CHAMPAGNE, gorgonzola and now the Lakeland Herdwick.

Meat from the iconic breed has been granted special protection under European law, which means the brand name can only be used for sheep that have been born, reared, finished and slaughtered in Cumbria.

The successful application for Protected Des-tination of Origin (PDO) status by the Herdwick Sheep Breeders’ Association means Lakeland Herdwick joins the likes of the Cornish pasty, Jersey Royal potato and Melton Mowbray pork pie.

Amanda Carson from the association said: “We are really pleased that we have got the PDO finally and we are looking forward to working with local hoteliers and businesses who want to be able to sell a high quality product — guaranteed to be coming from the local farms. Recent food scares have highlighted the importance that consumers know where their food comes from. The PDO status provides assurance that the Herdwick meat they are buying is a quality product, genuinely produced by Cumbrian shepherds to high standards of animal welfare.”

The association first looked into the possibility of gaining PDO status in 2003, with the first draft proposal sent to Defra early in 2004.

Over the next seven years trials were conducted, carcass stamps created and processes revised under the guidance of the EU Pro-tected Food Names Manager.

A final application was sent to Defra in 2011 and, after ruling it had met all the criteria, the European Commission approved the request last Thursday.

Cumbrian MEP Sajjad Karim described the awarding of the protected status as ‘brilliant news’. “This is an internationally renowned product and one of extremely high quality,” he said.

“Consumers now know when they buy Herdwick lamb or mutton they are buying good Cumbrian fare.”