The Scottish Whisky industry fears for its reputation as the English Whisky Guild seeks GI protection, potentially weakening standards. Concerns about differing production rules could undermine the integrity of single malts, prompting the Scotch Whisky Association to prepare for a robust defence in upcoming consultations.
The Scottish Whisky industry is expressing concerns over the potential erosion of its reputation following the English Whisky Guild’s (EWG) application for Geographical Indication (GI) protection status for single malt English whisky. This application seeks to safeguard English Whisky from “misuse or imitation,” a protection already afforded to traditional Scottish products.
The EWG has submitted its proposal to the UK Government, highlighting that GI status is applicable to various food and drink products, including spirits. However, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has raised significant concerns, stating that the proposed regulations for English Whisky could differ considerably from the stringent standards that govern Scotch Whisky production. Under current guidelines, producing single malt Scotch requires that the entire malting process occurs at a single location. Conversely, the proposed English standards would permit distillers to obtain malted barley from external malting houses, so long as the malting occurs within England.
The SWA has characterised the move as “very damaging” to the reputation of single malt whisky in the UK, suggesting it could compromise the integrity of the Single Malt category overall. “We will robustly defend” against “any devaluation of the Single Malt category,” an SWA spokesperson affirmed, emphasising the potential implications for Scotch whisky’s global standing.
This application for GI status is currently under consultation by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which has opened the proposal for opposition. Stakeholders, including authorities and organisations, have three months to submit objections. A DEFRA spokesperson noted, “No decisions have been made on whether to recognise English Whisky as a Geographical Indication (GI) – the application process is ongoing.”
Scottish Whisky represents a considerable asset for the UK economy, with exports reaching £5.4 billion in the last financial year. The SWA reports that there are over 150 distilleries actively producing in Scotland, contrasting with the approximately 50 distilleries in England cited by the EWG.
Engagement from both the SWA and the EWG is expected to intensify as the consultation period progresses, and the outcome could have significant implications for the broader whisky market in the UK, influencing perceptions of quality and authenticity among consumers internationally. As the story develops, stakeholders in the alcohol industry will need to closely monitor the proceedings, assessing the potential strategies for addressing shifts in market dynamics resulting from this ongoing dialogue.
Source: Noah Wire Services
