A Cornish politician has said Cornish products could win over new customers all over the globe thanks to EU funding.

Cornish pasties, Cornish clotted cream, Fal Oysters and Cornish sardines, long recognised for their distinct flavours, and Liberal Democrat MEP Sir Graham Watson has said they could be winning over thousands of new customers after a new funding programme was approved in the European Parliament.

The new scheme will fund programmes to promote the high-quality agricultural products in Europe and in fast-growing economies around the world such as China and South Korea, with a major increase in funding from £51 million across the EU in 2014 to £165 million in 2020.


Sir Graham said: “This new scheme will give Cornish speciality food producers the opportunity to bring a taste of the Duchy to the world.

“I was pleased to see last year an EU-funded trade mission to Japan and South Korea to promote our very own West Country farmhouse cheddar.”

“The European Parliament has today ensured that traditional products with European protected status such as Cornish pasties, Cornish clotted cream, Fal Oysters and Cornish sardines will be given extra funding to boost their exports and win over new customers abroad.”

West Country beef and lamb were awarded the status in January of this year following a long campaign and exports of the meats to France and Italy have already increased.

To date over 60 food products across the UK have gained EU protected status, protecting them from imitation or fraud and ensuring that customers know they are buying an authentic locally sourced product. The award also helps to boost sales by increasing visibility both at home and abroad.