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		Scotch Whisky producers will urge European Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan when he visits Edinburgh tonight to intensify his fight against imitation whiskies in Taiwan.
		Scotch Whisky has had considerable success in Taiwan, with exports worth £72 million in 1996. But this achievement has been undermined in the last eighteen months by an explosion of counterfeit, imitation and Scotch Whisky look-a-like products.
		Fraudsters are deliberately deceiving Taiwanese consumers with products whose packaging strongly resembles those of well-known international brands, with the use of false age statements, or with product which is described as Scotch although it contains little or no Scotch Whisky.
		Packaging and labelling to give a product a Scottish appearance is also used to deceive consumers.
		Industry reports indicate that imitation products now account for as much as 60 per cent of all whisky sold in Taiwan.
		The growth of these imitation products is a direct result of the current tax differentials between Scotch Whisky and other whiskies, and the lack of any legal definitions of spirit drinks in Taiwan, including internationally recognised geographical descriptions such as Scotch Whisky.
		The present tax regime levies NT$440 a litre on Scotch Whisky, but only NT$198 a litre on other whiskies. The lower rate provides an incentive for imitations and allows them to undercut Scotch Whisky.
		But changes to the tax system are expected. Proposals to introduce a uniform tax rate for all spirits are currently before parliament.
		In a bid to combat the imitators, The Scotch Whisky Association has submitted proposals to the Taiwanese authorities for the introduction of definitions in line with international standards.
		Hugh Morison, Director General of The Scotch Whisky Association, said: "Taiwan is becoming the dumping ground for these imitation products. As a result, consumers are being misled, the genuine trade in Taiwan and the Scotch Whisky industry are being undermined and losing sales, and the Taiwanese government is losing tax revenue.
		"We are delighted that Taiwan is now looking to introduce tax changes and would urge them to complete the job this year by implementing the necessary legislation on tax, definitions and labelling. This would bring about an orderly market, eliminate fakes and be in everyone's interests.
		"We have already sought the help of the new President of the Board of Trade, and will be urging the European Commission to stress to Taiwan the importance the EC attaches to resolving this problem this year."

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