Apply for the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-01)

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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-geographical-food-and-drink-names-uk-gi-schemes) 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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/producing-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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/producing-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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/producing-somerset-cider-brandy)
- are involved in the production or bottling of Single Malt Welsh Whisky (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/producing-single-malt-welsh-whisky)
- are involved in the production of Dovey Native Botanical Gin (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/producing-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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/submit-brand-information-for-verified-spirit-drinks) 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.

Apply now (https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-spirit-drinks-verification-scheme/question/type-of-spirit)

If you’re producing protected spirit drinks other than Scotch Whisky

When completing the production processes section of the form:

Select ‘other (please specify)’.

Type in the protected spirit drink name of your product (for example, ‘Single Malt Welsh Whisky’).

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 UnitLarge BusinessLB Scotland & N IrelandS1754NewcastleNE98 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 (https://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/sdvlookup/index.action)
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 (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 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:

an endorsement of your business by HMRC

proof that your business is tax compliant

Submit brand information to HMRC

You’ll need to submit brand information (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/submit-brand-information-for-verified-spirit-drinks), 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 (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/guidance/change-your-details-or-leave-the-spirit-drinks-verification-scheme).