LAURA ASKS PARLIAMENT TO PROTECT PROVENANCE OF SCOTCH WHISKY

by BILL HEANEY

The Scotch Whisky Association has said that it is profoundly concerned by the Labour Government’s decision to give a geographic indicator for English whisky, including single malt, SNP MSP Laura Mitchell, pictured right, told the Scottish Parliament today.

The Member for Moray told MSPs: “Unlike Scotch single malt, English single malt does not need to be produced and distilled on a single site, and the Scotch Whisky Association warns that the decision “jeopardises the category which the Scotch whisky industry established and built the reputation of around the world.”

She asked: “What action will the First Minister take to ensure that the concerns of Scotland’s distillers are heard loudly and clearly by the Labour Government in Westminster?”

First Minister John Swinney told her: “The issue that Laura Mitchell has raised is very significant for the Scotch whisky industry, and I discussed the possibility of the decision being made in my most recent meeting with the Scotch Whisky Association.

“The point that Laura Mitchell highlights is about the fact that a significantly weaker definition of “single malt” has been arrived at to support English whisky, and that is a real and dramatic threat to the Scotch whisky industry that could potentially undermine its success, despite the fact that we had made such progress in assisting the industry by the removal of United States tariffs.

“The Scottish Government has consistently supported the Scotch Whisky Association with regard to its concerns on the matter, and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, Stephen Flynn, has written to the United Kingdom Government asking that it reconsider its extremely short-sighted decision, amend the specification in order to remove risks to our whisky sector, and ensure that the Scottish Government and partners can, rightly, scrutinise significant changes that are made, following the consultation process, before any collective decision is reached.”

What is a geographical indication?

A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.

In addition, the qualities, characteristics, or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin. Since the qualities depend on the geographical place of production, there is a clear link between the product and its original place of production.