Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is hopeful that an application for a protected geographical indication (PGI) on Irish beef will be submitted in the first quarter of 2020.

PGI status can be achieved on a product that is produced, processed or prepared in a particular geographical area and where a specific quality reputation is attributable to that area.

The Department of Agriculture has been working with Bord Bia in consultation with the EU Commission on an application for a PGI for Irish beef since a workshop organised earlier in the year.

Application

An application can only be submitted by, or on behalf of, a group of producers.

In response to a parliamentary question from Independent TD Denis Naughten, the Minister said: “The [beef] sector has many strengths and one way of capitalising on these is through the geographical indications system, which highlights to consumers the high quality of a given product carrying the logo.”

Explaining the process, Minister Creed said after an application has been submitted, the regulations require a formal national consultation or 'opposition' period.

Once completed, an application will be formally lodged with the EU Commission for scrutiny and a further consultation or 'opposition' procedure.

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What does protected geographical indication mean?