Staffordshire Cheese gains EU recognition
Staffordshire Cheese is the latest UK product to be recognised under European Union law for its quality and regional identity. The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) award means that 36 UK products now enjoy protection under the EU Protected Food Name Scheme. Under this scheme food names are legally protected because of their link to a specific geographical area or because they are made to a traditional recipe.
Minister for Sustainable Farming, Food and Animal Health, Jeff Rooker said:
”This is excellent news and further proof that quality British regional food is gaining the wider recognition it deserves. This scheme provides farmers and producers with a way to add value to their product and meet the ever increasing consumer demand for more regional food.
“Together with Food from Britain, we are working with a wide range of organisations to raise awareness of this scheme and encourage more applications.”
John Knox from the Staffordshire Cheese Company said:
“It is great news for us. Staffordshire Cheese is unique and has a strong identity based on its taste and texture due to the distinctive nature of the cows diet, the mixture of starter cultures used and the size of the cloth bound cheese – I would encourage more producers to apply to the scheme.”
Fifteen British cheeses now enjoy protection under the scheme including Stilton and West Country Farmhouse Cheddar. A number of others are seeking registration. An application to register Yorkshire Wensleydale as a PDO has been approved by Defra and we hope to forward it to the European Commission next month.
Further information
Further information about the EU scheme, together with application forms and guidance notes can be obtained from Food for Britain on 0207 233 5111, or ibocchetta@foodfrombritain.co.uk
Details of the scheme, including a full list of UK (and other Member States’) products covered can be found on the Defra website.
Page published: 28 September 2007