Partner Article

North East kippers to be protected

A Northumbrian delicacy could soon be protected by law after moves were made to give them the same status as Champagne and Parma ham.

Craster kippers, which have been part of the county’s heritage for over 100 years, may soon be awarded Protected Geographical Indication under the EU Protected Food Name Scheme.

The scheme protects particular foods and says they must be produced within a certain area and have a ‘reputation, features or certain qualities attributable to that area.’

They could enjoy the same status as Stilton cheese and Melton Mowbray pork pies.

The application has been put forward by Alan and Neil Robson, the father and son team who run L Robson and Sons.

If successful, their smoked fish will be protected by law from businesses elsewhere calling their fish Craster Kippers.

Alan Robson said: “It’s not right that someone else can produce something and call it Craster Kippers if they aren’t.

“You wouldn’t like to buy Devon clotted cream and find out it comes from North Shields.

“We heard Arbroath Smokies had been successful, so it’s just to stop people out of the area selling kippers and calling them Craster Kippers.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .