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- Point in Time (01/07/2013)
- Original (As made)
Version Superseded: 31/12/2020
Point in time view as at 01/07/2013.
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the The Spirits Regulations 1991.
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Statutory Instruments
CUSTOMS AND EXCISE
Made
11th November 1991
Laid before Parliament
19th November 1991
Coming into force
1st January 1992
The Commissioners of Customs and Excise, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 93 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979(1), sections 2, 3, 13 and 15 of the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979(2) and all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Spirits Regulations 1991 and shall come into force on 1st January 1992.
(2) The statutory instruments specified in column (1) of Schedule 1 to these Regulations (the references to which are specified in column (2) of that Schedule) are hereby revoked to the extent specified in column (3) of that Schedule.
F12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1Reg. 2 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(2)
3. In these Regulations F2... —
F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“class of spirits” means one of the classes of spirits specified from time to time for the purpose of these Regulations in a notice published by the Commissioners;
“the Contents by Weight Table”, “the Laboratory Alcohol Table” and “the Practical Alcohol Tables” mean respectively a set of tables of which a copy, signed by the Chairman of the Commissioners and identifying the tables as being ones to which these Regulations relate, has been deposited in the office of the Queen’s Remembrancer at the Royal Courts of Justice;
“distillation period” means the period prescribed by regulation 10 below in respect of each class of spirits;
F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“plant” means [F11the vessels] used for the manufacture [F12, rectifying or compounding] of spirits, or for the storage or processing of materials for the manufacture [F12, rectifying or compounding] of spirits or for the storage of spirits after their manufacture [F12, rectifying or compounding];
“process” includes an operation carried on in order to manufacture spirits, and an operation on spirits after their manufacture;
F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“warehouse” means a place of security approved by the Commissioners under subsection (1) (whether or not it is also approved under subsection (2)) of section 92 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979(3) and also includes a distiller’s warehouse;
“warehouse vat” means a vessel which forms the whole or a part of a distiller’s warehouse;
F14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F2Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(a)
F3Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(b)(i)
F4Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(b)(ii)
F5Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(4)(i)
F6Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(b)(iii)
F7Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(b)(iv)
F8Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(b)(v)
F9Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(b)(vi)
F10Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(b)(vii)
F11Words in reg. 3 substituted (1.5.2006) by The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(4)(iii)
F12Words in reg. 3 inserted (1.7.2013) by The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(c)
F13Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(b)(viii)
F14Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(b)(x)
F15Words in reg. 3 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(3)(b)(ix)
Commencement Information
4.—(1) Before a distiller manufactures spirits he shall make [F16application in writing or by means of an electronic communication] to the [F17Commissioners] for approval of the plant and processes he intends to use.
(2) Any application made under paragraph (1) above shall be accompanied by a description of the processes referred to in it, and a [F18description of] the plant referred to in it, together with such additional information as the Commissioners may require.
(3) No distiller shall begin to manufacture spirits until he has received the approval of the Commissioners of the plant and processes referred to in his application under paragraph (1) above, and any such approval may be given subject to conditions.
(4) The Commissioners may for reasonable cause at any time vary or add to any conditions imposed on the approval of any plant or process, or withdraw any such approval.
Textual Amendments
F16Words in reg. 4(1) substituted (1.5.2006) by The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(5)
F17Word in Regulation substituted (1.5.2006) by The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(3)
F18Words in reg. 4(2) substituted (1.5.2006) by The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(6)
Commencement Information
F195. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F19Reg. 5 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
6.—(1) A distiller receiving approval under regulation 4 above shall ensure that any plant or process so approved is not [F20significantly] varied, altered or changed unless the variation, alteration or change is first approved by the Commissioners, and any such approval may be given subject to conditions.
(2) Application for the approval of any variation, alteration or change to any plant or process shall be in such form and manner and shall provide such details, including a written description, drawing or model, as the Commissioners may require.
(3) The Commissioners may for reasonable cause at any time vary or add to any conditions imposed on the approval of any variation, alteration or change of any plant or process, or withdraw any such approval.
Textual Amendments
F20Word in reg. 6(1) inserted (1.5.2006) by The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(7)
Commencement Information
7.—(1) No person shall make use, for rectifying or compounding spirits, of any premises or plant unless they have first made entry of that premises or plant.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in respect of operations carried out in a warehouse or to persons authorised in accordance with section 8(1) or 10(1) of the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979.]
Textual Amendments
F21New reg. 7 added (1.7.2013) by The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(4) (original reg. 7 was omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of S.I. 2006/1058, regs. 1, 5(2))
F228. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F22Reg. 8 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
F239. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F23Reg. 9 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
10.—(1) A distiller shall conduct his operations in separate distillation periods for each class of spiritsF24....
(2) A distiller may conduct his operations so that more than one distillation period is in progress at any one time.
(3) In respect of each batch of wort which he makes, the distiller shall specify to which distillation period it belongs, and a distillation period shall commence at the date when production of the earliest of the wort included in it commences.
(4) Each distillation period shall end when all the wort specified to belong to it has been distilled and the feints and spirits produced therefrom have been conveyed into their receivers and account has been taken of them.
(5) Save as the [F17Commissioners] may otherwise allow, a distiller shall conduct his operations so that no distillation period exceeds one month in length.
Textual Amendments
F17Word in Regulation substituted (1.5.2006) by The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(3)
F24Words in reg. 10(1) omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(8)
Commencement Information
11.—(1) Save as the Commissioners may otherwise allow, a distiller shall ensure that the produce of any distillation period is not mixed with any other matter until account of that produce has been taken in such manner and to such an extent as the [F17Commissioners] may require.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) above, before account is taken of the produce of any distillation period it may be mixed with feints of which account has been taken in an earlier distillation period.
Textual Amendments
F17Word in Regulation substituted (1.5.2006) by The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(3)
Commencement Information
F2512. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F25Reg. 12 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
F2613. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F26Reg. 13 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
F2714. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F27Reg. 14 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
F2815. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F28Reg. 15 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
F2916. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F29Reg. 16 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
F3017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F30Reg. 17 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
18.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, the strength of spirits may be ascertained—
(a)by means of a hydrometer, a thermometer and [F31Volume 2 of the Practical Alcohol Tables]; or
(b)by determining the density of the spirits in air at 20 degrees Celsius and taking the strength of the spirits to be the percentage of alcohol by volume corresponding to that density in the F32... Laboratory Alcohol Table F32... , provided that where the density of any spirits determined as aforesaid falls between any two consecutive numbers in that table the strength shall be determined by linear interpolation; [F33or
(c)by a method set out in the Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2870/2000].
(2) Where spirits contain any substance other than alcohol and water the Commissioners may either—
(a)require that the strength of the spirits be ascertained by any of the means prescribed by this Part of these Regulations after removing from the spirits any such substance to the extent which they consider necessary by distillation or such other process as they direct and adding water to replace the volume so removed; or
(b)allow the strength of the spirits to be ascertained, as though they contained alcohol and water only, by any of the means prescribed by this Part of these Regulations.
Textual Amendments
F31Words in reg. 18(1)(a) substituted (1.7.2013) by The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(5)(a)
F32Words and punctuation in reg. 18(1)(b) omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(5)(b)
F33Reg. 18(1)(c) and preceding word inserted (1.5.2006) by The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(9)
Commencement Information
19.—(1) The volume of spirits contained in any container may be ascertained for any purpose by such method involving weight, measure or gauge as the Commissioners may approve.
(2) Where the Commissioners under paragraph (1) of this Regulation approve ascertainment by weighing, the volume shall be calculated by means of a hydrometer and the F34... Contents by Weight Table F34...
Textual Amendments
F34Words and punctuation in reg. 19(2) omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(6)
Commencement Information
20. Regulations 18 and 19 above shall apply to spirits, F35... and any fermented liquor other than wash.
Textual Amendments
F35Words in reg. 20 omitted (1.7.2005) by virtue of The Denatured Alcohol Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1524), regs. 1, 19
Commencement Information
F3621. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F36Reg. 21 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
F3722. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F37Reg. 22 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
F3823. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F38Reg. 23 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
F3924. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F39Reg. 24 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
25. Within 14 days of the end of each calendar quarter the distiller shall furnish to the [F17Commissioners] a return in respect of that quarter, which shall be made in such form and manner and shall contain such particulars as the Commissioners may from time to time direct.
Textual Amendments
F17Word in Regulation substituted (1.5.2006) by The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(3)
Commencement Information
26.—(1) A distiller shall not warehouse any spirits until he has taken account of them in such manner and to such extent as the [F17Commissioners] may require F40...
(2) Save as the Commissioners may otherwise allow, when spirits of which account has been taken are contained in a spirit receiver which is not also F41... a warehouse vat the distiller shall remove them to a warehouse immediately F42...
(3) When spirits of which account has been taken are contained in a spirit receiver which is also F41... a warehouse vat those spirits shall be deemed to be warehoused as soon as account of them has been [F43taken].
F44(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5) Where spirits remain in a warehouse vat which is also F41... a spirit receiver, the distiller shall take account of such spirits before the warehouse vat is used as a spirit receiver F45...
Textual Amendments
F17Word in Regulation substituted (1.5.2006) by The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(3)
F40Words in reg. 26(1) omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(10)
F41Words in reg. 26 omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of The Spirits (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1229), regs. 1, 3(7)
F42Words in reg. 26(2) omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(11)
F43Word in reg. 26(3) substituted (1.5.2006) by The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(12)
F44Reg. 26(4) omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
F45Words in reg. 26(5) omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(13)
Commencement Information
D. F. O. Battle
Commissioner of Customs and Excise
New King’s Beam House 22 Upper Ground London SE1 9PJ
Regulation 1(2)
(1) | (2) | (3) |
---|---|---|
Statutory Instrument | Reference | Extent of revocation |
The Spirits Regulations 1952 | S.I. 1952/2229 | Parts IV and IX |
The Alcoholic Liquors (Amendment of Units and Methods of Measurement) Regulations 1979 | S.I. 1979/1146 | Regulation 2 |
The Spirits Regulations 1982 | S.I. 1982/611 | The whole Regulations |
The Spirits (Rectifying, Compounding and Drawback) Regulations 1988 | S.I. 1988/1760 | Regulation 2 in so far as it revokes Parts II, III, V, VI and regulation 76(2) of the Spirits Regulations 1952(4). |
Regulation 15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F46Sch. 2 omitted (1.5.2006) by virtue of The Beer, Cider and Perry, Spirits, and Wine and Made-wine (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1058), regs. 1, 5(2)
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, applying to the manufacture and measurement of spirits in the United Kingdom, come into force on 1st January 1992. They replace the Spirits Regulations 1982 and Part IV of the Spirits Regulations 1952, and revoke all remaining parts of the 1952 Regulations.
The principal changes introduced by the Regulations are:
(a)the requirement to make entry applies only to premises used in the manufacture of spirits, not to plant;
(b)the table for determining the original gravity of wort or wash by the distillation method is replaced by a revised table;
(c)a second method for determining the original gravity of wort once fermentation has commenced is included;
(d)provision is made for the Commissioners to approve the use of distiller’s own business records in place of the official entry book;
(e)the frequency for distillers to submit returns to the officer is reduced to quarterly; and
(f)within 5 days of the end of each distillation period, distillers of fermented liquor are required to carry out the attenuation charge calculation and to notify the officer if the attenuation charge applies.
1979 c. 2; section 93 was amended by the Finance Act 1981 (c. 35), section 11(1) and Schedule 8, paragraph 2, and the Finance Act 1986 (c. 41) section 4 and Schedule 3.
1979 c. 4; section 2 was substituted by S.I. 1979/241; sections 2, 13(1) and (1A) and 15(6) were amended by the Finance Act 1981 (c. 35), section 11(1) and Schedule 8, paragraphs 10, 12 and 14 respectively; section 4(3) applies the definition of “the Commissioners” in section 1(1) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2).
S.I. 1952/2229.
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