So this is interesting. Will put my thoughts on GIs below
This is from the SNP’s 2017 manifesto, so I’m setting out right at the start that my position is we should protect these and I’ll explain why... 
Scotch Whisky is a hugely lucrative export for Scotland.
According to this paper, the value premium for GI spirits (like Scotch Whisky) is 2.57 - basically the whisky sells for way more because it’s Scotch whisky rather than just “whisky”. ec.europa.eu/agriculture/si…
Obviously it costs more to produce our excellent Scotch Whisky, so that’s not all profit, but the GI scheme does ensure that the product is given the recognition and protection it deserves as a premium drink.
This is from the Scotch Whisky Association and talks about where in the world Scotch Whisky is protected through EU memberships - ALL EU member states as well as Canada, Chile, South Korea, Mexico and South Africa.
So that’s quite a lot of countries that recognise Scotch Whisky as a premium product and where you can’t buy fake versions made elsewhere but labelled as “Scotch Whisky”.
On the flip side, what do we gain from getting rid of recognition of GIs? English wine growers able to call their fizzy wine Champagne and Feta cheese imported from America instead of made in Italy. Not much basically.
IMO, It’s not a worthwhile gain to balance the economic hit we could take from the lack of recognition of Scotch Whisky. (And that’s without even mentioning other Scottish GIs). #tradetwitter
