Status of Scotch Whisky

That this House recognises the English Whisky Guild’s application to obtain Geographical Indication status; acknowledges that the application includes a different definition of Single Malt; notes that the current definition of Single Malt Whisky denotes the production at a single distillery using a single variety of malted barley grain; further notes that, altering this definition will damage the reputation of the Single Malt category, thus devaluing the Scotch Single Malt Whisky market; further acknowledges that the Scotch Whisky industry contributed £7.1bn to the UK economy in 2022 and supported 66,000 jobs; highlights that the industry generated £3 in every £100 of Scotland’s Gross Value Added; and calls for the protection of the existing Single Malt category, outside of the English Whisky Geographical Indication in order to ensure the special reputation of Scotch Whisky remains undamaged.