NEW MEASURES AIM to PROTECT SCOTCH WHISKY

THE
WESTMINSTER GOVERNMENT
will publish detailed legislative proposals to give Scotch
whisky Champagne-style geographical definitions to protect
the industry from counterfeiting. The move – put out for
consultation with a view to introducing new laws in the
spring – will be a major boost in the fight against
second-rate and fake products. Food and farming minister
Jeff Rooker said the new regulations would enhance the
protection of Scotch as a prestigious and world-renowned
product. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs will now spend three months consulting on the detail
of the draft legislation that will deliver, in UK law,
strengthened definitions of Scotch whisky.

This will help support
action against counterfeiting and “passing-off”, as called
for by the Scotch Whisky Association, with the aim of
introducing UK legislation at Westminster in spring 2OO8 and
having it on the statute book by the summer. Lord Rooker,
Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming, said: “This will
help meet the industry’s request to protect Scotch whisky
here and in global markets from counterfeit products and
misleading practices.”

The proposed legislation
will make special provisions relating to Scotch whisky and
more tightly define the descriptions applied to it – for
example “single malt” or “blended grain”. These provisions
will also tightly define Scotch whisky’s 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.

Scotland Secretary Des
Browne said: “Not only is Scotch whisky one of our most
iconic products, it is also economically hugely significant
with exports worth E2.5 billion each year. This is why the
UK government acted when approached by the
industry.

“Scotch whisky, and, in
particular, single-malt Scotch whisky, will be defined by
law in Scotland, the UK, the EU, and nearly every export
market.” The industry has regularly complained of Scotch
such as “Glen Highland Green” and “Red Scot” being sold in
countries like India and China.

The Scotch Whisky
Association (SWA) can be fighting up to 7O court cases
around the world at any one time against overseas
manufacturers who use tartan designs or pictures of pipers
on their packaging, or who give their whisky names which are
supposed to sound Scottish. SWA chief executive Gavin Hewitt
said: “At a time when international demand for Scotch is
growing, distillers will applaud proposals to bring forward
this important legislation.”