How champagne, parma ham and stilton could be the final hurdles stopping us cutting a Brexit deal with the EU

A BREXIT deal could be derailed by champagne, stilton and Cornish pasties, it emerged today.

The EU’s top negotiator admitted that “geographical indications” are one of the few remaining issues stopping both sides reaching an agreement.

Michel Barnier warned that Britain and the EU now have just three months to strike a deal on the apparently niche matter.

Otherwise Britain could crash out of Europe without a withdrawal deal at all – leading to potential economic chaos.

Geographical indication laws dictate that 3,000 food and drink products from across Europe can only be produced in the area they are originally from.

Well-known examples include sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France, cheese such as parmesan and roquefort, and scotch whisky.

EU’s Brexit negotiator Michael Barnier admits UK will be offered a special Brexit deal ‘like nothing seen before’

Other more obscure products protected by the laws include Munich beer, Finnish vodka and an Italian sausage called Zampone Modena.

Mr Barnier spoke out during a press conference in Brussels alongside Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab today.

He said: “On geographical indications – 3000 geographical indications in the 28 countries of the Union – I expressed again my worry.

“The EU’s position is clear: Brexit should not lead to a loss of existing intellectual property rights.

“We must protect the entire stock of geographical indications.”

British firms usually support the status quo because it protects their distinctive products from being ripped off in other countries.

But if we keep the current rules, it could make it harder to strike trade deals around the world.

Insiders have suggested that Britain is hoping to use the issue as a bargaining chip to force Brussels into striking a last-minute deal.