Minister McConalogue announces publication of an application for a Protected Designation of Origin for “Achill Island Sea Salt’’
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr Charlie McConalogue, T.D., announced today that following a National Opposition Procedure and his Department’s scrutiny of the application for a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for “Achill Island Sea Salt”, the application is in order to be submitted to the European Commission for evaluation.
“Achill Island Sea Salt” is the name given to ahand harvested sea salt from the waters around Achill Island, Co Mayo, Ireland.
Minister McConalogue said, “I am pleased that another application for an Irish food product is ready to be submitted to the European Commission for a protected status under the EU Quality schemes. The process for approval of a product as PGI or PDO is by its nature detailed and painstaking. But I believe that these schemes offer a real opportunity to underline and showcase the quality and tradition of Ireland’s food offering.”
The application, Single Document and the Specification document can be found at:
gov.ie - Publication of Application for PDO for “Achill Island Sea Salt” (www.gov.ie)
Any natural or legal person, having a legitimate interest and resident in Ireland, may appeal the decision on the application by submitting their appeal grounds to PGIappeals@agriculture.gov.ie by 3pm Wednesday 23rd December 2020.
Note for Editors:
EU quality policy aims at protecting the names of specific products to promote their unique characteristics, linked to their geographical origin.
The EU’s Geographical Indications (GI) scheme is beneficial to producers as it allows for the identification and protection of names of specific agricultural products which have particular value adding characteristics linked to their place of origin. GI recognition enables consumers to trust and distinguish quality products while also helping producers to market their products.
A Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) differs from a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in that for a PDO, every part of the production, processing and preparation process must take place in the specific region covered by the application.
The governing EU Regulation No. 1151/2012 provides that if, after assessment of any opposition received, the Member State considers that the requirements of the Regulation are met, it may take a favorable decision and lodge an application with the Commission. The application may be lodged while the appeal process is on-going.
The EU Commission will scrutinise the application that it receives in order to check that it is justified and that it meets the conditions of the respective scheme. This scrutiny period can last up to 6 months or longer.
An opposition procedure will be provided at EU level whereby oppositions to the application may be lodged by a Member State (other than Ireland) or a third country.
Ireland has eight registered PDO/PGI food product names -Clare Island Salmon (PGI), Imokilly Regato (PDO), Timoleague Brown Pudding (PGI), Connemara Hill Lamb (PGI), Waterford Blaa (PGI), Oriel Sea Salt (PDO), Oriel Sea Minerals (PDO) and Sneem Black Pudding (PGI).
Three spirit drink names - Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream and Irish Poitín – enjoy GI status under Regulation (EU) No. 110/2008.