Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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587. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the implementation of the all-island protected geographical indicator status for grass-fed cattle, including how the North of Ireland’s participation is being facilitated; any progress since approval by the European Commission; any outstanding issues affecting full recognition and benefits for food producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14998/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI was registered by the European Commission on 27th November 2023. The PGI is on an all-island basis representing farmers and processors north and south, with Bord Bia as the applicant on behalf of producers and processors here, and their counterpart the Livestock and Meat Commission as the applicant in Northern Ireland.

Since registration, my Department and Bord Bia have engaged with processors who have expressed an interest in using the registered name. The EU rules require that operators must comply with the product specification to be eligible to use the PGI and that this must be verified by the Competent Authority before it is placed on the market.

My Department is the competent authority responsible for verifying compliance with the product specification and has verified five processing plants to date and a number of other processing plants are pending approval.

My officials maintain regular engagement with the relevant Northern Ireland authorities on our four cross-border geographical indications including the Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI. Since the application process, Bord Bia have been engaging with the Livestock and Meat Commission who are establishing a similar verification process in Northern Ireland.

The first placing of Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI product on the European market took place in Milan on 19th March 2024 attended by the then Minister alongside representatives of the Irish processor supplier, the Italian retailer, Bord Bia and farming organisations. Bord Bia’s promotional activities for the PGI have targeted European markets, in particular the Italian market, where there is strong consumer recognition of PGI status.

The PGI is an important tool for our producers to market their products, and consumers can be assured that the distinctive characteristics of the product are linked to Ireland’s pasture-based production system.