Protect Scotch under UK law after Brexit, Scotland tells Britain

A EU definition of whisky protects sales from substandard products — but EU laws will no longer apply to Britain after the country exits the bloc in 2019.

Scotland has called for Scotch to be defined in UK law so its vital whisky industry can be protected after Brexit.

Bottles of single malt scotch whisky in a shop near Lausanne in Switzerland. Scotland has called for Scotch to be defined in UK law. (REUTERS)

Scottish economy secretary Keith Brown has written to officials asking for strong legal protections for the industry, which is worth around 4 billion pounds ($5.3 billion) in exports.

A European Union definition of whisky currently protects sales from substandard products — but EU laws will no longer apply to Britain after the country exits the bloc in 2019.

Brown’s comments on Sunday came after Britain’s international trade secretary Liam Fox visited the US this week for trade talks.

Brown said the US has voiced support for relaxing the definition of whisky, which he said would open the market to products that don’t meet the current standard.