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

Geographical Indications identify a product whose quality, reputation or other such characteristics are linked to its geographical origin. My Department, as the Competent Authority for Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), checks PGI applications to ensure that the application meets the conditions of the relevant EU Regulations governing the scheme.

As part of its scrutiny of the Boxty PGI application, my Department has had extensive engagement with the applicant with a view to ensuring that the application meets those requirements. The application needs to withstand scrutiny at a number of levels: by my own Department, the European Commission, and through both the national opposition procedure and the Union/Third Country opposition procedure.

My Department’s scrutiny is at an advanced stage and once it is satisfied that the application meets the required conditions, it can move to the next stage which is the national opposition procedure.