Taiwan grants trademark status

Scotch whisky has been granted a trademark in Taiwan, giving consumers and the industry better protection against fakes in the far east country.

Taiwan is the fourth biggest market for Scotch by value, with exports worth £75million in the first six months of the year.

It is the third biggest overseas market for single malts after the value of these exports hit £41million during the first half of 2016.

The Scotch WhiskyAssociation ( SWA), which applied for the trademark, said that the UK Customs’ Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme was a key factor in meeting all the requirements to secure legal protection for the drink in Taiwan.

The scheme, which was launched in 2014, guarantees that every part of the Scotch supply chain is mapped by the industry, registered with the UK Government and inspected to check it complies with all the rules governing production.

SWA said the scheme gave the authorities in Taiwan “even greater confidence in the robust procedures around Scotch”, requiring it to be made in Scotland from water, cereals and yeast – and matured for at least three years.

A second trademark has been awarded to protect the Chinese language characters that spell out “Scotch whisky”.

SWAlegal counselLindesay Low said: “Taiwan has for many years been a major market for Scotch whisky, in particular single malts.

“The trademarks mean that consumers can have even greater confidence in the quality ofwhat they are buying.

“Itwill also give a further boost to Scotch whisky producers exporting to Taiwan.” Perthshire whiskymaker Tullibardine nearly doubled its profits during 2015.

The boutique distillery made pre-tax profits of over £4.5million last year, up from £2.39million in 2014. Turnover in 2015 totalled nearly £20million, against £16million a year earlier. Tullibardine is owned by France’s Terroirs Distillers, itself a subsidiary of Picard Vins and Spiritueux. Other whisky brands in the group include Highland Queen and Muirhead’s.

Tullibardine said 2015 volume and margins growth reflected “the growing success of the brand and its international development.” It added: “The distillery again operated close to maximum capacity throughout 2015, and is expected to continue to operate at this level in 2016.”