A submission made by the Irish Beef Producers (IBP) to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine seeking approval for Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status for ‘Natural Irish Beef’ has been backed by independent TD Carol Nolan.

Outlining her support for the submission, the Laois-Offaly TD said that the benefits of having a PGI status for the globally recognised quality of Natural Irish Beef “could serve to incentivise growth” in a competitive market and “offer consumers the kind of assurances they are seeking around the origin of their food”.

The TD noted the detail in the submission made by the producer group for ‘Natural Irish Beef’, backing it to maximise the benefits of PGI status for Irish farmers.

“The benefits that a PGI designation can bring are clear,” she said.

We live in a highly globalised world and so we need to ensure that we have measures in place that differentiate and protect the unique nature of Irish beef.

“Suckler farmers have built this international reputation over the last number of decades. It deserves to have legal and regulatory recognition.

“That is why at the very least we should be open to engaging in any system that can identify and protect the names of quality agricultural products and foods.

“I have seen the IBP submission on this issue to the department and it strikes me as a highly informed and detailed piece of analysis.

“In my view it deserves a very positive reception by the department.

We are all trying to ensure that farmers receive a good price for the high-quality product that they produce while also ensuring that the consumer is protected against false or misleading claims around the origin of the beef that they purchase.

“They must be the endpoints of any process we engage in – PGI or otherwise,” deputy Nolan concluded.