Division 1 The date of minimum durability shall be indicated as follows:

the date shall be preceded by the words:

• ‘Best before …’ when the date includes an indication of the day,

• ‘Best before end …’ in other cases,

the words referred to in point (a) shall be accompanied by:

• either the date itself, or,

• a reference to where the date is given on the labelling,

If need be, these particulars shall be followed by a description of the storage conditions which must be observed if the product is to keep for the specified period;

the date shall consist of the day, the month and possibly, the year, in that order and in uncoded form.

However, in the case of foods:

• which will not keep for more than 3 months, an indication of the day and the month shall be sufficient,

• which will keep for more than 3 months but not more than 18 months, an indication of the month and year shall be sufficient,

• which will keep for more than 18 months, an indication of the year shall be sufficient,

subject to F1provisions in EU-derived domestic legislation or F2assimilated direct legislation imposing other types of date indication, an indication of the date of minimum durability shall not be required for:

• fresh fruit and vegetables, including potatoes, which have not been peeled, cut or similarly treated; this derogation shall not apply to sprouting seeds and similar products such as legume sprouts,

• wines, liqueur wines, sparkling wines, aromatised wines, and similar products obtained from fruit other than grapes, and beverages falling within CN code 2206 00 obtained from grapes or grape musts,

• beverages containing 10 % or more by volume of alcohol,

• bakers’ or pastry cooks’ wares which, given the nature of their content, are normally consumed within 24 hours of their manufacture,

• vinegar,

• cooking salt,

• solid sugar,

• confectionery products consisting almost solely of flavoured and/or coloured sugars,

• X1chewing gums and similar chewing products.