Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Morgan and Douglas McAllister

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

10. What assessment she made of the potential impact of the definition of single malt included in the English whisky geographical indication on Scotch whisky’s protected status.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Stephen Morgan)]

Scotch whisky is a national treasure and I am pleased to inform my hon. Friend that its protected status and production requirements remain unchanged following the registration of English whisky geographical indication.

[Douglas McAllister]

The Department has recently confirmed that English producers who do not comply with the English whisky GI can still call their products single malt, leading to the possibility of three single malts, with three differing production processes, being on the shelves as a result of that decision. How does that align with the Minister’s previous statement, asserting that the definition of single malt whisky will not be watered down?

[Stephen Morgan]

The English whisky GI has no effect on single malt Scotch whisky, which retains its own definition, as set out in the Scotch whisky product specification and Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009. Other whisky definitions, including Welsh, Irish and EU definitions, already co-exist with the Scotch whisky definition without affecting its protected status.