Scottish Salmon is the UK’s largest food export, with international sales of £581 million last year.

 
Photo: Adobe Stock.
Aquaculture

Scottish salmon will have a new 'protected geographical indication'

The exact geographical designation will be 'the coastal region of mainland Scotland, Western Isles, Orkney, and Shetland Isles'.

Rocio Álvarez Jiménez

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has updated the name of the UK's largest food export 'protected geographical indication' which will change from Scottish Farmed Salmon to Scottish Salmon.

The change will take effect at the end of the month, and the exact geographical designation will be 'the coastal region of mainland Scotland, Western Isles, Orkney, and Shetland Isles'. This transformation will "boost consumer confidence in recognition of its world-beating quality", according to Salmon Scotland.

However, the packaging will still show that the salmon is farm-raised meeting all the UK sale requirements regarding the production method. Additionally, this will ensure that all Scottish Salmon is protected from food fraud.

Regarding this, Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, clarified: "When consumers talk about Scottish salmon, they are talking about farm-raised Atlantic salmon from Scotland – and this change makes that clear while boosting legal protection post-Brexit."

"Scotland's salmon farmers work hard to rear their fish, and this recognition by Defra is a testament to the commitment of all those in remote communities who continue to meet the growing demand for Scottish salmon at home and abroad," he concluded.