Farm organisations have given their backing to the protected geographic application (PGI) status application for ‘Irish Grass-Fed Beef’, following a marathon eight-hour unannounced session of the Beef Market Taskforce yesterday (Thursday, October 22).

Yesterday’s meeting began at around 2:30pm, and concluded at around 10:00pm, AgriLand understands.

The main conclusion from the meeting was that the Bord Bia developed PGI application will go forward to the EU for final approval.

It was also decided that if the PGI application is approved by the European Commission, a monitoring group will be set up to control it. However, this group will have a different composition than previously proposed.

AgriLand understands that the taskforce will recommend to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue that the group be made up of one representative from each farm group represented at the taskforce, alongside one representative each from the department, Bord Bia and Meat Industry Ireland (MII).

There was considerable debate yesterday over what would be the ‘ownership’ of the PGI, and if the primary producer would be able to control the use of the PGI.

One farm organisation requested that farmers be able to withhold the use of a PGI logo on his beef, if he felt it didn’t provide an adequate economic return.

Ultimately, it is understood that agreement was eventually reached that the PGI monitoring committee (which would have a farmer majority representation, as explained above) would have oversight on the use of the PGI logo.

If an issue arises concerning the use of a PGI logo, it will be challenged first to the department, as the competent authority in Ireland – and then to the commission.