LONDON – Newmarket Sausages have received Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, according to Great Britain’s Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The product joins Parma Ham, Champagne and Cornish Pasties, which have also received the designation which promotes and protects the names of high-quality agricultural and food products. The sausages have been made in Suffolk, England, since the 1880s, and they were traditionally served at the historic Newmarket race course. Queen Victoria was said to enjoy them and issued the sausages with a royal warrant which signifies a supplier of goods or services to the royal family.

“Not only are PGIs important for keeping traditional foods and recipes alive, they also make a significant contribution to the local and national economy,” said Food and Farming Minister David Heath. “The recipe for the Newmarket sausage is unchanged since the days of Queen Victoria and the original recipe has been passed down the generations.

“This is yet another example of the quality of British foods and we can be justly proud of the position of our produce in the international market,” he added.

The UK Protected Foods Names Association estimates that products with PGI status are worth approximately £1 billion ($1.6 billion).