A consultation on an application for the registration of “Sneem Black Pudding” under the EU’s PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) regime is to be opened by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Geographical Indications are a type of intellectual property, protecting food product names which are linked to a particular territory or to a production method.

“Sneem Black Pudding” is a black pudding produced in Sneem, Kenmare, Co. Kerry.

Regulation (EU) No. 1151/2012 (Official Journal L343 of 2012 ) sets out how applications for entry on the PDO/ PGI register must show how the characteristics of the region – topographic, savoir faire, reputation, natural resources – have an impact on the characteristics of a particular product.

Registration affords producers in that area protection against imitation and use of the name outside the region.

A PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) relates to products with a strong link to the defined geographical area where they are produced while a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) relates to agricultural products and foods linked to a geographical area where at least one production step has taken place.

Last year, PDO status was applied for for Sneem Black Pudding however since some of the ingredients in the pudding are sourced from outside the defined geographical area, it doesn’t fulfill the criteria for PDO.

In the case of Sneem Black Pudding the meat ingredients are sourced in South Kerry and Killarney; some of the other ingredients such as oatmeal may be sourced from the wider Munster region – which meets the criteria for it to become a PGI.

Interested parties may submit comments up to February 28 by email to [email protected] or write to the GI Unit, Food Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kildare St. Dublin, 2.

Ireland currently has seven PDO/PGI food products – Clare Island Salmon, Connemara Hill Lamb, Imokilly Regato, Oriel Sea Salt, Oriel Sea Minerals, Timoleague Brown Pudding, and Waterford Blaa/ Blaa.

Spirits drinks: (EC) No 110/2008(Official Journal L39 of 2008) lays down rules on Geographical Indications (GIs) of spirit drinks. Three Irish products – Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream and Irish Poitín – are registered GIs on all all-island basis.