10 January 2008
Whisky regulations
Scotch whisky could get regional protection to combat counterfeiting and passing off. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is consulting on draft proposals to strengthen the definition of Scotch whisky and hopes to introduce legislation in June. The proposed regulations would: introduce protected regional names which can only be used if the whisky has been made wholly in that region; ensure that all Scotch whisky is wholly made and matured in ; and provide that if a product uses the name of a particular distillery it must also be made at that distillery. The consultation is open until 25 March and is available at www.defra.co.uk.
