Guidance

Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme

Find out about the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme if you produce a UK spirit drink with a protected Geographical Indication.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Published: 1 October 2014
• Last updated: 21 August 2023 — See all updates

You must apply to HMRC for verification under the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme if you produce or market a spirit drink with a protected UK geographical indication.

Geographical indications identify products as originating in the territory of a country, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic is attributable to its geographical origin.

The Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme protects the reputation and authenticity of spirit drinks with a geographical indication in the UK. These are:

• Scotch Whisky

• Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream and Irish Poteen

• Somerset Cider Brandy

• Single Malt Welsh Whisky

Before you start production

Find out if you need to apply for verification and pay your verification fee.

After you’ve registered for the scheme

Once registered you’ll be able to:

• use the look-up service to check if production facilities, brands or bulk importers are verified

• read the technical guidance about:

  • producing Scotch Whisky

  • producing Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream or Irish Poteen

  • producing Somerset Cider Brandy

  • producing Single Malt Welsh Whisky

• prepare for a verification visit and read about the checks we carry out

• submit brand information to HMRC

• change your details or leave the scheme

• find out about certificates of age and origin

More information

Information on the look-up service is updated daily, for example if a new facility is verified or if a new brand is added.

You can contact the Spirit Drink Verification Unit by email at [email protected] if you:

• want more up-to-date information

• want to confirm we have received your application for verification

• think there are details missing or an error in the published details

• are aware of a brand being marketed which is not on the list

HMRC’s role

In the UK, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has overall policy responsibility for geographical indications.

HMRC’s role is to verify if products are compliant with the specifications in the respective Technical File and to publish details of production facilities, verified processes, bulk importers and verified brands.

HMRC’s role does not extend to enforcement. The designated enforcement authorities are ‘food authorities’ and ‘port health authorities’. Where appropriate and permitted, HMRC will pass relevant information to these authorities for their action.

Published 1 October 2014
Last updated 21 August 2023 + show all updates

1. 21 August 2023

   Page updated with information on Single Malt Welsh Whisky.

2. 14 August 2023

   Information about planned service outages on the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme Lookup service added.

3. 1 October 2014

   First published.