Minister McConalogue welcomes PGI brand for Irish beef

McConalogue welcomes collaborative approach to development of Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI brand

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Read More: beef Bord Bia Co Donegal IFA PGI

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has welcomed the collaborative approach by stakeholders in the beef sector on the development of a new Irish Grass Fed Beef Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) brand for Irish beef.

The work to secure the PGI recognition from the European Union was a five-year project which culminated in the promotional launch of the product to consumers in Italy this week.

PGI application

Commenting Minister McConalogue, noted that it takes an enormous effort to successfully get a PGI application over the line and only the best and highest quality products can reach that standard.

“Having Irish Grass Fed Beef on that exclusive list should be an immense source of pride to everybody involved in the Irish beef sector,” he said.

“I had the opportunity on a farm in Co Donegal last month to acknowledge that it’s on our farms where this product begins and it’s our farmers which are the bedrock of the sector.

“I want to acknowledge our farmers, processors, marketers and the work of my department and Bord Bia as the applicant for their collaborative approach to this project.

“PGI status means that Irish Grass Fed Beef now has unique and defined characteristics which can be marked on the label of such products to consumers.”

The event

The event to promote the Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI to consumers took place Milan last week and marked the placing on the market for the first time of Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI.

The Minister was joined in Milan by representatives of the exporter, ABP Group as well as farm body representatives with the Presidents of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), Francie Gorman and ICMSA, Denis Drennan as well as Jim O’Toole, CEO of Bord Bia.

“I’m always proud to tell the story of Irish beef wherever I go internationally and this launch in Italy is a major milestone for showcasing the premium Irish beef products on offer,” he added.

“Nobody can tell this story better than the people who work on our farms, rear our animals and process and market our quality meat.”

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Read More: beef Bord Bia Co Donegal IFA PGI

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