SPIRITS.

No. 10 of 1952.

An Act to amend the Spirits Act 1906–1947.

[Assented to 30th May, 1952.]

[Date of commencement, 27th June, 1952.]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.)     This Act may be cited as the Spirits Act 1952.

(2.)  The Spirits Act 1906–1947 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.)  The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Spirits Act 1906–1952.

Interpretation.

2.    Section three of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after the definition of “Article of food or drink” the following definition:—

“‘Collector’ and ‘Collector of Customs’ have the same meaning as ‘Collector’ has in the Customs Act 1901–1951;”.

Penalty for describing spirits contrary to Act.

3.    Section nine of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (a) the word “or” (last occurring); and

(b) by inserting after paragraph (b) the following paragraphs:—

“(c) describe any spirits as ‘Old’, or in a way which could reasonably lead to the belief that the spirits had been matured for a period of not less than five years, unless the spirits have been matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than five years; or

“(d) describe any spirits as ‘Very Old’, or in a way which could reasonably lead to the belief that the spirits had been matured for a period of not less than ten years, unless the spirits have been matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than ten years.”.

4.    Sections eleven and twelve of the Principal Act are repealed and the following sections inserted in their stead:—

Imported spirits to be matured.

“11.    Imported spirits, or imported distilled spirituous liquors, ordinarily used for human consumption (other than gin, Geneva, Hollands, schnapps, vodka, aquavit, arak, liqueurs and such other spirits and distilled spirituous liquors as are prescribed) shall not be delivered from the control of the Customs unless the Collector of Customs is satisfied—

(a) in the case of whisky, that the whisky has been matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than three years; and

(b) in any other case, that the spirits or distilled spirituous liquors have been matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than two years.

Australian spirits to be matured.

“12.    Spirits, or distilled spirituous liquors, made in Australia and ordinarily used for human consumption (other than gin, Geneva, Hollands, schnapps, vodka, aquavit, arak, liqueurs, spirit for fortifying Australian wine and such other spirits and distilled spirituous liquors as are prescribed) shall not be delivered from the control of the Customs unless they have been matured by storage in wood for a period of not less than two years.”.