The European Commission Representation to Ireland organised a reception of Irish products with European Union (EU) geographical indication (GI) labels at the National Ploughing Championships.

These labels indicate if a product is a protected designation of origin (PDO) or a protected geographical indication (PGI).

This was in accordance with the representations focus at this year’s ploughing on raising awareness of the EU GIs schemes with Irish producers of traditional food and drinks products.

Visitors could meet a range of Irish ‘makers’, including those producing: Irish Grass Fed Beef, Achill Island Sea Salt, Oriel Sea Salt, Waterford Blaa, Connemara Hill Lamb, Sneem Black Pudding, Imokilly Regato with sampling of Irish Poitín, Irish Whiskey and Irish Cream Liqueur.

Over 3,600 producers across Europe have the EU quality mark but only 13 of them are Irish.

Speaking at the event yesterday (Thursday, September 21), European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuinness, urged Irish food producers to consider applying for PGI and PDO status.

McGuinness said: “We haven’t really done that in Ireland to the same extent as in the other EU member states.

“When you travel on these holidays, you will see these logos, and they mean something. They trust the product behind the logo,” the commissioner added.

Joe Burke, the beef and livestock sector manager with Bord Bia told Agriland that these products add “additional advantages in terms of marketing”.

Burke said there any many EU countries with “hundreds” of these products with these statuses, and he hoped that the event would encourage more Irish producers to explore the potential of the EU’s ‘Geographical Indication’ scheme.

Chef for the event was Dutch chef Martijn Kajuiter who provided attendees with Irish foods with PGI and PDO status, including some Irish Grass Fed Beef sourced from Tipperary and was seasoned with Oriel Sea Salt.

Joe Burke, the beef and livestock sector manager with Bord Bia told Agriland that these products add “additional advantages in terms of marketing”.

Kajuiter also prepared Connemara Hill Lamb that was seasoned with Achill Island Sea Salt.

The chef said that you can “taste the love of farmers” that produce and supply the foods, and he said “animal welfare is at the highest standard ever”.

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