Cornish pasties could lose protected status outside the UK after Brexit

Cornish pasties became protected by the European Commission in 2011
The Cornish Pasty Association
Sophie Williams14 March 2018

Cornish pasties could lose their protected status after Brexit.

Business minister Andrew Griffiths told MPs yesterday that post leaving the EU there is “no cast-iron assurance that UK products will remain protected.”

At present only pasties made in Cornwall can be called “Cornish pasties” due to their protected geographical indication status.

Mr Griffiths made the remarks in the Commons yesterday in response to a question posed by South East Cornwall MP Sheryll Murray who asked for his assurance that “Cornish produce like the Cornish pasty will not be compromised post Brexit.”

Griffiths responded: “All of those products will achieve UK geographical indications and will continue to be protected in the UK after EU exit.

“As negotiations are ongoing, I cannot right now give her a cast-iron assurance that UK products will remain protected in the EU after exit. But I can categorically state that this is the Government’s clear objective.”

Cornish pasties became protected by the European Commission in 2011. They have the same standing as Champagne and Jersey Royal potatoes.

However there are concerns that when Britain leave the EU, manufacturers outside of Cornwall will be able to copy it and sell it as a regional product.

The US are reportedly lobbying to allow supermarkets to import their own copies of British creations once the UK leaves the European Union. It’s thought that Cornish pasties and Scotch whisky are among those that could be copied.

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