McConalogue announces launch of national opposition procedure for Protected Geographical Indication of Certified Irish Angus Beef

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has announced that his department has today launched a national opposition procedure on the application to register “Certified Irish Angus Beef” as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). A national opposition procedure is a stage in the application process for a PGI which must be undertaken before the application can be formally submitted to the European Commission.

A “Protected Geographical Indication” (PGI) is a name which identifies a product originating in a specific place, region or country and whose given quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its defined area of origin. The applicant for this PGI is the Certified Irish Angus Beef producer group and the geographical area included in the application is the island of Ireland. “Certified Irish Angus Beef” is the name given to meat derived from certified Angus/Angus cross cattle.

Minister McConalogue said:

The application for a national opposition procedure follows a scrutiny by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK, in accordance with the EU requirements. The application is separate to the PGI for Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI application, the registration process for which is almost complete by the European Commission.

The opposition procedure provides the opportunity for any natural or legal person, having a legitimate interest and established or resident in Ireland, to lodge an opposition to the applications.

Minister McConalogue added:

Details of the national opposition procedure can be found at Geographical Indications (Protected Food and Drink Names).

Interested parties have a period of 2 months ending at 5.30pm on 24 January 2024 to submit a reasoned statement of opposition in accordance with the regulatory requirements. Submissions should be by email to gIoppositions@agriculture.gov.ie

Any opposition from Northern Ireland must be made to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by email to protectedfoodnames@defra.gov.uk

Geographical Indications are a type of intellectual property right, protecting food product names which are linked to a particular territory or to a production method. The EU’s Geographical Indications scheme is beneficial to producers as it allows for the identification and protection of names of specific agricultural products which have particular value adding characteristics linked to their place of origin. GI recognition enables consumers to trust and distinguish quality products while also helping producers to market their products.

“Protected Geographical indication” (PGI) is a name which identifies a product: (a) originating in a specific place, region or country; (b) whose given quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its defined area of origin; and (c) at least one of the production steps of which take place in the defined geographical area.

Ireland has eight registered PDO/PGI food product names -Clare Island Salmon (PGI), Imokilly Regato (PDO), Timoleague Brown Pudding (PGI), Connemara Hill Lamb (PGI), Waterford Blaa (PGI), Oriel Sea Salt (PDO), Oriel Sea Minerals (PDO) and Sneem Black Pudding (PGI).

The PGI application for Irish Grass Fed Beef underwent this national opposition period in 2020, and has recently completed a third country and member state opposition at EU level. This application has now completed all stages of scrutiny, and registration is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.

Three spirit drink names - Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream and Irish Poitín – have GI status under Regulation (EU) No. 110/2008.