Brexit could damage the reputation of Scottish food and drink by removing valuable legal protections from iconic products such as Arbroath smokies and Scotch beef, the former minister responsible for the sector has warned.

Richard Lochhead, speaking out for the first time since stepping down as cabinet secretary for rural affairs, food and environment in May, urged the UK government to ensure Scotland is not excluded from the EU protected food names scheme in the event of Brexit.

He told The Times that otherwise “cheap imitations” would be able to undermine Scotland’s brands and the country’s “reputation as a producer of world-class food and drink”.

The EU’s PFN scheme awards protected geographical indicator (PGI) status, meaning that a product can only be made by agreed