Article 1
The paragraph concerning Italy in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 3199/93 is hereby replaced by the following: ‘Italy The ethyl alcohol to be denatured must have a ethyl alcohol content of at least 83 % by volume and a strength measured on the EC alcoholmeter of at least 90 % by volume. Per anhydrous hectolitre, add: (a) 125 grams of thiophene, (b) 0,8 grams of denatonium benzoate, (c) 3 grams of CI reactive red 24 (red colorant), solution at 25 % w/w, (d) 2 litres of methyl ethyl ketone. In order to ensure the complete solubility of all the components, the denaturant mixture must be prepared in ethyl alcohol below 96 % by volume measured on the EC alcoholmeter. Denaturation is achieved by the substances listed at points (a), (b) and (d). Thiophene and denatonium benzoate alter the organoleptic characteristics of the product, making ingestion impossible, while methyl ethyl ketone, with a boiling point (79,6 °C) close to that of ethyl alcohol (78,9 °C), is difficult to eliminate except by non-economic techniques. This facilitates checks by the financial authorities to identify possible misuse. The purpose of CI reactive red 24 is to give the product a characteristic red colour, which makes the purpose of the product immediately identifiable.’