Labelling aids sausage status bid

The Cumberland sausage has a distinctive coiled shape

New food labelling plans are set to make it easier for the Cumberland sausage to gain protected status.

As with Newcastle Brown Ale, or Greek Feta, this designates it as produced or processed only in a specific area.

The application process involves detailed studies by DEFRA and then the European Commission as well as a consultation procedure.

The new process would simplify this, making it easier for producers such as Cumberland sausage-makers to register.

Under proposals originally put forward by the European Commission, the national government will check the application, with just the final check being carried out at EU level.

Sir Robert Atkins, Conservative MEP for the North West of England, said: "It currently takes far too long to get specialist products registered and protected.

"The European Commission has realised that robust labelling is good for agriculture and producers and I want to see this new procedure implemented without delay.

Statistics show that for seven EU countries including the UK, the added value achieved by product registration is around £3 billion annually.