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:
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
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:
- the number of facilities you want to register
- each facility’s name, address and shutdown period, if applicable
- 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’).
If you do not properly complete your application this may delay your ability to legally produce and market protected spirit drinks.
If you need help completing or submitting your application, contact enquiries.sdvs@hmrc.gov.uk.
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:
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:
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.