SWA responds to Peru’s demand for own Scotch

The Scotch Whisky Association has responded to claims that Peruvian ministers want to produce Scotch whisky in Peru as part of a new free-trade deal.

The SWA responds to Peru’s demand that all Scotch whisky is made in Peru and not Scotland

During a House of Commons debate last week, MP Chris Bryant said that Peruvian trade ministers wanted the right to bottle and label Scotch whisky as part of a new free-trade deal, post-Brexit.

He said: “They knew what they wanted: and that is all Scotch whisky to be made in Peru and not in Scotland – or at least 40 per cent of it, or at least for the whisky to be bottled in Peru.”

In response to the claims, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) said that Scotch whisky is protected under geographical indication (GI), which states that Scotch whisky must come from Scotland to be labelled as Scotch.

“Peru is a growing market for Scotch whisky with exports worth £32 million last year,” the SWA said in a statement. “Following implementation of the EU-Peru Free Trade Agreement in 2013, Scotch is exported tariff-free to Peru – down from 9% – and is recognised as a geographical indication, a product that must be made in Scotland.

“The SWA would seek the same conditions under a future UK-Peru FTA once the UK leaves the EU and we are working closely with the UK Government on this and other Brexit-related matters.”

The claims were also reportedly disputed by Peruvian ambassador Susana de la Puente who said: “No authority of Peru mentioned anything to do with Scotch whisky.”

In August this year, the SWA assured it was already taking steps to protect the category post-Brexit while the UK negotiates bilateral agreements between the EU and third countries.