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TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 20-1231.8 

TRADE AND INVESTMENT 

Alcohol and Spirits 

Agreement Between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

and the UNITED KINGDOM OF 

GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN 

IRELAND 

Signed at Washington January 31, 2019 

Entered into force December 31, 2020 
 

 

NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966 

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)— 

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued 

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent 

evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than 

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and 

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime 

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the 

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof 

or authentication thereof.” 
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE 

UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND ON 

THE MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN DISTILLED SPIRITS/SPIRIT 

DRINKS 

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ("the UK") and the United 

States of America ("the USA") (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties"), 

Have agreed as follows: 

1. The USA agrees to continue to restrict, within its regulatory 

framework, 1 the use of the product designations: 

a. "Scotch whisky", to distilled spirits/spirit drinks products 

of Scotland, produced in compliance with applicable 

UK laws and regulations; and 

b. "Irish whiskey"2 to distilled spirits/spirit drinks products 

of the island of Ireland, produced in compliance with the 

laws and regulations applicable in the island of Ireland. 

It is recognised that these products continue to be subject to all 

of the labelling requirements of the USA. 

2. The UK agrees to continue to restrict, within its regulatory 

framework, 3 the use of the product designations: 

1 The US regulatory framework for distilled spirits consists of 27 CFR part 5 or equivalent successor 

regulations. 

2 Also spelled as "Irish Whisky". 

3 The UK regulatory framework for spirit drinks consists of: 

i. Regulations (EC) No 110/2008 and (EU) No 716/2013, as incotporated 

into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and 

secondary legislation made pursuant to that Act, or equivalent successor 

regulations; 

ii. the Spirit Drinks Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/3206) or equivalent successor regulations; 

and 

iii. the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) or equivalent successor regulations. 
a. "Tennessee whisky"4

; and 

b. "Bourbon whisky"5 and "Bourbon" as a designation for Bourbon 

whisky, 

to distilled spirits/spirit drinks products of the USA produced in 

compliance with the laws and regulations of the USA. 

It is recognised that these whiskies continue to be subject to all of the labelling 

requirements of the UK. 

3. The USA and the UK agree to meet at a mutually convenient time in the future 

to discuss the possibilities of extending restrictive recognition to additional 

distilled spirits/spirit drinks products which either Party may propose for such 

consideration. This willingness to meet and consider such requests is without 

prejudice to the rights and rulemaking processes of either Party. 

4. The Parties agree to consult, upon request, regarding the operation of this 

Agreement. 

5. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of an exchange of 

written notifications between the Parties certifying that they have 

completed their respective internal requirements and procedures. In 

submitting a notification, the UK shall take account of its obligations 

arising in respect of any agreement between the European Union and the 

UK pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. 

6. The Parties agree that all regulatory or administrative measures necessary to 

fulfil the obligations outlined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 above shall be 

implemented by the date this agreement enters into force in accordance with 

paragraph 5. 

7. Either Party may terminate this Agreement by written notification to the other 

Party. This Agreement expires twelve months after the date of such 

notification. 

4 Also spelled as "Tennessee whiskey". 

5 Also spelled as "Bourbon whiskey". 

2 
Done at Washington, DC on the 31st day of January in the year two thousand and 

nineteen, in duplicate. 

For the United States of America: For the Government of the United 

Kingdom of Great Britain and 

Northern Ireland: 

3