Brazil grants Scottish whisky special protected status
26 August 2024 • Sarah Medcraf
Trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds has toasted Brazil’s decision to grant special protected status to Scotch whisky during a visit to a distillery. The Geographical Indication for Scotch whisky will be a further boost to exports of the beverage, the Trade Secretary said.
Brazil’s legal recognition of Scotch whisky’s special status, which happened during the UK’s pre-election period in June, is expected to give distillers better access to South America’s largest economy.
The Geographical Indication will make it easier to tackle counterfeits and give distillers the confidence to increase their exports to the country – and could be worth around £25m over five years, the Department for Business and Trade said.
The trade secretary said: “This Government is committed to maximising Scotland’s potential, and today’s announcement gives Scottish distillers the confidence they need to export to one of the world’s largest economies without having to compete with fake knock-offs and pale imitations.”
Mark Kent, chief executive at the Scotch Whisky Association, said: “As the first foreign product to be granted Denomination of Origin status in Brazil since 2019, Scotch whisky now sits beside Tequila, Cognac and Champagne with special legal protection.
Scotch exports alone were worth £5.6bn in 2023, accounting for 74% of Scottish food and drink exports and 22% of all UK food and drink exports.