FRESH concerns have been raised that Westminster is not doing enough to properly protect some of Scotland's most famous global brands.
It has emerged that just three Scottish products have been put forward as protected food names in a proposed free trade deal agreement between the European Union and the US - Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Scottish Farmed Salmon.
But there are 10 other Scottish products on the EU's protected status list which have been omitted, say Scottish ministers. They include Scottish Wild Salmon, Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar, Stornoway Black Pudding and the Arbroath Smokie.
The details emerged as European Commission sources say the UK Government left it too late to amend a similar agreement with Canada so that British and Scottish produce is properly protected.
Details of the proposed EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement (CETA) show that while there are a host of products from other EU nations that are to be geographically protected, there are no British products listed.
The latest development means that the door would be open for famous Scottish brands that enjoy EU protection, to be subject to Canadian imitations and US copies.
Richard Lochhead, the rural affairs secretary, has now written to Liz Truss, secretary of state for agriculture, rural affairs and the environment, raising concerns about protection for Scottish brands in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the US.
Mr Lochhead said: "These agreements can have a significant impact on Scotland's agricultural sector and food and drink industry and it is essential that Scottish priorities and interests are reflected in the UK Government's discussions with the EU and the priorities it puts forward for inclusion in such agreements."
He told Ms Truss he was concerned about the reports that CETA "might allow Canadian exporters to the EU to use these PFN labels and that there would be no protection for any Scottish PFNs in Canada".
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has previously confirmed that the UK would be examining ways in which protection for protected food name products might be achieved in Canada. Scotch Whisky already enjoys protection in Canada under an existing agreement.
Under EU law, protected regional specialities, such as the Arbroath smokie, can only be sold under their traditional names if they were actually made in the region.
A European Commission trade spokesman said: "We have no comment to make. We negotiate the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership based on a list prepared in close cooperation with all EU members states."
A Defra spokesman said: “The UK Government is committed to protecting Scotland's iconic food and drink. Under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Scotch Whisky will be fully protected in the US market, and the European Commission has also agreed to seek protected status in the US market for Scottish Farmed Salmon, Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb.
“The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will have no impact on the status of protected UK food names in the EU market. Only UK producers adhering to the relevant requirements will be able to use iconic British names such as Arbroath Smokies or Stornoway Black Pudding.”
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