Seafood company calls for protection of Scottish smoked salmon

Associated Seafoods said foreign producers, including in the US and France, had “misappropriated” the label for smoked salmon and wants to see it granted protected geographical indication (PGI) status.

It would mean smoked salmon would join farmed and wild Scottish salmon in being protected from imitation products.

This week a US firm, MKG Provisions, pleaded guilty to falsely claiming its fish was from Scottish waters when, in fact, it was sourced from Chile.

Associated Seafoods said terms like “Scottish-style” are used abroad, though the products have nothing to do with Scotland.

Neil Greig, commercial director said: “We look around the world and we do get a bit disenchanted that the name of Scottish quality smoked salmon seems to be eroded.

“There are countries where companies continue to use the Scottish name because it indicates a quality product.

“There is protection for raw Scottish salmon but not for smoked salmon.

“There have been many attempts in the past to gain protection but for whatever reason no-one has managed to get over the obstacles to achieve that.”

Mr Greig added: “We want to regain the high ground and bring back the name ‘Scottish’ to where it should be.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish government confirmed it was approached six years ago about applying for protection, saying: “Advice was given about the application process and criteria for protected food name status, and the application was not taken forward by the producers concerned.”