Unique Scottish food and drink products "could lose legal protection against cheap imitations from abroad" as a result of Brexit, the head of the industry in Scotland has warned.

Under European law, products such as Scotch whisky, Scottish salmon, Stornoway black pudding and Arbroath smokies are protected by "geographical indications" (GI).

David Thomson, chief executive of Food and Drink Federation Scotland, said Brexit could impact the ability to use GI schemes and said the federation is working with ministers to protect Scottish produce.

The EU's GI scheme recognises products' regional importance and distinctive characteristics and prevents companies in other countries from producing knock-offs by threat of heavy legal penalties.

The UK Government has indicated it intends to establish its own GI scheme after leaving the EU.

But the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said these protections are among the outstanding issues yet to be agreed with his British counterparts.

Scottish ministers, including Nicola Sturgeon, have previously raised concerns that GIs for currently safeguarded Scottish products could be abandoned to sweeten a future free trade deal with the US.

Mr Thomson said: "Scotland's food and drink producers and processors highly value the protection and indication of provenance and quality that the scheme provides, and likewise consumers have come to appreciate the recognition given to much loved products such as Scotch beef and lamb and Scottish salmon.

"The UK's imminent exit from the EU may have an impact on the ability to utilise the existing EU geographical indication schemes.

"If this happened our much loved products could lose legal protection against cheap imitations from abroad.

"FDF Scotland is committed to working with government and stakeholders on behalf of the sector and consumers to protect our fine food and drink heritage and future."

More than a dozen Scottish products are currently classed as protected food names in the European scheme, including Scotch whisky, beef and lamb, Dunlop cheese, Orkney cheddar, wild Scottish salmon and farmed Scottish salmon.

Across the UK, other protected names potentially at risk include Cornish pasties, Cumberland sausage and Plymouth gin.

The Scottish food and industry is the fastest growing sector of the country's economy, with a record £6bn exported overseas last year led by soaring whisky and salmon sales.

Whisky accounted for 20% of all UK food and drink exports in 2017, with a boost in Scotch sales in the US, France, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan and South Africa.

The Scottish Government renewed its calls on Thursday to protect the Scottish industry as the Brexit negotiations continue.

Rural affairs secretary Fergus Ewing said: "Maintaining our protected food names and other geographical indications following Brexit is vital - this is something that we have been calling for the UK Government to do for a long time.

"The European Commission's chief negotiator recognises the significant contribution that these producers make to the wider economy."

He added: "It is extremely alarming that the EU says this has not yet been resolved and that the failure of the UK Government to reach agreement on this issue is being cited as one of the obstacles to reaching an overall withdrawal agreement.

"The UK Government must make it clear it is not preparing to ditch vital geographical indications to facilitate a future trade deal with the US.

"It must rule out 'no deal' and reach an agreement that protects our world-class produce."

A UK Government spokeswoman said: "GIs are very important to the UK, both culturally and economically, and that is why we will establish specific GI schemes to protect UK GIs in the future.

"This means favourites such as Scotch whisky, Scotch beef and lamb, Scottish wild salmon - and all other current UK GI protected products - will continue to be safeguarded in the UK when we leave the EU."