Question of Brexit and EU-protected produce raised as China recognises four UK foodstuffs

Blue Stilton cheese will be considered for protection in China. But what will happen to British EU-protected produce once the UK leaves?
Blue Stilton cheese will be considered for protection in China. But what will happen to British EU-protected produce once the UK leaves?

The EU and China have agreed to formally publish a list of two hundred European and Chinese geographical indications - 100 from each side - that will be considered for protection through a bilateral agreement to be concluded in 2017.

From the UK, Scotch Whisky, Scottish farmed salmon, West Country Farmhouse Cheddar and White Stilton cheese / Blue Stilton cheese are up for consideration.

This publication opens the process for protecting the listed products against imitations and usurpations.

It is expected to result in reciprocal trade benefits and increased consumers' awareness and demand for high-quality products on both sides.

Among the Chinese products aspiring to obtain geographical indications status in the EU include Yantai Ping Guo (Yantai apple), Hengxian Mo Li Hua Cha (Hengxian jasmine tea), Panjin Da Mi (Panjin rice) and Baise Mang Guo (Baise Mango).

The Chinese market for agri-food products is one of the world's largest, and is getting larger every year, fuelled by a growing middle class population that has a taste for European food and drink products, often as a result of their international travels.

The country also has a rich tradition of geographical indications of its own, many of which are still largely unknown to European consumers, but which should now become more widely available thanks to the agreement.

Brexit and produce protection

British produce may get EU protection from imitations once the UK leaves the EU – provided the UK does the same for European products.

That’s according to an AHDB Horizon publication, which examines the impact Brexit may have on the industry in terms of products of Geographical Indication (GI).

It analyses how leaving the EU will impact on the UK’s ability to designate foodstuffs under the three existing EU GI schemes.

At present, the UK has 65 registered Geographical Indication products, with the majority of these registrations relating to the meat and cheese sectors.

Among those are West Country beef and lamb, where stock is born, raised, finished and slaughtered in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Dorset or Wiltshire. The beef and lamb must be at least 70% forage fed and must spend a minimum of six months grazing.

There are over 3300 geographical indications in the EU registered. A further 1250 or so non-EU names are also protected within the EU, mostly thanks to bilateral agreements such as this one with China.

In value terms, the market for EU geographical indications is around €54.3 billion, and together they account for 15% of total EU food and drinks exports.

'Protecting traditional food products'

Kathy Roussel, head of AHDB Brussels Office and co-author of the Horizon report, said Defra recognises the benefits of protecting traditional and geographical food products.

She said: “They have confirmed that this protection will remain while the UK is a member of the EU. A team is also in place to look at how best to protect these products post-Brexit.

“When the UK leaves the EU, registered protected food names should be able to benefit from EU protection against imitation, provided there is a reciprocal agreement between the UK and the EU.

“It will also no longer be possible for UK protected food names to be promoted in the EU or abroad, with the financial support of the EU.

“However, UK agricultural producers might still see some potential in using EU protected food names as a valuable marketing tool to differentiate their products on EU and international markets to improve their competitiveness and profitability.

“Geographical indications have been shown to deliver added value for some products such as Welsh lamb but the registration of a GI on its own does not guarantee success and it needs to be combined with other factors such as market development and regional cooperation.”