On 11 August 2021, Gower Salt Marsh Lamb became the first new food to be protected under the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit Geographical Indication (GI) Scheme that entered into effect on 1 January 2021. Gower Salt Marsh Lamb meat produced from lambs born and reared on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales was granted full protection and recognition as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Gower Salt Marsh Lamb producers demonstrated their meat’s characteristics are essentially and exclusively due to its particular area of production as the lambs graze on the natural plants on the marsh, such as samphire, sorrel and sea lavender, which give the meat a distinctive flavour.
The GI Schemes, launched after the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, were crafted to ensure that traditional products from around the country receive special statuses to recognise their origin and authenticity. Following the end of the transition period, the UK was no longer protected by the European Union GI scheme. However, GIs that were registered under the previous EU Scheme were automatically granted equivalent protection under the new UK Scheme by the expiry of the transition period. This secured protection for famous GIs such as Scotch Whisky, the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie and Stilton Blue Cheese.
For more on Gower Salt Marsh Lamb, see the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Victoria Prentis MP, and The Rt Hon Simon Hart MP‘s Press Release.
Photo credit: Huw Jones, Tripadvisor and Gov.UK.
