A year in whisky
markets by removing onerous tariffs and taxation. The current priority is India: if a conclusion can be reached on the European Union/India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) it would give a further boost to ex- ports to the Indian market, which is already grow- ing in significance. Breaking down barriers to trade in India is the number one overseas priority for the SWA. India is one of the world’s largest spirits mar- ket but Scotch Whisky currently has a very small share. This is largely down to a huge import tariff of 150%. The FTA would see a gradual reduction in that tariff which would allow India to fulfil its poten- tial as one of the biggest markets for Scotch. The Scotch Whisky industry is also building on
its long-standing ‘green credentials’ and great progress is being made by the industry in reaching its ambitious environmental targets. During the au- tumn we published the Scotch Whisky Industry En- vironmental Strategy Report 2012, which provides a comprehensive update on our targets for sustain- ability set for 2020 and 2050. Launched in 2009, it is the most comprehensive industry-wide environ- mental strategy in Scotland. Our targets are closely in line with those of the Scottish Government. However, we find it disappointing that the Scot-
remarkably similar to the role it fulfilled in 1912. The Association was created against a back-
drop of rising taxes to pay for social reforms and the fall in sales which resulted. Taxation is still a major issue today. It was established to protect the sector and the product and this remains a key aim. Over the years, the SWA has taken legal ac- tion against more than 1,000 fake whiskies and opposed nearly 3,000 trademarks worldwide. In a number of countries Scotch whisky is now recog- nised as a product of ‘geographical indication of origin’ (GI) that can only be made in Scotland. Through the decades the Association has dealt with barriers to its success such as the threat of prohibition in the UK during WW1, rationing dur- ing WW II and the banning of alcohol in the USA during the 1920s and 1930s. In more recent times, the SWA’s work has evolved into global campaign- ing on trade barriers where its efforts have opened markets in a large number of countries which were discriminating against Scotch. The Association has also promoted social respon-
sibility for decades. The Scotch whisky industry is in- volved in a range of initiatives to promote responsible attitudes to alcohol and tackle alcohol-related harm. Trade deals have been signed in many parts of the world to improve Scotch whisky’s access to
tish Government is pressing ahead with its plans for Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) of alcohol rather than focusing on current measures which are working and on developing new, effective alternatives to MUP. We and many others have consistently maintained that minimum unit pricing (MUP) of alcohol is il- legal, will be ineffective in tackling alcohol misuse, will penalise responsible drinkers and put more pressure on household budgets – thus damaging the Scotch whisky industry which is vital to Scot- land and the UK’s economic performance. Scotch whisky is an industry to be proud of
and we should all be doing what we can to ensure it continues to grow and be a credit to Scotland throughout the world.
THE PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS OF THE SWA ARE:
· To protect the integrity of Scotch Whisky worldwide · To promote responsible attitudes to alcohol consumption · To secure fair and equal access to international markets
· To tackle tax discrimination and secure appropriate regulation of the industry
· To promote Scotch Whisky as a quality product made from natural raw materials
· To represent the industry’s interests at governmental level both at home and abroad
www.scotch-whisky.org.uk Scottish Field Whisky Challenge 11 sf12 Whisky Supp_a year in whisk11 11 25/10/2012 16:31:32
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