The Scotch Whisky Association has warned of the dangers of independence in its strongest intervention yet in the referendum debate.
In the organisation’s annual report Chief Executive David Frost highlighted uncertainty about the currency, Scotland’s place in the EU and international links as potential threats to 35,000 jobs in the whisky industry.
He said the success of whisky, exports of which are worth £4 billion annually, “is not the result of chance. It has come about because of a wide range of factors which have been well provided for us within the UK.”
He warned that “the nature of an independent Scotland’s currency remains unclear, and self-evidently this could affect exports, management of supply chains, pricing, and competitiveness.
“The taxation regime also remains to be developed, and any regulatory divergence between Scotland and the rest of the UK may increase costs to business.”
He also said even a temporary interruption of EU membership would be “damaging and difficult to manage” and pointed out that the industry exports to around 200 markets yet the Scottish Government only has plans for up to 90 overseas missions.
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