ABFI welcomes UK government commitment to protect all-island geographic indications
Irish GI spirits to preserve ‘Product of Ireland’ status if produced in Northern Ireland after Brexit Commitments made by UK Minister in letter to Irish drinks industry trade group ABFI ABFI warns that further commitments required to protect all-island GI spirits in future UK trade agreements
Print8 June 2018
Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) has welcomed a commitment by the UK Government to protect the all-island geographic indications (GIs) for Irish whiskey, Irish cream liqueur and poitín post-Brexit, by introducing a legal framework for GIs in the UK post-Brexit. In a letter to ABFI, British MP and Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, George Eustice made a commitment to protect these three GIs and to preserve ‘Product of Ireland’ status for them if they are to be produced in Northern Ireland after Brexit. Post-Brexit, these three GI spirits are set to be the only ones to span both EU and non-EU territory.
ABFI, which includes the Irish Spirits Association and Irish Whiskey Association, has engaged with the Irish and UK Governments and with the EU Commission in relation to the potential impact of Brexit on the three all-island GI spirits. Last month, ABFI wrote to UK Ministers on the need for a future UK legal framework for GIs, protection for GIs in future UK trade agreements and country of origin rules, so these products will not be required to carry a ‘Produce of UK’ labels.
In his response to ABFI, Mr. George Eustice MP, UK Minister for State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food commits the UK to a “legal framework” that “will ensure Irish whiskey, Irish cream and Irish poitín will continue to be recognised and enforced in Northern Ireland after we leave the EU.”
Minister Eustice also confirmed that “converting EU legislation into domestic law will not place any new restrictions on the use of ‘Product of Ireland’ for trans-border spirits drinks GIs.”
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