|
|
| Wales turn to ADAS to help protect their food heritage - 29 July 2010Rural Affairs Minister launches initiative to protect Welsh food & drink identities
The Royal Welsh Show Wednesday 21 July 2010
Welsh food and drink products could join the ranks of Champagne and Parma Ham and have their names protected by European law with the launch today of an initiative by the Welsh Assembly Government. The new European Protected Food Names initiative was launched by Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones at the Royal Welsh Show, to increase the number of Welsh products eligible for special designation status.
Producers who have attained special designation status receive legal protection throughout the EU against imitation. They also enjoy enhanced industry and consumer awareness across home and Europe markets, particularly significant at time of increased consumer appreciation of the importance of regional and specialty foods. There are 42 products in the UK which enjoy special designation status including names such as Jersey Royal Potatoes, Cornish Clotted Cream and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies. Currently the only Welsh products which enjoy this designation are Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef which have Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status.
The Welsh Assembly Government’s Local Sourcing Action Plan, which was launched last year, contains actions to increase the amount bought of locally produced food and drink.
One of the key aims is to encourage producers and processors to pursue the European Commission’s PGI, PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), TSG (Traditional Specialty Guaranteed) and organic designations.
The Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones said: “At present Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef are the only designated products.The benefits for the sector have been tremendous in terms of consumer and trade recognition both within the United Kingdom but also overseas. We aim to increase the Welsh share from two to ten over the next two years, and we will do this in consultation with the Welsh food and drink sector.”
European Protected Food Names initiative has been introduced by the Welsh Assembly Government to support up to seven applications during the next two years, with the Welsh Assembly Government allocating £75,000 from its existing support budgets towards the initiative.
The application process will involve a robust set of criteria applied to each application. Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales will continue to oversee the application process for red meat and pig meat products, while other applications will be administered by environmental and rural development consultants, ADAS. The formal application will be undertaken by DEFRA as the UK Authority.
|
| GLOUCESTERSHIRE OLD SPOTS CRACKLING GOOD PROTECTED PORK - 21 June 2010Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman today welcomed producers of Gloucestershire Old Spots pork to the growing list of British specially protected foods and drink that have gained specially protected status throughout Europe.
Gloucester Old Spots is the second product to gain Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) accreditation after Traditional Farmfresh Turkey achieved protection ten years ago. It is the latest in a series of 42 British products such as Melton Mowbray pork pies and Cornish clotted cream to win European protection, and joins the ranks of Champagne and Parma Ham in the register of Europe’s protected food and drink names.
Speaking at the Three Counties Show in Malvern, Caroline Spelman said:
“It’s great to be here to celebrate the unique quality of another one of our delicious traditional foods. Gloucester Old Spots pork thoroughly deserves the status and protection offered to it throughout Europe.
“Gloucester Old Spots is the 42nd product to gain protected status but I know that there must be many other types of food and drink out there which could apply for this special recognition and I’d like to encourage them to come forward – our great food and drink should be celebrated.”
Gloucester Old Spot pork has to come from pedigree pigs and the pork is particularly special because the nature of the breed and the way they are farmed mean that it scores higher for texture (tenderness) and juiciness than conventionally produced pork.
As the 42nd British product to be added to the list of legally-protected names, Gloucester Old Spots joins the likes of West Country Farmhouse Cheddar, Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb and Cornish Sardines.
Dave Overton, President of the Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders' Club said:
“"This has come about after a great deal of work and effort both by ourselves and the small team at Defra. For the Gloucestershire Old Spots breed to be the first of any species in the world to be granted TSG status throughout Europe is a significant achievement and will help us to ensure that the integrity of the special meat from these pigs is maintained and that the public can be sure of a real treat when they purchase it in future.
“Numbers of the breed have increased significantly in recent years on the back of its special eating qualities and it is important that the public have this protection to ensure they are not duped by unscrupulous traders passing off other meats as GOS produce."
The success of the application is a result of the close co-operation between Defra and the Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders' Club.
- Further details about the Gloucestershire Old Spot can be found at Defra's protected food names web pages:
- Defra work closely with ADAS, (the delivery body responsible for dealing with the administration of the scheme) and a wide range of other organisation to raise awareness of the Protected Food Name (PFN) scheme and encourage more applications.
- The EU Protected Food Name scheme came into force in 1993. It provides for a system for the protection of food names on a geographical or traditional recipe basis. The designations are Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG). The scheme highlights regional and traditional foods whose authenticity and origin can be guaranteed. Under this system a named food or drink registered at a European level will be given legal protection against imitation throughout the EU.
- Further information about the EU scheme, together with application forms and guidance notes can be obtained from ADAS on 020 7238 6678, or irene.bocchetta@adas.co.uk.
- Details of the scheme, including a full list of UK (and other Member States’) products covered, can be found on the EU website: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/.
- Forty-two British products now enjoy protection under the scheme including Arbroath Smokies, Cornish Clotted Cream, Melton Mowbray Pork Pies and Welsh Lamb. There are almost 40 other applications currently in the pipeline to protect various UK products.
|
| Summer was officially launched at Partridges - 28 April 2010Summer was officially launched at Partridges - London, the weekend of the 24th April, as over 60 food and drink traders participated in the summer version of the “Best of British” outdoor market! Naturally some of our very own Protected Food Name (PFN) producers participated, as quite frankly they are the Best of British food and drink!
It is thanks to John Shepherd’s (Partridges Managing Director) unbeatable enthusiasm in wanting to promote UK Protected Food Names, that several PFN producers participated in this outdoor food market, right outside the famously renowned store and on the very edges of the tourist hotspot, The Kings Road, Chelsea.
John’s wish is to see more of this type of activity and to that end is looking forward to other seasonal markets, where more UK PFN producers can take part. This time luckily for Jersey Royals, it was at the beginning of their season and many wanted to get their hands on those yummy spuds! Other products that participated were Mrs. Kings and Northfield Farm Melton Mowbray Pork Pies PGI, Single Gloucester Cheese PDO, Somerset Cider Brandy, Cornish Clotted Cream PDO, Dorset Blue Vinney PGI, Stilton PDO, Staffordshire Cheese PDO.
We are very fortunate to have a retailer with such prestige to champion our cause and we, like John, look forward to what the other seasonal PFN markets will hold!
Here are some photos of the day, taken by Julia (aka David Bailey).
|
| Protected Food Names get covered by top industry press - 02 April 2010Both the Grocer and Speciality Food Magazine wrote extensively about the benefits of having food protected. Articles can be found here. |
| Yorkshire Rhubarb joins Europe’s Protected Food elite! - 25 February 2010
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn today praised rhubarb producers from Yorkshire whose fruit has joined the ranks of Champagne and Parma Ham on a list of Europe’s specially protected food and drink. Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb has been awarded Protected Designation of Origin status by the European Comission’s Protected Food Name scheme after being recommended by Defra.
|
| Cornish Sardines are the 40th food in the UK to be granted EU Protection - 14 December 2009The Cornish Sardine is the latest UK product to be recognised under the EU Protected Food Names Scheme for its quality and regional identity. read more ... |
| If it says just “British” on the packet it will be just British in the packet - 10 December 2009A new code of practice on the labelling of pork and pork products is to be drawn up following agreement by pig producers, processors, major food retailers, and the food service sector. read more ... |
| Some of Britain’s tastiest treats were on offer this week as Defra held a Christmas market - 10 December 2009Celebrating the best regional and specialty food this country has to offer, and also highlight the benefits to food producers of applying for the EU’s Protected Food Name status. read more ... |
| Protected Food Names - Conference - 02 December 2009
| Andy McGowan, Quality Meat Scotland - Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb - A Scottish success story for traditional Scottish Food; Irene Bocchetta, |
read more ... |
| GRIMSBY SMOKED FISH NETS EU SEAL OF APPROVAL - 25 November 2009
Traditional Grimsby Smoked Fish is the latest UK product to be recognised under the EU Regionally Protected Food Names scheme for its quality and regional identity. The product was awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status because the way the cod and haddock is specially prepared is traditional to the Grimsby area.
Yorkshire Post............Traditional skills are recognised as Grimsby's smoked fish wins special European status
   read more ... |
|
|
|