Kobe beef, expensive melon among Japan’s latest protected products

Anyone who uses registered brands - like Kobe beef - without permission could face penalties. Photo: Filepic

Champagne, Melton Mowbray pork pies and Gorgonzola cheese are to be joined by Kobe beef and eye-wateringly expensive Yubari melons as protected products after Japan granted them a special status recently.

A total of seven products including Kobe beef and the melons from the northern of island of Hokkaido were added to a list of Japanese geographical indications, Japan’s farm ministry said.