UK Businesses Celebrate Protection for Iconic British Food and Drink in Japan

On [27 February], Japan and the UK finalized the procedure to bestow special protected status upon renowned British food and drink items, such as Cornish Pasties and Anglesey Sea Salt, to prevent counterfeiting.

Businesses are optimistic about the official protection of 37 Geographical Indications (GIs), set to be confirmed on Thursday [29 February] after a thorough review by both the UK and Japan. A second phase of additional protections will be announced following further evaluations.

With a population of 125 million, Japan boasts a robust demand for international culinary products. As the world’s third-largest economy in 2022, alongside a GDP per capita of £27,400, the country presents significant commercial opportunities for premium British offerings.

The establishment of GIs for renowned British products, including Melton Mowbray Pork Pies, Welsh Beef, and Staffordshire Cheese, will shield these goods from being counterfeited in Japan. This measure ensures that UK businesses can export confidently while consumers enjoy genuine, top-quality products.

Trade Policy Minister Greg Hands stated:

The UK offers a splendid array of high-quality, unique products that are incredibly desirable worldwide. Now, Japanese consumers can be sure they are indulging in the authentic flavors of British food and drink.

This development protects cherished British specialties like Scotch Beef and Cornish Pasties while bolstering UK producers’ confidence in promoting their products in Japan, as part of our initiative to foster export growth.

Food and Farming Minister Mark Spencer remarked:

Our GI protections assure quality and excellence, allowing the best of British food and drink to be celebrated not just in the UK, but across the globe.

With these additional protections, British farmers and producers can feel secure exporting their distinctive products to Japan, while Japanese consumers can be assured they are purchasing the real deal.

For UK enterprises, GIs are essential for cultivating trust and improving brand recognition, which in turn fuels export growth and sustains local industries. They also reinforce the UK’s status as a source of unique and desirable goods.

Managing Director of Rodda’s, Nicholas Rodda, commented:

The UK is globally renowned for creating some of the finest food and drink. The GI status enhances the authenticity of our Cornish clotted cream on an international scale, and opens up new avenues for our business ventures abroad. This status ensures that consumers can relish Cornish clotted cream, confident in its origin and the traditional crafting methods that have defined Rodda’s for over 130 years.

Managing Director of AK Stoddart, Grant Moir, stated:

Since we started exporting beef to Japan in 2019, the reputable qualities of Scotch Beef have resonated well with the Japanese market.

With the GI’s formal recognition, we anticipate a significant bolstering of both the Scotch and Stoddarts brands in Japan.

Scotland’s rich food and drink legacy has always been esteemed, and this recognition will enhance its global standing.

Co-Founder and Managing Director of Halen Môn, Alison Lea-Wilson, expressed:

We are thrilled that Japan is acknowledging GIs from the UK. We take pride in our Halen Môn designation being recognized as authentic, possessing unique attributes that distinguish it from other salts.

International Market Development Director at the AHDB, Dr. Phil Hadley, noted:

With the new GI recognitions, we will pursue opportunities for forage-fed GI West Country Beef and West Country Lamb in this discerning market. Japan is crucial for us, and the AHDB is dedicated to collaborating with the industry and UK government to explore more opportunities for our exporters, including participation at FoodEx in Tokyo from March 5 to March 8, where we will showcase quality British red meat.

The UK will also safeguard Geographical Indications for various Japanese food and drink products, including Hokkaido wine and Hiba beef. UK consumers can feel assured that they are purchasing authentic Japanese goods.

The UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, effective from January 1, 2021, will increase the number of protected GIs from just seven under the EU-Japan trade agreement to over 70.

Background

• Population and GDP data are sourced from 2022 IMF estimates (the most recent data available), with future figures being projections.

The following UK food and agricultural products will have safeguarded GIs in Japan:

• Anglesey Sea Salt/Halen Môn
• Arbroath Smokies
• Conwy Mussels
• Cornish Clotted Cream
• Cornish Pasty
• East Kent Goldings
• London Cure Smoked Salmon
• Lough Neagh Eel
• Lough Neagh Pollan
• Melton Mowbray Pork Pie
• Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar
• Pembrokeshire Earlies/Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes
• Scotch Beef
• Scotch Lamb
• Single Gloucester
• Staffordshire Cheese
• Stornoway Black Pudding
• Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop
• Traditional Cumberland Sausage
• Traditional Grimsby Smoked Fish
• Traditional Welsh Caerphilly
• Welsh Beef
• Welsh Lamb
• Welsh Laverbread
• West Country Beef
• West Country Lamb
• Yorkshire Wensleydale

The following UK alcoholic beverages will also have their GIs safeguarded in Japan:

• English Wine
• English Regional Wine
• Herefordshire Cider
• Herefordshire Perry
• Irish Poteen
• Kentish Ale
• Kentish Strong Ale
• Somerset Cider Brandy
• Welsh Wine
• Welsh Regional Wine

The following Japanese agricultural products and beverages will be protected by GIs in the UK:

• Daiei Suika
• Daisen Broccoli
• Echizen Gani/Echizen Kani
• Edosaki Kabocha
• Futago Satoimo/Futago Imonoko
• Hagi
• Harima
• Hiba Gyu
• Higashiizumo no Maruhata Hoshigaki
• Hiyama Haishen
• Hokkaido
• Ibuki Soba/Ibuki Zairaisoba
• Iburigakko
• Iwadeyama Koridofu/Iwadeyama Meisan Koridofu
• Kikuchi Suiden Gobo
• Koge Hanagoshogaki
• Kumamoto Akaushi
• Matsudate Shibori Daikon
• Mie
• Mito no Yawaraka Negi
• Monobe Yuzu
• Nadagogo
• Nango Tomato
• Okukuji Shamo
• Ozasa Urui
• Sayo Mochidaizu
• Taisyu Soba
• Tokyo Shamo
• Tone Numata
• Toyama Hoshigaki
• Tsunan no Yukishita Ninjin
• Tsuruta Steuben
• Wakayama Umeshu
• Yamadai Kansho
• Yamagata Celery
• Yamanashi
• Yatsushiro Tokusan Banpeiyu
• Zentsujisan Shikakusuika