Producing Dovey Native Botanical Gin
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-18)

Find out how to apply to the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme, pay fees and comply with the product specification for Dovey Native Botanical Gin.

New producers of Dovey Native Botanical Gin

Dovey Native Botanical Gin is a spirit drink protected under a UK geographical indication scheme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-geographical-food-and-drink-names-uk-gi-schemes). This means that if you want to produce and market it in the UK, you’ll need to:

Apply for the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/spirit-drinks-with-a-protected-geographical-indication) before you start production.

Comply with the relevant product specification (https://www.gov.uk/protected-food-drink-names/dovey-native-botanical-gin) once you start production.

It’s illegal to produce and market Dovey Native Botanical Gin that has not been verified by HMRC. This could also breach local laws in countries where Dovey Native Botanical Gin is protected under a geographical indication scheme.

After you’ve applied for verification

Once you’ve applied to the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme, 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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pay-spirits-drinks-verification-fee).

Verification visits

Once you’ve paid your fees, we’ll contact you to arrange a verification visit (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/preparing-for-spirit-drink-verification-scheme-visits). This is to check that all your production processes comply with the product specification for Dovey Native Botanical Gin. We’ll only visit production premises in the UK.

A verification visit will include checks on your:
- invoices
- delivery records
- equipment
- procedures
Read the full list of checks we carry out in the Dovey Native Botanical Gin verification checklist (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/686fb56ffe1a249e937cbfa5/dovey_native_botanical_gin_verification_checks.pdf) (PDF, 172 KB, 11 pages).

How often we’ll need to verify your processes

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
If your production processes are compliant

If we’re satisfied that your processes are compliant, we’ll:

publish details of your production facilities on the Spirit Drinks Verification Look-up Facility (https://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/sdvlookup/index.action)

only access your existing tax and duty assurance records if we need to support your verification

If your production processes are non-compliant

We identify non-compliant production processes by:
- verification visits
- notifications from other producers
- information provided by members of the public
If your processes are non-compliant, we’ll discuss with you how you can change this. We’ll agree a reasonable length of time for you to make the changes needed.

If you do not make these changes within the agreed time, we’ll amend, remove, or not include your details on the Spirit Drinks Verification Look-up Facility (https://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/sdvlookup/index.action). You’ll no longer be verified to produce and market Dovey Native Botanical Gin. You must tell your customers about this change.

HMRC’s role does not extend to enforcement. This is carried out by food authorities and port health authorities. Where appropriate and permitted, we’ll pass information about non-compliant processes to them so they can take action.

Existing producers of Dovey Native Botanical Gin

We’ll treat you as being verified until 1 September 2026, if you either:

were already producing Dovey Native Botanical Gin on 19 May 2022

started production of Dovey Native Botanical Gin before 1 September 2025

Within 30 days of 1 September 2025, you’ll need to make sure:

we get a properly completed Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme application (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/spirit-drinks-with-a-protected-geographical-indication) for each of your production facilities

you pay the verification fees (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pay-spirits-drinks-verification-fee) for the scheme

We’ll need to be satisfied that your production processes will meet the product specification (https://www.gov.uk/protected-food-drink-names/dovey-native-botanical-gin), and be able to confirm this after a verification visit (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/preparing-for-spirit-drink-verification-scheme-visits).

In some cases, we may be able to backdate the verification to the date you apply for it. We cannot guarantee this — it will depend on the circumstances of your application.

Contact us

Email the Spirit Drinks Verification Unit at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) if you:
- have questions about your application
- need more advice
- need to change your details
Report unverified products

If you have concerns about unverified products, you should contact the local food authority or port health authority. You can find contact details for them on the Food Standards Agency website (https://www.food.gov.uk/).