Companies will be required to display a product’s status as a protected food name, in written or logo form, as of May 1.
The EU Protect Food Names agency is experiencing a period of change as environmental agency ADAS takes over the work of its parent agency, the recently closed Food from Britain (FFB), as well as the new EU regulation on presentation.
But EU Protected Food Names manager Irene Bocchetta told FPJ there has never been a better time to register food which has particular heritage and can be branded Continent-wide.
“My biggest challenge is to get a producer group together and get a history of the plant or veg and build the interest or concern to get it protected,” she said.
“The Jersey Royal is an excellent example of a product that has been protected. We have to keep reminding farmers and growers that this is a great way to create exclusivity throughout Europe from field to fork.”
Yorkshire forced rhubarb’s application is currently with the EU Commission and looks set to gain the food origin accolade of Protected Geographical Indication.
One problem is, that growers sometimes do not have the finances or time to apply for a protected name but Bocchetta insists it is worth the investment. “It can be such a unifying force for the UK and now, with the new regulations, companies will have to put the status on the label which will really help exporters improve the UK’s presence worldwide.”
Products are approved after their history and unique qualities have bee studied in the two-year process that goes through ADAS national consultation and DEFRA studying before reaching EU level.
On the closure of FFB Bocchetta says there is still plenty of opportunity for UK exporters: “I can appreciate the government’s view that it wants the industry to stand on its own two feet. It has been highly beneficial for UK companies globally with offices at home and abroad but I see no reason that the UK cannot go from strength the strength.
"Thankfully for us, ADAS’ undertaking of the project will enhance our everyday operation of promoting the scheme to food and drink producers in the UK."
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