Welsh whisky to gain UK’s special protected origin label

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Welsh whisky is to join its Scottish and Irish counterparts in being officially awarded protected origin status under the UK’s post-Brexit regime. Single malt from four distilleries in south and west Wales – Coles, Da Mhile, In the Welsh Wind and Penderyn – has been awarded protected geographical indication (UK GI) status, the scheme brought in to replace the EU’s protected designation of origin label. After Brexit, the EU’s scheme no longer applied to the UK market prompting the British government to introduce the alternative designation, amid fears that foodstuffs such as Cornish pasties would be left without legal protection from imitations. In 2021, south Wales led the way, with Gower lamb becoming the first British product to gain recognition under the new UK PGI scheme. Later that year it was joined by lamb from the Cambrian mountains, which cover most of Wales. However, UK GI only protects registered product names when they are sold in Great Britain and not in the EU and Northern Ireland. The Welsh government agency Business Wales said it hoped the UK GI scheme would act as a “stepping stone for those wanting to go on to apply for EU” protected status. Such protection arrangements have long been a feature of agricultural law, driven by the intention to trademark and safeguard the authenticity of produce affiliated with a particular region. Gorgonzola enjoys special protection of origin status under EU law. Photograph: DeRepente/Getty Images/iStockphoto Gorgonzola cheese, Kalamata olives and Lautrec pink garlic all enjoy protection under EU legislation, deterring lesser-quality copycat products from flooding domestic markets. The announcement on single malt Welsh whisky comes amid a backdrop of a rapid expansion in production over recent years. The chief executive of Penderyn distillery, Stephen Davies, said: “The achievement of UKGI status for single malt Welsh whisky is a significant milestone for Penderyn as a producer, and also for the wider Welsh whisky industry.” Labelling the newly announced status as “an exciting step forward”, Davies also added that it “assists in safeguarding both the quality of the product and also its source of origin”. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Business Today Free daily newsletter Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy . We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Alongside the local tourism sector, Wales’ food and drink industry is undergoing a form of revival with exports at a record high of £640m in 2021. Earlier this month, the Welsh government announced a new fund to encourage food and drink festivals by way of small grants “to improve visitor access to and awareness of Welsh food and drink”. The market for whisky, which includes exports to more than 45 countries, is seen as a growing contributor to the sector, with forecasts predicting a revenue of £23m from total sales in this financial year. Lesley Griffiths MS, the Welsh government minister for rural affairs, said: “It is brilliant news single malt whisky has joined the Welsh GI family with its name now protected. The Welsh whisky industry continues to go from strength to strength, playing an important role in the food and drink sector here in Wales.”