‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’, with full Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status has appeared on supermarket shelves in Italy today (Tuesday, March 19).
This is the first PGI beef product to be made available to European consumers since the recognition for Irish grass-fed beef was secured from the European Commission less than four months ago.
On a visit to Milan to mark the occasion, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said that today marks an important milestone for producers and processors.
“It was only last December that Ireland secured this PGI status by the European Union (EU), so seeing product with the PGI mark available to consumers so soon is testament to the hard work of everyone involved in achieving this recognition,” he said.
The minister acknowledged the farmers, exporter ABP Group, Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
PGI
EU quality policy aims to protect the names of specific products to promote their unique characteristics, linked to their geographical origin as well as traditional ‘know-how’.
Product names can be granted a ‘geographical indication’ (GI) if they have a specific link to the place where they are made.
The GI recognition enables consumers to trust and distinguish quality products while also helping producers to market their products better.
“The EU quality scheme which allows producers achieve PGI status for their products is an important means to communicate distinctive qualities of European products.
“This PGI means that everyone that purchases beef grown from Ireland’s pasture-based production system can be satisfied of the products unique characteristics linked to its place of origin.
“The PGI mark on pack has particular resonance with Italian consumers making this a significant first launch, and I look forward now to seeing its progress in this and many more markets in the future,” Minister McConalogue said.
Irish Grass Fed Beef
Jim O’Toole, chief executive of Bord Bia added that the PGI is a recognition by the EU Commission that Irish grass-fed beef is “a truly unique product”
“This recognition is hard won, but well-deserved and very positive news for our sector.
“Bord Bia is currently working with farmers, processors and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to get Irish grass-fed beef with PGI status to the market and today marks a significant milestone on that journey.
“We will continue to explore all market opportunities that PGI status presents, specifically focusing on markets and customers offering the best potential for Irish farmers and processors,” he said.
Last month, Minister McConalogue and Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir held a joint event on a suckler farm in Co. Donegal to mark the registration of ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ as an all-island PGI.