Lib Dems Keeping West Midland Specialities Special (West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats)

West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats <contact.us@westworcslibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems Keeping West Midland Specialities Special

July 18, 2006 12:00 PM

Colin Anstey with Richard Burt and Liz Lynne MEP

Colin Anstey showed Richard Burt and Liz Lynne MEP his firm's cheese production process

WEST Midlands Euro MP Liz Lynne is urging the region's traditional cheese and cider makers to make sure their specialities are kept special with new European regulations.

Euro MPs recently voted to streamline the rules protecting the status of regional specialities - such as Herefordshire Cider or Worcestershire Perry - with a quicker application process and a new logo.

And Liz believes many more of this area's specialties could benefit from signing up to the scheme which would prevent cheap imitations from being sold.

She teamed up with Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire Richard Burt to visit the site of one of the region's best-known cheese makers, Ansteys of Worcester.

The family firm already supplies cheeses to Harrods and is considering signing up to the scheme to protect their cheeses including their famous Old Worcester White, their Double Worcester and their Snodsbury Goats Cheese.

Liz said: "Protecting these regional delicacies prevents cheap imitations and ensures they will continue to be enjoyed in years to come - and it helps protect rural jobs. In seven EU states, it is estimated that geographical indicators add £3.5 billion in value a year."

The EU logo denoting a Protected Geographical Indication product. Worcestershire cider and perry products, for example, are registered under this designation.

"I am glad the European Parliament has simplified the scheme as this is a great example of what the EU can do."

Richard Burt said: "These measures will be a big boost for Worcestershire local specialities, such as cheese and cider. The register of protected products will go on the Internet and the new logo will be a clear sign of quality."

Two cheeses partly produced from Staffordshire milk, Buxton Blue and Dovedale Cheese, currently enjoy protected status, as do cider and perry (pear cider) from Worcestershire and Herefordshire.