Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
1163. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consideration given to an application to secure EU PGI status for Irish lamb; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16552/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, Geographical indications (GIs), Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGIs) are names identifying a product as originating in a given territory, and testifying to a link between a given quality, reputation or characteristic of the product and its geographical origin.
A ‘geographical indication’ is a name, including a traditionally used name, which identifies a product: (a) originating in a specific place, region or country; (b) whose given quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin; and (c) at least one of the production steps of which takes place in the defined geographical area.
I inform the Deputy that my Department has not received an application for a protected geographical indication for "Irish lamb". There is however already a PGI registered for "Connemara Hill Lamb" and there is currently an application for a PGI for "Comeragh Mountain Lamb" which is under examination at present, following receipt of queries from European Commission on the application.
Any groups or persons interested in applying for a protected geographical indication can contact my Department at the dedicated e-mail address GeographicalIndications@agriculture.gov.ie.
