Put your product on the EU map (From Western Telegraph)

Put your product on the EU map

Pembrokeshire produce could soon join the ranks of Champagne and Parma Ham by enjoying protected European status - if Euro MPs have their way.

Welsh Labour MEPs Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan are calling for Welsh farmers and food producers to raid their larders to see if their produce could be eligible for European protection.

Their call comes as the European Parliament voted for new measures to make it easier for producers to register their products to be protected by EU 'geographical indicators'. The indicators identify a food product as original and only to be made and branded in its home town or region.

Britain currently has 36 protected food products, including Newcastle Brown Ale and Cornish Clotted Cream. Wales has just two; Welsh Beef and Welsh Lamb.

Glenys Kinnock said: "British food is having a renaissance on menus across Europe. With the lifting of the beef ban and the craze in trendy restaurants for traditional fare, Welsh producers need to seize the day and put their produce on the map.

"We in Wales have a strong tradition of regional foods, which could benefit enormously from this kind of protection."

The benefits of such protection are demonstrated by Welsh Lamb, which secured the contract to supply lamb for schools in Rome in response to the merits of its protected status.

Eluned Morgan said: "Regional food gives farmers the chance to diversify into added-value products which provide a more reliable source of income and cut out the middlemen who cream off the profits.

"The geographical protection will cut back on competition from imposters, will boost sales and provide a healthier profit for local producers - all good news for the local economy."

Glenys Kinnock added: "I would encourage Welsh producers to consider applying for protected status. I want to see more nosh from Wales on grocers' shelves across the continent."