The Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme is intended to safeguard the reputation and authenticity of UK produced spirit drinks. The scheme helps consumers identify genuine UK-made products.

Under EU legislation, HMRC is the designated verifying authority for UK spirit drinks with a protected Geographical Indication (GI) that links spirits to the region in which they are produced. A GI identifies a product as originating in the territory of
a particular country, region or locality where its quality, reputation or other characteristic is linked to its geographical origin.

The scheme has applied to Scotch whisky since January 2014 and the verification scheme was extended to Irish whiskey, Irish cream and Irish poteen produced in Northern Ireland or bottled in the UK in December 2015. The verification scheme was extended to
the production or bottling of Somerset Cider Brandy late last year.

HMRC conducts verification visits to production facilities, checking that processes are compliant. New businesses must apply for verification before they start to manufacture any listed spirit drinks.

The guidance for Scotch whisky technical has been updated with changes to labelling and to clarify the movement of Scotch whisky to food producers.

Source: New feed