Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020
589. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider including Northern Ireland as part the Bord Bia protected geographical indication application for Irish grass-fed beef from the European Commission; and if not, the reason for the position. [13127/20]
View answer590. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement he has had with his Northern Ireland counterpart regarding the Bord Bia protected geographical indication application for Irish grass-fed beef from the European Commission. [13128/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 590 together.
I have not had any discussions with my Northern counterpart on this issue.
I am informed that the application referred to by the Deputy for Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status for “Irish Grass Fed Beef” is being made by Bord Bia on behalf of the Irish beef sector. PGI status requires products to be produced in accordance with a particular technical specification and producers are required to meet that specification. This is in addition to the legal requirements applying to food production in EU Member States.
I understand that the draft application proposes that the controls already in place for the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS) will be used as part of the control regime to verify production of ‘Grass Fed Irish Beef’. Beef farmers in Northern Ireland are not members of the SBLAS.
