DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (351/07) issued by
The Government News Network on 8 October 2007
Hilary Benn,
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, today
announced the steps Government is taking to enhance the protection
of Scotch whisky.
Defra will consult later this year on legislation that delivers
tighter definitions of Scotch whisky in UK law, to help to support
action against counterfeiting and passing off, as called for by
the Scotch Whisky Association, with the expectation that secondary
UK legislation will be possible by Spring 2008.
Hilary Benn said:
"This consultation exercise will take us another step closer
to strengthening the UK legislation that the Scotch Whisky
Association have been telling us they need to help them protect
Scotch whisky in export markets.
"The proposed legislation will make special provisions
relating to Scotch whisky. The proposals will define tightly the
descriptions applied to Scotch whisky - for example "single
malt" or "blended grain". They will also tightly
define its geographical provenance - such as Highland or Islay -
and ensure that if the product uses the name of a distillery then
it must also come from that distillery."
Des Browne, the Secretary of State for Scotland, said:
"This is another example of the UK Government working in a
reserved area to protect one of Scotland's most important exports
"Scotch Whisky exports are worth over £2 billion to the
Scottish economy each year and the industry needs this proposed
legislation to help maintain that figure and defend its high-value
product from imitation in some overseas markets. The Scotch Whisky
Association has welcomed our commitment to do this and the UK
Government has been both committed and responsive to the
industry's needs.
"The UK Government will always act wherever possible to help
Scottish concerns and we have a long tradition of working with the
industry in overseas markets through our network of embassies and
assisting them in international negotiations over trade matters. I
know Defra has been working hard on this proposed legislation and
the Scotch Whisky Association will continue to contribute to that process."
Notes to Editors
1. Defra will consult on legislative proposals later this year
with a view to enacting secondary UK legislation in Spring 2008.
2. The proposed UK legislation will put enforcement provisions in
place to underpin the new EU Spirit Drinks Regulations and will
cover the Scotch Whisky Geographical Indication.
3. The Scotch Whisky Association will use the existence of the UK
legislation in legal action overseas where "Scotch
Whisky" is defined by reference to UK Law. Scotch Whisky will
be further protected in overseas markets under new EU Spirit
Drinks Regulations under WTO agreements.
4. The proposed Regulations will:
* Define five categories of "Scotch Whisky" (Single
Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Scotch
Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Blended Grain Scotch
Whisky) and will require these category names to be used.
* Allow the five "Scotch Whisky" categories to be
supplemented initially by one of five regional names (Highland,
Lowland, Speyside, Campbeltown, Islay). Further protected regions
may be added to the Regulations at a later date. Products will
not be allowed to use protected regional names if they have not
been wholly made in the region.
* Prohibit whisky from being labelled with the name of a
distillery or a similar name if it is not a product of that distillery.
* Prohibit labelling, packaging, presentation or advertising
suggesting that a single malt was made at a distillery other than
the actual distillery where it was made (e.g. using made up
company names).
* Require all Scotch Whisky to be wholly matured in Scotland.
* Prohibit the export from Scotland of Scotch Whisky in wooden casks.
* Prohibit the export of Single Malt Scotch Whisky unless it has
been bottled and labelled.
End.
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