Big boost for UK businesses as new trade deal agreed with Japan

A trading breakthrough means much of Britain’s best loved food and drink could soon appear much more frequently on Japan’s menus.

A total of 39 iconic products have won special protected status so British businesses can export to Japan confident in the knowledge their wares will not be imitated.

Items ranging from Gower Salt Marsh Lam to Cornish Sardines, Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb, Scottish Wild Salmon and Whitstable Oysters have formally gained protection.

Hopes are high this will boost exports to a country of 124 million people that last year was the world’s fourth largest economy.

Daniel Zeichner, the minister for food security, said: “I’m thrilled to see there’s a taste for authentic British food and drink in Japan. We are committed to growing trade opportunities for British producers around the world as part of our plan for change, boosting growth and benefitting businesses across the country.

“The UK is home to a feast of flavours from every corner of the British Isles. With the new agreement between the UK and Japan, consumers will now be able to chew over their choices with confidence, knowing they’re getting the quality and reputation that British food is known for – it’s the perfect for success.”

Trade minister Douglas Alexander added “Iconic UK products such as Ayrshire New Potatoes and Carmarthen Ham will now benefit from protected status in Japan. From Sussex to Armagh, we are securing protections for unique British food and drink products, ensuring Japanese consumers can rest assured that they are receiving authentic, high-quality British produce.

“This early Christmas present to British producers will give them confidence when exporting to Japan, helping them sell more, grow their business and ultimately drive economic growth.”

And Alison Lea-Wilson of Halen Môn, makers of Anglesey Sea Salt, said the special “geographical indication” status (GI) offered such brands protection against imitation and “another way of differentiating ourselves from our competitors”.

She said: “We know that Japanese consumers recognise the premium quality of British brands and are keen to buy the authentic product, so it’s great to hear that Japan is recognising further GIs from the UK.”

The breakthrough in Japan follows securing new protections for Scotch Whisky in Brazil, South America’s largest economy, in August, in a move intended to tackle counterfeits and give distillers the confidence to “up their exports”.

Each year exports with this status are estimated to be worth more than £6billion.

Food, drink and agricultural products to be protected in Japan include:

• Armagh Bramley Apples
• Ayrshire New Potatoes/Ayrshire Earlies
• Beacon Fell Traditional Lancashire Cheese
• Bonchester Cheese
• Buxton Blue
• Cambrian Mountains Lamb
• Carmarthen Ham
• Cornish Sardines
• Darnibole
• Dovedale Cheese
• Fal Oysters
• Fenland Celery
• Gloucestershire Cider
• Gloucestershire Perry
• Gower Salt Marsh Lamb
• Lakeland Herdwick
• New Season Comber Potatoes / Comber Earlies Potatoes
• Newmarket Sausage
• Orkney Beef
• Orkney Lamb
• Rutland Bitter
• Scottish Wild Salmon
• Shetland Lamb
• Sussex Wine
• Swaledale Ewes Cheese
• Teviotdale Cheese
• The Vale of Clwyd Denbigh Plum
• Traditional Welsh Cider
• Traditional Welsh Perry
• Vale of Evesham Asparagus
• West Wales Coracle Caught Salmon
• West Wales Coracle Caught Sewin
• Whitstable Oysters
• Worcestershire Cider
• Worcestershire Perry
• Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb
• New Forest Pannage Ham
• Welsh Leeks
• Welsh Whisky