Foods unique to Ireland are to be further protected from imitators and over-rigorous regulators with a special logo, the European Commission has announced.
The new logos will identify products registered throughout the EU which are particular to geographic areas, or are certifiable because they are based on special skills or know-how. Thus, for example, bread rolls called "blaas" that are unique to the Waterford area may not be imitated if they are registered in the scheme.
Food producers in the Republic have been slow to register distinctly Irish foods.
More than 500 products throughout Europe have been registered, including such well-known specialities as Roquefort cheese from France, Parma ham from Italy and Blue Stilton cheese from Britain.
The protected designation of origin (PDO) logo identifies foods where the production, processing or preparation takes place in a specific area using local expertise. The protected geographical indication (PGI) guarantees that at least one stage of production, processing or preparation is limited to a particular area.
The new logos will assist retailers and consumers throughout the EU in identifying products which have been registered, according to the Commission.
The registrations have legal standing under EU law, and this status enables the Commission or individual producers to take legal action against imitators. Italian producers of Parma ham have successfully sued a British company seeking to make "Parma ham" in the UK.
