<p>Support for the Food and Drink Industry </p>

Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:12 pm on 14 September 2016.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:12, 14 September 2016

Thank you. It is good to see the Member for Caerphilly carrying on the tradition of his predecessor in relation to Caerphilly cheese. I think protected food names have huge benefits for Welsh products. As you say, we are actually supporting eight new applications, one of which is traditional Caerphilly cheese. The EU referendum result makes no difference to the processing of applications. So, we’re working very closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, because, obviously, they have overall responsibility for all UK applications, and the Commission, to ensure that these applications are both supported and are successful. Until the UK actually leaves the EU, protected food status will remain with that status, and I am very keen to ensure that we have access to that status or, if we don’t after we come out the EU, we have our own or a UK food status, because I think it’s really important that we do have that equivalent status or that protection for our Welsh produce.