Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

851. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of efforts to provide protected geographical indication status for natural Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4729/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) emphasises the relationship between the specific geographic region and the name of the product, where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. European Commission rules for PGIs require products to be produced in accordance with a technical specification that meets the EU requirements. Producer applications are required to meet that specification. This is in addition to the legal requirements applying to food production in EU Member States. My Department, as Competent Authority for PGIs, is required to scrutinize applications received to ensure their compliance with the EU rules.

The PGI application for "Natural Irish Beef" as referred to by the Deputy, was submitted to my Department on 14 September 2020 by the applicant group. 

My officials examined the draft documentation submitted and engaged with the applicant's representative on a regular basis between November 2020 and March 2021.  This included several meetings to discuss the documentation and revisions to the Product Specification received from the applicant's representative as well as my Department's queries.

Following a meeting in early March 2021, the applicant’s representative undertook to provide an updated Product Specification in advance of the next planned meeting.  As the document was not provided, the applicant’s representative was advised that a further meeting would be scheduled when the applicant’s representative had provided the updated Product Specification.

To date, no such document has been received, nor has the applicant’s representative made contact with my officials.