FARMERS and butchers in West Devon have welcomed the news that Westcountry beef and lamb have joined the ranks of Cornish pasties and Cornish clotted cream by gaining protected EU status.

The European Commission has awarded animals born and reared in six counties in the South West Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). The foods join the list of more than 60 UK foods and beverages that are already EU protected, including Melton Mowbray pork pies and Plymouth Gin.

The branding helps to protect local meat from imitation, and also gives producers and vendors a major new marketing tool with which to promote their produce.

To bear the PGI mark, beef or lamb will have to come from stock born, raised and slaughtered in Devon, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset or Gloucestershire. The livestock will have to have been fed on a 70% grass and forage-based diet.

Stuart Luxton runs Farmer Luxton's butcher shop on the edge of Okehampton. As well as running the shop, Stuart runs a farm which produces all of the beef and lamb sold in the shop. The rest of the meat sold at Farmer Luxton's is sourced in Devon, including from Newton Abbot and Crediton.

Mr Luxton said: 'It should be a very good thing for the farming community in Devon and the whole region, Hopefully, it will mean that farmers get more money for their livestock, which can only be a good thing.

'My feeling is that it is more for beef and lamb that leaves the area.

'All our produce is sold locally, so while at this stage we have not really thought about the PGI status here, it may be something we do in the future.

'It certainly can't be a bad thing for any farmers in the area. We have a good product locally, and the region is suited to beef and lamb.

'We are not known so much for our crop production here in the south west, but our beef and lamb is a good product. It is good to have that recognised with this status.'

Long established and family Tavistock butchers J and S Downing of Pepper Street welcomed the initiative of protected status for Westcountry beef and lamb.

John Downing told the Times: 'We have been selling Westcountry beef for the last 60 years to our customers. I am definitely for this if it helps the local area. Some big stores offer English beef but it's not Westcountry, or if it is could be 70 plus miles away.

'We source our beef from farmers in Lamerton, just a few miles away, you can't get more local.

'We are great believers in local food for local people.

'This initiative to obtain the protected status for Westcountry lamb and beef has been a long time coming, but the Westcountry beef is the best in the world.

Mr Downing said he hoped that granting of the status will help local farmers, local shops and help create jobs for local people, particular young people.

Edd Williams, one of the directors and founders of Dartmoor Farmers, said: 'It's got to be a good thing for the whole of Devon and Cornwall and what we do, especially in the export market.

'I don't think it will make much of a difference to us here as a marketing tool, but it will be elsewhere in the country — anything that brings the price up is a good thing. It underpins what we try to do here at Dartmoor Farmers.'

Euro-MP Sir Graham Watson has welcomed the news. He said: 'Such status gives consumers peace of mind, knowing that what they are eating or drinking is the genuine article and is good quality.

'PGI status also ensures that the product cannot be replicated elsewhere in Europe, leading to a watering down of its provenance and quality.

'Consumers can now be 100percent sure that when they purchase beef and lamb sourced from the South West, it will be a product that has been reared and sourced where farmers know best, where the grass is greener and where the sun shines on our countryside.'

MEP Julie Girling said: 'PGI?status is so important for our farmers in the Westcountry, and as the UK spokesperson for agriculture in the European parliament, I see this as a massive victory for our local farmers and is testament to the work that goes into rearing such high quality livestock.

'This is a good day for South West consumers and a great day for South West farmers