Plum role! Welsh Denbigh fruit is awarded protected food status alongside French Champagne, Stilton cheese and Cornish pasties The Denbigh Plum, from the Vale of Clwyd, was given protected status by the EU It recognises quality produce prepared in a specific region using expertise These foods get Europe-wide protection against imitation, misuse and fraud By James Gant For Mailonline Published: 13:32 GMT, 20 February 2019 | Updated: 14:40 GMT, 20 February 2019 Viewcomments A British plum has been given the same protected status as French Champagne, Italian prosciutto ham and Spanish manchego cheese. The Denbigh Plum has been awarded protected designation of origin status by the European Union. The scheme, authorised by the European Commission, recognises quality agricultural food and drink that are processed and prepared in a specific region using expertise. The Denbigh Plum has been awarded protected designation of origin status by the European Union. It is given to recognise quality agricultural food and drink that are processed and prepared in a specific region using expertise Nia Williams, secretary of the Denbigh Plum Group, said: 'This is the consequence of years of work by a group of volunteers from the Denbigh area to protect Wales' only native plum' How to seek protected food status: Types of protection - Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG): It must have a traditional name and characteristics that distinguish it from other similar products. Protected geographical indication (PGI): The item must be produced, processed or prepared in the area you want to associate it with. Protected designation of origin (PDO): It must be produced, processed and prepared in one area and have distinct characteristics from this area. Who can apply - Individual food producers can apply or can form a group. This can include as many people as needed. Has to have a product name protected as well as a draft product specification. Make specification as clear as possible - it needs to show how another producer in the area with the product could make the same product. There has been a lengthy fight to recognise the plum - Wales' only native variety - which is found in the market town in the Vale of Clwyd. Nia Williams, secretary of the Denbigh Plum Group, said: 'This is the consequence of years of work by a group of volunteers from the Denbigh area to protect Wales' only native plum. 'It has far-reaching consequences, not only in terms of the food that is produced with the plums, but in terms of planting trees in the whole of the Vale of Clwyd, because it is important that the whole valley benefits from this. 'There will be opportunities for tourism, because everyone will have heard about the Vale of Clwyd due to this.' The Denbigh Plum becomes the 16th item of food produced in Wales to be added to the protected name status lists. It joins Anglesey sea salt, Conwy mussels and Caerphilly cheese among foods of protected status. Britain has 86 products protected under the law. Stilton cheese was recognised in 2007, Cornish Pasties were added in 2011 and London smoked cure salmon was granted status in 2017. Food and drink products awarded the status receive Europe-wide protection against imitation, misuse and fraud. Anglesey sea salt had its designation of origin protected by the European Union in 2014 Traditional Welsh Caerphilly cheese is another protected food from imitation, misuse and fraud under the European Protected Geographical Indication There are three categories people can apply to. The traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) category is where the product must have a traditional name as well as characteristics that distinguish it from other similar products. Protected geographical indication (PGI) status needs the item to be produced, processed or prepared in the area the person wants to associate it with. And protected designation of origin (PDO) requires a product to be produced, processed and prepared in one area and have distinct characteristics from the area. The UK Government has said all produce currently protected by EU rules in Britain will make up the new list of goods with a protected geographic indication following March 29 and exiting the EU. Officials said they anticipated that the new UK status would also be recognised by the EU, even in a no deal scenario. Stilton blue cheese was given a Protected Designation of Origin in 2007 by the European Commission Cornish Pasties were also added to the lists in 2011 and London smoked cure salmon was granted status in 2017 There are 86 UK products protected under EU law, with some recent additions including: April 23, 2018 - Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland, Pollan (fish) February 7, 2018 - Traditional Welsh Caerphilly/Caerffili (cheese) July 3, 2017 - Darnibole wine (Cornwall) June 7, 2017 - Welsh Perry and Welsh Cider May 19, 2017 - Welsh Laverbread (made from seaweed) April 28, 2017 - London smoked cure salmon (fish) April 3, 2017 - West Wales Coracle Caught Sewin (fish) February 22, 2017 - West Wales coracle caught salmon (fish) February 13, 2017 - Traditionally reared pedigree Welsh pork December 7, 2016 - Vale of Evesham Asparagus Source: gov.uk Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility