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Spirits industry urges GI protection post-Brexit
Spirits producers are calling for continued protection of geographical indications (GIs) in the UK’s withdrawal agreement, as the nation prepares to leave the European Union.
European spirits makers are calling for “swift progress” on GIs in the wake of Brexit
Spirits Europe said ongoing protection of GIs is “essential to the spirits sector” and called for an “urgent finalisation and swift transferral” of the withdrawal agreement to European Parliament to allow producers to prepare for the UK’s departure in March 2019.
The body also called for clarity the application of EU free-trade agreements and the Irish border, and said avoiding a “hard border” with Ireland is “essential” for the continued success of the UK spirits sector.
In February 2018, the European Commission’s draft language in the withdrawal bill regarding GIs said the UK would have to provide at least the same level of protection for EU GIs as they hold today.
Ulrich Adam, director general of Spirits Europe, said: “GIs are a key pillar, asset and facilitator of trade in high-value spirits.
“An agreement on the mutual protection of EU and UK GIs in the withdrawal agreement in June is critical to allow the success story of European spirits’ production to continue and to ensure high quality products can be delivered to consumers.
“This is particularly true for the three much-cherished all-Ireland GIs: Irish whiskey, Irish cream liqueur and Irish poitin.”