A fish welfare check at a Scottish salmon farm. The European Commission has followed in the footsteps of UK regulators by dropping the word "farmed" from Scottish salmon's protected geographical indication.

EU drops 'farmed' from protected label for Scottish salmon

Editorial team Editorial team
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The European Commission has followed the example of the UK by dropping the word “farmed” from the protected description given to salmon produced in Scotland.

The protected geographical indication (PGI) of “Scottish farmed salmon” has been changed to “Scottish salmon”, although packaging will still make it clear that the salmon are farm-raised.

The strict geographical designation will be “the coastal region of mainland Scotland, Western Isles, Orkney, and Shetland Isles”. Only salmon raised in these areas can be sold as “Scottish salmon” in the EU.

Consumer confidence

Trade body Salmon Scotland said the EU-wide official PGI gives European consumers confidence that they are eating Scottish salmon. It added that removing the word “farmed” will have no impact on Scottish wild salmon, as this is no longer commercially available for consumption.

Provenance matters to European consumers, especially in countries such as France, which accounts for more than half of all Scottish salmon exports, with sales of £462 million in 2024.

About a third of Scottish salmon exports to France carry the prestigious Label Rouge mark, awarded more than 30 years ago for superior quality.

Scottish salmon is the UK’s largest food export, with international sales in 2025 poised to hit £1 billion for the first time.

Salmon exports from Scotland rose by 33% to £941m in the rolling 12 months to the end of June.

european commission scottish salmon news label rouge protected geographical indication salmon scotland