The Scotch Whisky Association SWA has taken great efforts to enforce and protect the designation of origin “Scotch Whisky” internationally. Now the SWA has announced that “Scotch Whisky” has been officially registered as a certification trademark in the USA.
The American market is the main whisky export market for Scotland: Whisky exports to the US added more than £4.5 billion to the Scotch whisky industry in 2021. According to SWA’s news, four bottles of Scotch whisky are exported to the United States every second. And the numbers are rising, still recovering from the 18-month tariffs imposed on imports by US authorities until mid-2021.
SWA Chief Executive Mark Kent said: “The registration of the ‘Scotch Whisky’ certification trademark in the United States is a milestone for Scotland’s national drink in our largest global market. “This registration offers Scotch Whisky a greater degree of legal protection and will allow us to take action against those who seek to cash-in on the heritage, craft and quality of genuine Scotch.
Scotch Whisky – the UK’s largest food and drink export – is a firm favourite the US, which was the industry’s first billion pound market in 2019 before the impact of tariffs and the Covid-19 pandemic. The trademark registration is another sign of the industry’s determination to build back in the United States and ensure that consumers in a dynamic and competitive spirits market can be confident that the Scotch Whisky they purchase is the genuine article.”
Source: Scotch Whisky Association
