Sir Graham Watson, Lib Dem MEP for the South-West and Gibraltar.
SIR Graham Watson, the South-West's MEP, has welcomed a status protecting beef and lamb reared within Somerset and the rest of the region.
The meats have been awarded EU Protected Geographic Indication (PGI) status and join a list of products such as Cornish clotted cream, Dorset blue cheese, West County farmhouse cheddar and Gloucestershire cider.
Graham said: "Such status gives consumers peace of mind, knowing that what they are eating or drinking is the genuine article and is good quality.
“PGI status also ensures that the product cannot be replicated elsewhere in Europe, leading to a watering down of its provenance and quality."
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