China accepts the GI application for Scotch Whisky

Recently, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ) issued a notice to declare the formal acceptance for the geographic indication application for the Scotch whisky.

According to the notice, the GAQSIQ accepts the geographic indication protection application for the Scotch whisky applied by the Scotch Whisky Association by referring to the Provisions on the Protection of Geographic Indication Products, in accordance to the Memorandum of Understanding signed on September 5, 2005 and with the recommendation by the British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and is going to offer protection according to Chinese related laws and regulations.

The name for the product to be protected is “Scotch Whisky” and “苏格兰威士忌” in Chinese, and is protected across the whole Scotland.

It is learnt that, our country has accepted over 10 applications for geographic indication protection after the first geographic indication application applied by France for the Gallo in May. [Chinese version is available on cqn.com.cn]