The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney T.D. has today introduced new measures into law which strengthen the legal protection of Geographical Indications for food products.

Minister Coveney said “The introduction of these measures is a critically important protection for Irish companies developing key points of differentiation for their products based on the places and traditions from which they emerge. They will provide vital protection for Irish food GIs such as Connemara Hill Lamb, Waterford Blaa and Imokilly Regato, but also for PDO, PGI and TSG products from other EU countries, which are offered for sale in Ireland. The new measures will provide further assurance to consumers that products bearing the EU geographical indication symbols are genuine.”

The Regulations protect the intellectual property in certain Irish foods recognised under EU law as protected designations of origin (PDO), protected geographical indications (PGI) and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG). They provide for the appointment of authorised officers and for control and enforcement powers, to ensure that these protected names and designations are not used on products manufactured elsewhere in the EU.

The quality of PDO/PGI/TSG products is linked to a combination of climatic and geological traits with the historic skills of producers. Among the EU food products which have demonstrated this Link are: Parma Ham, Feta Cheese, Armagh Bramley apples, Lough Neagh Eels, Down Comber potatoes and Puy Lentils. 

Notes for Editors

The legislation referred to is EUROPEAN UNION (QUALITY SCHEMES FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FOODSTUFFS) REGULATIONS 2015 S.I. 296 of 2015 implementing EU Regulation 1151/2012, 664/2014 and 668/2014.

A geographical indication is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that place of origin. Most commonly, a geographical indication includes the name of the place or origin of the goods. Agricultural products typically have qualities that derive from their place or production and are influenced by specific local factors, such as climate and soil.

Three European Union schemes of geographical indications and traditional specialities known as protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI), and traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) promote and protect names of quality agricultural products and foodstuffs. These laws protect the names of wines, cheeses, hams, sausages, seafood, olives, beers, Balsamic vinegar and even regional breads, fruits, raw meats and vegetables.

View this Press Release as a PDF: DAFMPR 132/2015 (pdf 416Kb) 

Date Released: 17 July 2015