BRITAIN could be flooded with American imitation Cornish pasties and Scotch whisky after Brexit, it has been claimed.

US lobbyists are calling for the UK to drop geographical name protections after Brexit to allow supermarkets to import American copies.

3 US firms could flog knock off Cornish pasties in a post Brexit trade deal Credit: Alamy

Under EU law, products including Melton Mowbray pork pies, Scotch whisky, Parmesan cheese, and Champagne have protected geographical status and cannot be made anywhere else.

But when we leave the EU Parliament has to decide whether to maintain such protections or, as US lobbyists are urging, drop them.

It could mean Brit wine makers could be allowed to call some of their fortified beverages “sherry” again but would also pave the way for US competitors to sell rival products in the UK, the i reports.

While many of the products US businesses hope to export to the UK would be copies of Continental foods such as Parma ham and Cognac, some could be replicas of British favourites like Cornish pasties.

3 The UK parliament will have to vote on whether or not to keep the protections on food stuffs from specific places after leaving the EU, which includes Scotch whisky Credit: PA:Press Association

Protected statuses, known as Geographical Indications (GIs, or PDOs), have been granted by the EU to thousands of food and drink products across EU nations. The US has opposed the regulations for a long time arguing that they prevent US food and drink makers selling their own products into EU nations.

They are calling on the UK to change its rules as part of a post-Brexit UK/US trade deal.

Shawna Morris, of the US Dairy Export Council – which has been lobbying the US government on UK trade deals post-Brexit – blasted the “preposterous” rules which allow Italy to “monopolise” terms like Parmesan.

She said: “We think the ability to take a fresh look at UK regulation through the Brexit process provides the UK with a great opportunity for taking a much more reasonable approach to what’s been a very controversial issue over the years.

3 Melton Mowbray pork pies could also see their protected status revoked if the move were to go ahead Credit: E+ - Getty

“So, for instance, there’s West Country Farmhouse Cheddar on the books, but any time I’ve ever asked anyone from the UK if they have any intentions to try to claw back Cheddar, the response has been, ‘Of course not, that would be preposterous.’

“We think it’s just as preposterous for the Greeks to reclaim Feta.”

MOST READ IN NEWS Breaking LAST ORDERS Pubs to close at 10pm across England as covid alert level RISES to 4 STAY AT HOME £500 for low-income Brits to self-isolate and stop spread of coronavirus GRINCHES Mum reveals HUGE Xmas gift haul for daughter - but some parents brand kid 'spoilt' VIRAL SPREAD Coronavirus map of England revealed - as cases rise for majority of country HIT & SCUM Hit & run driver ploughs in to man - only to find later it was her father-in-law 'I'LL END UP DEAD' Moment Snapchat idiot hangs out of '110mph' car on M25 - and falls out BAG FOR STRIFE Council sparks panic with call to prepare bag to 'flee home immediately' Latest HIGH ALERT Covid alert rises to Level 4 - paving way for tougher restrictions HOTEL RAPE HELL Tour guide gang-raped by five men and a WOMAN at five-star hotel in India GYPSY KING'S FURY Tyson Fury shares clip of 'racist' pub refusing to let in travellers

But Riccardo Deserti, general director of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, said “sophisticated consumers” would “never purchase a phoney product with nothing in common with the original one”.

A spokesman for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Leaving the EU gives us a golden opportunity to secure ambitious free-trade deals while supporting farmers and producers to grow and sell more great British food.

“We will ensure consumers continue to have a range of high-quality food products.”

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.