The case with the smell of vanilla

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) examined a case, the goal of which was to clarify the tariff position that covers a runny and golden-brown product with a strong smell of vanilla, consisting of approximately 85% ethanol, 10% water, 4.8% dry residue and having an average vanilla content of 0.5% (the Goods), and whether the Goods of such composition shall be exempt from excise duty on alcohol. The CJEU had to clarify whether the Goods are classified as vegetable extracts, extracted oleoresins or a mixture thereof. It was also necessary to comment on the interpretation of ‘flavouring’, which is not defined in either the Combined Nomenclature (CN) or Council Directive 92/83/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the harmonization of the structures of excise duties on alcohol and alcoholic beverages (Directive 92/83).