Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when PGI status will be approved in respect of a food product (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43475/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The first step in the registration process for a geographical indication as part of the European Union’s quality policy is that an application is submitted to the relevant Member State's competent authority, which in this case is my Department. There has been extensive engagement with the applicant over a number of years to ensure that the application for the food product in question meets the regulatory requirements.

My Department considers that the application is ready to be published as part of the required National Opposition Procedure which allows any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest to lodge an opposition to the application. However, as a result of a recent change in EU regulation requirements, my Department is awaiting clarification on a administrative legal issue concerning the procedure to be followed. Once this matter has been clarified, it is expected that the application may be published.

Once published and the national opposition period completed, if, after assessment of any opposition received, my Department considers that the regulatory requirements are met, the application can be lodged with the European Commission.

At that stage, the Commission may, as part of its scrutiny, revert to the national authorities with comments or observations prior to the commencement of a European opposition period and if that occurs my Department will consult with the applicant.

The EU-level opposition procedure allows persons in other member states or third countries to submit an opposition to the proposed registration. The final decision on whether the product name can be registered or not is made by the Commission.

I am very pleased that another food product is close to reaching this next stage in the application process, and I hope it will serve to raise awareness of these important EU quality schemes throughout Ireland.