High court supports DEFRA pork pie decision

A High Court ruling today has upheld Defra's decision to forward the application seeking protected food name status for the name 'Melton Mowbray Pork Pie' to the European Commission.

Welcoming the ruling Lord Bach, Minister for Food and Farming, said,

"I am delighted that the Court has confirmed that the Department's decision to forward this application was justified. The Government's policy is to encourage more UK producers to take advantage of the EU Protected Food Name Scheme. Protection provides a means for producers to add value and to meet consumers' growing demand for food with a clear regional provenance."

Defra sent the application to the European Commission in May 2005.

The Commission are examining the application to check that it qualifies for protection and we are waiting for its comments.