Apply for the Spirit Drinks Verification 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’llApply needfor toverification applyunder to the relevant 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 of, or bottlingbottle, of Somerset Cider Brandy
• are involved in the production of, or bottlingbottle, of Single Malt Welsh Whisky

If youryou’re a brand owner whose brands are blended or bottled and labelled for you by someone else

In this case, theyou do not need to apply to HMRC for verification. The blender or bottler of your brands mustis applyresponsible for verification.

Bottlersapplying for verification and notifying HMRC of your brands. You will alsonot needbe able to submitmarket brandany informationbrands forwhich eachhave premisesnot wherebeen theynotified. bottleThe orbottler labelshould send a particularbrands application for all facilities linked to the bottling and labelling of that brand.

Blender-only operatorsBlender willonly operators, however, are not needresponsible tofor submitnotifying brandbrands information.for the end-product.

When to apply

As a producer or bulk importer, you must apply for verification as soon as you become aware that you need to. This should be before you start production or importation.

What you’ll need

You’llYou needshould toget tellall us:of your information together before you start. You will fill this form in online and you cannot save your progress.

You’ll need:

• yourthe producer’s 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

ApplyHow forto the schemeapply

You shouldcan getapply allfor ofverification your information together before you start. You will fill this form in online and you cannot save your progress..

In Applylimited nowcircumstances,

YouTo cando alsothis, you must complete the application online, then print and send it to:

If your application for verification is not fully completed it may delay:

• your acceptance onto the verification scheme
• subsequent verification visits
• your ability to produce or legally market spirit drinks with a protected geographical indication

If you do not properlyapply

If completeyou do not apply for verification, your application,production we’llprocesses sendwill not be assured and any Scotch Whisky, Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream, Irish Poteen, Somerset Cider Brandy or Single Malt Welsh Whisky that you produce or market will not be verified and cannot be placed on the market. This is because it backis not possible to you.verify Thisproducts mayretrospectively.

While delaythere yourare abilityno financial penalties for failing to legallyapply for verification, it is illegal for you or your customers to produce andor market a protected spirit drinks.drink that has not been verified by HMRC. If you do so, you or your customers may become liable to enforcement action.

After you’ve applied

We’llYour acceptapplication yourwill applicationbe asaccepted longunless asit it’sis properlyreturned completed.to you for correction. You’ll receive a letter to confirm the outcome of your verification application.

We’llHMRC will 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 Spiritour Drinkslook-up Verification Look-up Facilityservice

Fees

HMRC you’llwill needsend you an invoice to pay

your verification fee. You should pay this within 30 days of the date on the invoice.

AfterProduction you’veprocesses appliedwill forcontinue to be verified as part of the 2-year cycle of verification, we’llas sendlong youas anthere invoiceare coveringno yourbreaches initialof feesthe forregulations registrationor andUndertakings. verification.

ReadYou’ll morebe aboutcharged howfor andthe whenverification to payservices Spirityou Drinksreceive Verificationuntil Schemeyou feeswant to withdraw from the scheme.

VerificationIf visitsyou are a blender or a bottler and labeller of Scotch Whisky outside Scotland

OnceYou’ll you’vecontinue paidto yourbe fees,listed we’llon contactthe look-up service as having assured processes, as long as you tocomply arrangewith a verificationthe visit.Undertaking Thiscovering isthe tomovement checkof thatbulk allScotch Whisky from Scotland. You must renew your productionUndertaking processesevery comply2 withyears theby productre-applying specificationsonline. Once you’ve sent your application for the spiritUndertaking, drinksyou you’reshould producing.

We’llalso onlysend visitHMRC productionthe premisesevidence into show your compliance with the UK.

We’llUndertaking. normallyYou’ll need to verifytell youHMRC everyabout 2any years.additions Thisor mightchanges change,to ifthe we:brands you bottle, and their labels.

• need

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• haveshould agreedget aall longerof periodyour withinformation together before you

Once you’restart. verified

We’llYou sendwill youfill athis letterform toin confirmonline and you cannot save your verification.progress.

Submityears brandby informationre-applying toonline. HMRC

You’llIf needyou no longer wish to submitbe brandverified, information,you ifshould you’retell a:HMRC.

• bottler
• re-bottler
• re-labeller

EachApplying facilityfor linkedverification toor thehaving bottlingdetails andof labellingyour production facilities assured processes or verified brands published on our website is not an endorsement by HMRC of theyour brandbusiness, willit needis itsalso ownnot brandan application.

Ifindication of your circumstancestax change

compliance.

What happens next

FindRead outthe howrelevant technical guidance to changefind yourout detailsabout producing:

• Scotch Whisky
• Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream or leaveIrish thePoteen
• Somerset SpiritCider DrinksBrandy
• Single VerificationMalt SchemeWelsh Whisky.