 The pork pie is still at the centre of a legal battle |
A food company has announced it will continue a legal battle for the right to produce Melton Mowbray pork pies. In December the High Court told East Midlands pork pie makers they could apply for EU Protected Geographical Indication status.
The High Court turned down a challenge by Leeds-based Northern Foods, who opposed the move.
However, the company has confirmed it will apply for permission to appeal against the ruling.
'Cynical' move
The original application by Defra on behalf of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association would restrict production of pies to an area of 1,800 square miles of the East Midlands.
Northern Foods had unsuccessfully challenged the application, saying that authentic Melton Mowbray pies have been produced far from Leicestershire for more than 100 years.
Carol Williams, company secretary of Northern Foods, said: "We believe that the EU legislation, as it currently stands, is poorly defined and has allowed the biggest player in the market to cynically manipulate the law at the expense of consumers and the food industry."
Councillor Matthew O'Callaghan, who is at the forefront of the campaign by the Pork Pie Association, said he was disappointed that the legal battle is to continue.
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