Ministers raise a glass to Scotch Whisky protection

Under new regulations, people who enjoy a (responsible) tipple of Scotch Whisky will be able to do so with the confidence they are purchasing the genuine article.

The UK Scotch Whisky Regulations coming into force today will protect consumers from counterfeit products and insufficient labelling by providing legal protection to the £3bn industry.

Food and Farming Minister Jim Fitzpatrick, who joined Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy at Grangemouth Port to launch the regulations, said:

“When you buy a bottle of Scotch, you want to know that it's from Scotland – not a cheap and inferior imitation.”

“So these new regulations mean that if it says ‘Scotch Whisky' on the bottle it will be Scotch Whisky in the bottle.”

The Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy said:

"The Government has worked closely with the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) on these regulations which introduce a stronger legal framework to protect one of our most cherished products.

"It is vital that we protect our key industries. We cannot allow others to trade off our good name and to pass off inferior whisky as being produced in Scotland. These regulations will help protect whisky customers across the globe.

"New labelling rules will also mean that customers will have a clearer understanding about precisely where and how their drink has been produced."

Transitional arrangements mean that operators will have time to adjust to the new labelling and bottling requirements.

Posted Monday November 23^rd 2009
By Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs