EU Nominal Quantity Rules: Directive 2007/45/EC Pack Size Guide

Designing packaging for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) in the European Union requires careful adherence to nominal quantity regulations. Under Directive 2007/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, the EU generally deregulated packaging sizes across most food and household categories to promote free movement. However, strict mandatory container size restrictions remain enforced for specific alcohol sectors, including still wine, sparkling wine, liqueur wine, aromatised wine, and spirit drinks.

FMCG brands, packaging engineers, and supply chain managers must verify permitted nominal volumes during early product development. Introducing an non-listed bottle size for a regulated spirit or wine category triggers immediate market access prohibitions, customs rejections, and costly packaging write-offs. Understanding where full deregulation applies versus where mandatory container ranges remain active is essential for seamless EU market distribution.

Harmonisation and deregulation under Directive 2007/45/EC

Directive 2007/45/EC established a unified single market approach to nominal packaging sizes by repealing older restrictive directives. Under Article 2(1), Member States cannot refuse, prohibit, or restrict the placing on the market of prepacked products on grounds related to nominal packaging quantities. This default free movement rule ensures that general food, beverages, cosmetics, and household chemicals can be sold in any packaging volume chosen by the manufacturer, provided label declarations remain clear and truthful.

Historical national exemptions that previously enforced mandatory pack sizes for staple foods have fully expired. Transitional derogations allowed under Article 2(2) for products such as milk, butter, dried pasta, and coffee expired on 11 October 2012. The transitional period for white sugar expired on 11 October 2013. Consequently, basic food products are now completely deregulated across all EU Member States, allowing brand owners full freedom in container design.

Restricted categories: mandatory bottle sizes for wine and spirits

Mandatory packaging ranges persist under Article 3 and Section 1 of the Annex for specific regulated liquid categories. Within specified volume intervals, producers must package their products exclusively in listed nominal quantities. For still wine, on the interval from 100 ml to 1,500 ml, only 8 nominal quantities are permitted: 100 ml, 187 ml, 250 ml, 375 ml, 500 ml, 750 ml, 1,000 ml, and 1,500 ml. Yellow wine on the 100 ml to 1,500 ml interval is restricted to a single nominal quantity of 620 ml.

Spirit drinks face similarly rigid restrictions. Under Section 1 of the Annex, spirit drinks on the interval from 100 ml to 2,000 ml can only be prepacked in 9 permitted nominal quantities: 100 ml, 200 ml, 350 ml, 500 ml, 700 ml, 1,000 ml, 1,500 ml, 1,750 ml, and 2,000 ml. Launching an intermediate volume, such as a 600 ml spirit bottle, is legally prohibited within the EU single market. However, outside these defined intervals, such as a 50 ml miniature or a 3,000 ml display bottle, deregulation applies fully.

Aerosols, multipacks, and duty-free exemptions

Special rules govern aerosol dispensers and multi-unit packaging formats. Under Article 4(1), aerosol containers must indicate their nominal total capacity in a manner that avoids any confusion with the nominal volume of the contents. Article 4(2) grants a derogation exempting aerosol products from displaying nominal content weight. Under Article 5(1), when individual prepackages form a multipack, restrictive nominal quantity rules apply to each individual prepackage. Conversely, under Article 5(2), combined packages composed of units not intended for individual sale are evaluated on total combined volume.

Furthermore, Article 1(2) explicitly exempts goods sold in duty-free shops for consumption outside the European Union from nominal quantity restrictions. Spirits manufacturers can produce custom container sizes, such as a 600 ml bottle, exclusively for airport duty-free retail targeting travelers exiting the EU. In addition, under the landmark Cidrerie Ruwet ruling (Case C-3/99), Member States cannot block lawful imports of deregulated liquids, such as cider or juice, from other Member States based on unusual container sizes.

Overview of EU nominal quantity rules by product category

The following table summarizes packaging interval boundaries, permitted sizes, and legal references under Directive 2007/45/EC.

Category	Regulated Volume Interval	Permitted Nominal Quantities	Primary Legal Basis
Still Wine	100 ml to 1,500 ml	100, 187, 250, 375, 500, 750, 1,000, 1,500 ml	Article 3 and Annex Section 1
Yellow Wine	100 ml to 1,500 ml	620 ml	Article 3 and Annex Section 1
Sparkling Wine	125 ml to 1,500 ml	125, 200, 375, 750, 1,500 ml	Article 3 and Annex Section 1
Liqueur Wine	100 ml to 1,500 ml	100, 200, 375, 500, 750, 1,000, 1,500 ml	Article 3 and Annex Section 1
Aromatised Wine	100 ml to 1,500 ml	100, 200, 375, 500, 750, 1,000, 1,500 ml	Article 3 and Annex Section 1
Spirit Drinks	100 ml to 2,000 ml	100, 200, 350, 500, 700, 1,000, 1,500, 1,750, 2,000 ml	Article 3 and Annex Section 1
General FMCG Food	Unrestricted	Fully deregulated (free movement)	Article 2(1)
Aerosol Dispensers	Unrestricted	Container capacity required; weight exempt	Article 4(1) and Article 4(2)

Verifying container dimensions against these parameters ensures product launches proceed without regulatory disruption or customs impoundment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I legally launch a 600ml bottle of vodka in the EU or is it banned? Under Article 3 and Section 1 of the Annex to Directive 2007/45/EC, spirit drinks on the interval from 100 ml to 2,000 ml can only be prepacked in 9 permitted nominal quantities (100, 200, 350, 500, 700, 1,000, 1,500, 1,750, and 2,000 ml). A 600 ml vodka bottle falls within this interval and is not a permitted quantity, making it prohibited for sale on the EU market.

Do EU nominal quantity restrictions apply to 50ml miniature spirit bottles? No. Under Section 1 of the Annex to Directive 2007/45/EC, restrictions for spirit drinks apply only on the interval from 100 ml to 2,000 ml. A 50 ml miniature bottle falls below the 100 ml threshold and is fully deregulated.

Are airport duty-free shops exempt from EU wine and spirit bottle size rules? Yes. Under Article 1(2) of Directive 2007/45/EC, the directive does not apply to products listed in the Annex when sold in duty-free shops for consumption outside the European Union.

Do I need to label both net weight and volume on aerosol cans sold in Europe? No. Under Article 4(2) of Directive 2007/45/EC, products sold in aerosol dispensers are exempt from marking the nominal weight of their contents. However, Article 4(1) requires indicating the total container capacity.

If I sell a 3-pack of 250ml liqueur wines, does the EU check the 250ml size or the 750ml total? Under Article 5(1) of Directive 2007/45/EC, where two or more individual prepackages make up a multipack, nominal quantity restrictions apply to each individual prepackage (250 ml). Since 250 ml is not a permitted size for liqueur wine on the 100 ml to 1,500 ml interval, each bottle must use an allowed size such as 200 ml or 375 ml.

Are there still mandatory pack sizes for milk, butter, or sugar in Germany and France? No. Transitional derogations under Article 2(2) for milk, butter, dried pasta, and coffee expired on 11 October 2012, and derogations for white sugar expired on 11 October 2013. These staple foods are now fully deregulated across all EU Member States.

What are the permitted bottle sizes for sparkling wine under Directive 2007/45/EC? Under Section 1 of the Annex, sparkling wine on the interval from 125 ml to 1,500 ml is restricted to 5 nominal quantities: 125 ml, 200 ml, 375 ml, 750 ml, and 1,500 ml.

Can a member state reject cider imported from another EU country because of an unusual bottle size? No. Cider is fully deregulated under Directive 2007/45/EC. Under Article 2(1) and the Cidrerie Ruwet ruling (Case C-3/99), Member States cannot restrict lawful imports of deregulated prepacked goods based on nominal quantities.

How do I display container capacity vs liquid volume on an aerosol dispenser without confusing the consumer? Under Article 4(1), the nominal total container capacity must be marked clearly so as to avoid confusion with the nominal volume of the liquid contents. Legible separation and standard volumetric symbols ensure clear visual distinction.

What is the exact CN code definition for spirit drinks under EU packaging laws? Section 1 of the Annex defines spirit drinks by reference to Combined Nomenclature code 2208, covering spirituous beverages, liqueurs, and other spirituous liquids.