SNP President Ian Hudghton MEP has welcomed today's vote in the European Parliament on new rules for spirit labelling as an important step in achieving a secure future for the Scotch Whisky industry.

Mr Hudghton - a member of the Parliament's Internal Market committee - has been campaigning for the EU to recognise and protect both the name 'Scotch Whisky' as a distinctive brand and the traditional methods used.

Speaking after he voted in favour of a compromise deal in Strasbourg, Mr Hudghton said:

"This could have gone further but I believe we've achieved a good deal that will help provide a secure future for the Scotch Whisky industry. In particular, the name 'Scotch Whisky' will be protected as a brand and we will also have the opportunity to protect use of the name in the Gaelic language too. The new rules will mean that traditional practices of producing whisky - which date back centuries - and the world class high standards of the Scotch Whisky industry will get the recognition they deserve.

"This is good news for Scotland and our whisky producers and I'm pleased to have been able to support it. I look forward to having early discussions with colleagues in Edinburgh on protecting the Gaelic language version of Scotch Whisky - uisge-beatha Albannach - as a distinctive brand."

Speaking earlier in the parliamentary debate, Mr Hudghton said:

"As a Scots MEP I have an obvious interest in any regulation which relates to Scotch Whisky. Scotch Whisky is the product of centuries of traditional practice. The first reference to whisky in Scotland was in 1494-5 according to Exchequer records, the first taxes were imposed in 1644.

"Protecting the term "Scotch Whisky", as well as the method of production and the geographic definition, is extremely important for Scotland for obvious reasons.

"Some details still have to be underlined in the technical files and I look forward to a successful outcome of that. This compromise, the product of lengthy and very heated exchanges is something that I now am prepared to accept."

Note: The European Parliament approved a compromise on the definition, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks at first reading in Strasbourg.