Apply for the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme
Apply for verification before you start production of any spirit drinks protected under a UK geographical indication scheme.
The Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme protects the reputation and authenticity of spirit drinks with a geographical indication in the UK.
Who should apply
You’ll need to apply to the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme if you:
- are involved in the production of Scotch Whisky in Scotland
- blend, bottle and label, label only or re-label Scotch Whisky outside of Scotland
- are a bulk importer of Scotch Whisky
- are involved in the production of Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream or Irish Poteen in Northern Ireland
- blend, bottle and label, label only or re-label Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream or Irish Poteen outside Northern Ireland
- are involved in the production or bottling of Somerset Cider Brandy
- are involved in the production or bottling of Single Malt Welsh Whisky
- are involved in the production of Dovey Native Botanical Gin
If your brands are blended or bottled and labelled for you by someone else
In this case, the blender or bottler of your brands must apply for verification.
Bottlers will also need to submit brand information for each premises where they bottle or label a particular brand.
Blender-only operators will not need to submit brand information.
When to apply
As a producer or bulk importer, you must apply for verification before you start production or importation.
It’s illegal to produce or market a protected spirit drink that has not been verified by HMRC. If you do, you or your customers may become liable to enforcement action.
What you’ll need
You’ll need to tell us:
- your name, address and telephone number
- the number of facilities you want to register
- each facility’s name, address and shutdown period, if applicable
- your billing details
- details of your production processes
Apply for the scheme
You should get all of your information together before you start. You will fill this form in online and you cannot save your progress.
If you’re producing protected spirit drinks other than Scotch Whisky
When completing the production processes section of the form:
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Select ‘other (please specify)’.
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Type in the protected spirit drink name of your product (for example, ‘Single Malt Welsh Whisky’).
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Type in the production processes you’re carrying out (for example, ‘Distillation’, or ‘Maturation’).
You can also complete the application online, then print and send it to:
Spirit Drinks Verification Unit
Large Business
LB Scotland & N Ireland
S1754
Newcastle
NE98 1ZZ
If you do not properly complete your application, we’ll send it back to you. This may delay your ability to legally produce and market protected spirit drinks.
After you’ve applied
We’ll accept your application as long as it’s properly completed.
We’ll use the information in your application form to:
- issue invoices
- arrange and undertake verification visits
- manage the verification scheme
- publish details of verified producers and brands on the Spirit Drinks Verification Look-up Facility
Fees you’ll need to pay
After you’ve applied for verification, we’ll send you an invoice covering your initial fees for registration and verification.
Read more about how and when to pay Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme fees.
Verification visits
Once you’ve paid your fees, we’ll contact you to arrange a verification visit. This is to check that all your production processes comply with the product specifications for the spirit drinks you’re producing.
We’ll only visit production premises in the UK.
We’ll normally need to verify you every 2 years. This might change, if we:
- need to carry out verification on a more frequent basis
- have agreed a longer period with you
Once you’re verified
We’ll send you a letter to confirm your verification.
Being verified under the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme, or having details of your production or brands published on GOV.UK is not:
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an endorsement of your business by HMRC
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proof that your business is tax compliant
Submit brand information to HMRC
You’ll need to submit brand information, if you’re a:
- bottler
- re-bottler
- re-labeller
Each facility linked to the bottling and labelling of the brand will need its own brand application.
If your circumstances change
Find out how to change your details or leave the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme.
Updates to this page
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Information about Dovey Native botanical Gin has been added. Information about how to complete the form if you're producing protected spirit drinks other than Scotch Whisky has been added to the section 'How to apply'.
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Information on the status of your application after you have applied has been clarified.
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Clarified that you cannot save your progress when completing the online form.
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Page updated to include references to Single Malt Welsh Whisky.
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Somerset Cider Brandy has been added to the UK Geographical Indication (GI) verification schemes.
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Spirits Drinks Verification Look-up Facility section has been updated.
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Spirits Drinks Verification Look-up Facility section has been updated.
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The Irish whiskey, Irish cream and Irish poteen verification link added to Overview section on this page. The first heading in the Apply section has been changed to Scotch whisky producers based in Scotland and Irish whiskey/cream/poteen producers based in Northern Ireland Irish whiskey/cream/poteen producers should select ‘Other Geographical Indicators’ and type in the appropriate Irish product.
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The list of verified facilities and processes outside Scotland has been updated.
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List of verified facilities and processes outside Scotland spreadsheet updated as of September 2015
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List of verified facilities and processes outside Scotland spreadsheet updated as of July 2015.
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List of verified facilities and processes outside Scotland spreadsheet updated as of May 2015.
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List of verified facilities and processes outside Scotland spreadsheet updated as of March 2015.
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Guidance update on the introduction of a new on line look up service for verified Bulk Importers of Scotch Whisky and production facilities outside Scotland.
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First published.