E270
Lactic and fatty acid esters of glycerol E472b
Lactitol E966
Lecithin E322
Lecithin, partially hydrolysed
Magnesium carbonate E504
Magnesium chloride E511
Magnesium di-L-glutamate E625
Magnesium hydroxide E528
Magnesium hydroxide carbonate
Magnesium oxide E530
Magnesium salts of fatty acids E470b
Malic acid E296
Maltitol
Maltitol syrup E965
Mannitol E421
Mannitol manufactured by fermentation E421(ii)
Methyl cellulose E461
Methyl ethyl cellulose E465
Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E472f
Mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids E471
Monoammonium glutamate E624
Monocalcium citrate E333(i)
Monopotassium glutamate E622
Monosodium L-glutamate E621
Monostarch phosphate E1410
Nitrogen E941
Nitrous oxide E942
Oxidized starch E1404
Oxygen E948
Pectins E440
Phosphated distarch phosphate E1413
Polydextrose E1200
Potassium 5’-inosinate E632
Potassium acetate E261
Potassium acid tartrate E336
Potassium alginate E402
Potassium bicarbonate E501
Potassium carbonate E501
Potassium chloride E508
Potassium citrates E332
Potassium diacetate
Potassium dihydrogen citrate
Potassium gluconate E577
Potassium hydrogen sulfate E515(ii)
Potassium hydroxide E525
Potassium lactate E326
Potassium malate E351
Potassium sulfate
Potassium sulphates E515
Potassium tartrate
Powdered cellulose E460
Processed eucheuma seaweed (PES) E407a
Sodium acetate E262
Sodium acid tartrate E335(i)
Sodium alginate E401
Sodium ascorbate E301
Sodium bicarbonate E500
Sodium carbonate E500
Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, enzymatically hydrolysed (Cellulose gum, enzymatically hydrolyzed) E469
Sodium carboxymethylcellulose E466
Sodium citrate
Sodium citrates E331
Sodium diacetate E262
Sodium dihydrogen citrate
Sodium DL-malate
Sodium gluconate E576
Sodium hydrogen DL-malate
Sodium hydrogen sulfate
Sodium hydroxide E524
Sodium lactate E325
Sodium malates E350
Sodium potassium tartrate E337
Sodium sesquicarbonate
Sodium sulfate
Sodium sulphates E514
Sodium tartrate E335
Sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids E470a
Sorbitol E420
Sorbitol syrup
Soybean hemicellulose E426
Starch acetate E1420
Starch sodium octenyl succinate E1450
Sulfuric acid E513
Tara gum E417
Tartaric acid E334
Tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E472d
Tocopherol-rich extract E306
Triammonium citrate E380
Tripotassium citrate
Xanthan gum E415
Xylitol E967

Group II: Food colours authorised at quantum satis — 25 additivesquantum satis. except: spirit drinks as defined in Article 5(1) and sales denominations listed in Annex II, paragraphs 1-14 of Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 and spirits (preceded by the name of the fruit) obtained by maceration and distillation, Geist (with the name of the fruit or the raw material used), London Gin, Sambuca, Maraschino, Marrasquino or Maraskino and Mistrà.

Group III: Food colours with combined maximum limit — 14 additivesML = 200. except: spirit drinks as defined in Article 5(1) and sales denominations listed in Annex II, paragraphs 1-14 of Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 and spirits (preceded by the name of the fruit) obtained by maceration and distillation, Geist (with the name of the fruit or the raw material used), London Gin, Sambuca, Maraschino, Marrasquino or Maraskino and Mistrà. Note (87): Maximum limit for aluminium coming from aluminium lakes of E 120 carminic acid, carmine 1,5 mg/kg. No other aluminium lakes may be used. For the purposes of Article 22(1)(g) of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 that limit shall apply from 1 February 2013.