Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2021
57. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the application to secure EU PGI status for Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60286/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the PGI application for Irish Grass Fed Beef was submitted to the EU Commission in November 2020.
As part of its detailed scrutiny of the application, the European Commission raised a number of queries with my Department over the period May to October 2021. My officials, together with Bord Bia, responded to those queries.
I welcome the publication by the EU Commission on 8th December 2021 of the PGI application for the next stage of the process which will allow EU Member States and Third Countries to submit views on the application. The period of this consultation process is a minimum of three months and can be extended by the Commission.
If successfully registered, PGI status for Irish Grass Fed Beef could have significant benefits for all those in the supply chain, particularly our beef farmers who are the cornerstone of the sector.
My Department will continue to engage with the European Commission on this application, and with their counterparts in Northern Ireland with a view to ensuring that Northern Ireland can join the application at the appropriate time and I understand that the Commission will now be available to join those discussions as needed.
In time, I want the PGI standard to be extended on an all-island basis as I believe it can be beneficial to all our beef farmers.
