SCOTLAND’S national drink has secured legal protection in New Zealand after a Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) application.

The SWA applied for Scotch whisky to be registered as a Geographical Indication (GI).

GI recognition means the description ‘Scotch whisky’ can only be used on whisky produced in Scotland in accordance with strict production and labelling requirements. Requirements include that Scotch only be made from the raw materials of water, cereals and yeast and matured in Scotland for at least three years in oak casks.

Scotch whisky is the first foreign GI to be registered by the New Zealand Intellectual Property Office. New Zealand’s GI scheme is designed to give greater legal protection to domestic and international wines and spirits and protect consumers against fakes.

The granting of GI status for “Scotch Whisky” greatly enhances the basic protection previously given under New Zealand’s Food Standards Code, which did not contain a comprehensive legal definition of Scotch Whisky. This development comes on the back of a strong year for Scotch in New Zealand as exports rose by 27 per cent in 2017 to almost £8 million.

New Zealand now joins more than 100 other countries which have officially recognised Scotch whisky as a Scottish product, produced according to traditional methods, and deserving of special protection.

Lindesay Low of the SWA, said: “Until recently a gap existed within the New Zealand Food Standards Code which made it comparatively difficult to prevent the sale of spirits being passed off as ‘Scotch’ in New Zealand.

“In working to close this loophole, the industry has enjoyed great support from the British High Commission in Wellington, as well as the Intellectual Property Office New Zealand.

“Our successful application to register “Scotch Whisky” as a GI in New Zealand gives the industry a much greater level of legal protection and represents an important milestone for Scotch Whisky as its popularity increases.

“It is vital consumers have confidence in the provenance of what they are buying which recognition of Scotch as a GI will help to achieve ... We hope a free trade agreement between New Zealand and the UK will be signed, following Brexit, to further improve the status of Scotch whisky and help build on market growth.”