15/11/2017 (Agence Europe) – The member states have unanimously adopted the amendment to decision 189/2014/EU to authorise France increasing annual traditional rum quotas from the outermost regions from 120,000 hectolitres of pure alcohol on which a reduced excise tax is levied, to 144 hectolitres of pure alcohol. Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Martinique and Réunion will be affected for the period ranging from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020. France made this request for this increase following the difficulties encountered by rum producers whose access to the market on mainland France in 2016 was limited. The European Parliament approved this measure in October (see EUROPE 11892). (PH)