Victory for Scottish salmon as campaigners’ appeal rejected.
Scottish salmon producers can now officially drop the word “farmed” from the front of their packaging, following a tribunal decision that dismissed an appeal by campaigners seeking to overturn the change.
The ruling was hailed as a victory for the sector, which argued that the use of the word ‘farmed’ in the previous Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label, “Scottish farmed salmon,” was unnecessary.
The industry successfully lobbied the UK government last year to amend the PGI to “Scottish salmon,” a move defended by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as accurately reflecting the product’s geographical origin.
Trade groups, including Salmon Scotland, argued that consumers already know Atlantic salmon sold in the UK is farmed and that the updated label would not cause confusion. Tavish Scott, the chief executive of Salmon Scotland, praised the decision.
“Scottish salmon is the UK’s top food export, enjoyed in more than 50 countries worldwide, so we are pleased judges have dismissed spurious legal attempts to overturn the government’s decision to update the protected geographic indication to ‘Scottish salmon,’” said Scott.
He also criticised campaign groups WildFish and Animal Equality UK for what he called a wasteful legal challenge. “They knew their appeal had no basis in law but dragged the UK government through the courts at taxpayers’ expense anyway. This verdict confirms in no uncertain terms that Atlantic salmon farm-raised in Scotland is called Scottish salmon,” he added.
The appeal, led by WildFish and Animal Equality UK, argued that removing “farmed” from the label misleads consumers about the product’s true origin. However, tribunal Judge O’Connor rejected this claim, stating that the new label does not risk confusion.
While the label “Scottish salmon” will now appear on the front of packaging, the requirement to disclose that the product is “farm-raised” remains in place on the back, under broader labelling rules.
The decision reinforces the standing of Scottish salmon, which generates over £1 billion annually at the farm gate and is the UK’s most valuable food export, with sales to more than 50 countries totalling approximately £600 million each year.
