UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement: New Zealand Side Letter Regarding Whisky Localities (web version)
Updated 1 March 2023
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The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP
Secretary of State for International Trade
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
28 February 2022
Dear Secretary of State
In connection with the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (“Agreement”), I have the honour to confirm the following understanding reached by the Government of New Zealand (“New Zealand”) and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (“the United Kingdom”) during the course of the negotiation of the Agreement:
1. New Zealand acknowledges the importance the United Kingdom attaches to the use of Scottish whisky localities including Campbeltown, Islay, Highland, Lowland, and Speyside, to ensure that descriptions of whisky do not mislead or deceive consumers.
2. New Zealand will not permit the sale of whisky labelled or advertised with representations of Scottish whisky localities, including Campbeltown, Islay, Highland, Lowland, or Speyside unless it has been wholly manufactured in Scotland, to the extent that the use of the representations is found to be misleading or deceptive under the terms of the New Zealand Fair Trading Act 1986, as amended or any successor legislation.
I have the honour of proposing that this letter and your letter in reply, will constitute an understanding between our two Governments in this matter which will come into effect on the date of entry into force of the Agreement.
Yours sincerely
Hon Damien O’Connor
Minister for Trade and Export Growth
New Zealand