Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 November 2020
412. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dedicated staff deployed in the protected geographical indication, PGI, sector; the breakdown of grade structure of staff in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39357/20]
View answer413. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of protected geographical indication applications being dealt with by the sector; the breakdown of the starting dates of each of these applications; the number of PGI applications submitted to this section over the past five years and that have not been brought to national consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39358/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 413 together.
The EU Quality schemes for agriculture products include Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), Protected Designations of Origin (PDO), and Traditional Specialties Guaranteed (TSG) and also Geographical Indications (GIs) for wine and spirits.
Over the past five years, 16 applications have been received from food producers seeking to have their products registered as PGIs as follows:
2015 Two
2016 Three
2017 One
2018 None
2019 Five
2020 Five
Of these, one product has been registered (Sneem Black Pudding); the national opposition procedure has been completed for another three (Irish Grass Fed Beef, Comeragh Mountain lamb and Wexford Blackcurrants) and two applications are currently at an advanced stage of scrutiny by my Department.
The remaining applications have not progressed for various reasons, including that they do not currently conform to the terms of Regulation (EU) No. 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, or they fail to sufficiently demonstrate the information required to allow the application proceed for registration. Five of these applications have been received from the same applicant group.
In regard to staffing, Food and Spirit Drink GI applications are currently dealt with by four officials in Food Industry Development Division in addition to other functions.
