Protecting geographical food and drink names in Northern Ireland

The European Union (EU) protected food name schemes protect registered product names when they are sold in Northern Ireland and the EU, and give them legal protection against imitation. There are four EU schemes. 

Protected designations of origin

The protected designations of origin (PDO) scheme is for agricultural products and foodstuffs, and wine. To get PDO for your product, you must produce, process and prepare it within a particular geographical area. You must also use local knowledge and, where relevant, traditional skills to produce it. Products with PDO have qualities and/or characteristics which must be due to the geographical area.

Lough Neagh Pollan has PDO status. 

Protected geographical indications

The protected geographical indications (PGI) scheme is for agricultural products and foodstuffs, and wines. To get PGI for your product, you must produce, process or prepare within the geographical area. Products with PGI have a reputation, characteristics or certain qualities attributable to that area.

Northern Ireland has three PGIs - Comber New Potatoes, Armagh Bramley Apples and Lough Neagh Eels.

Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG)

The TSG scheme is for agricultural products and foodstuffs. TSG highlights the traditional aspects, such as the way the product is made or its composition, without being linked to a specific geographical area.

For example, Gueuze TSG is a traditional beer obtained by spontaneous fermentation. It is generally produced in and around Brussels, Belgium. Nonetheless, being a TSG, its production method is protected but it could be produced somewhere else.

Geographical indications

The geographical indications (GI) scheme is for spirit drinks and aromatised wines. To get GI for your product, you must carry out at least one stage of distillation or preparation within the geographical area. Products with GI have a reputation, characteristics or certain qualities attributable to that area.

There are three all-island GIs for spirit drinks that may be produced in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. These are Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream and Irish Poteen (GIs).

Logos for protected products in schemes

It is mandatory for agri-food products to include the relevant EU scheme logo on their product when sold in the EU and NI. The use of logos is optional for wines and spirit drinks.