The UK government will set up its own protected geographical indication (PGI) and protected designation of origin (PDO) schemes if Britain leaves the EU without a trade deal,it has been announced.
Current EU regulations, which protect 86 UK food and drink products from imitation and evocation throughout the bloc, cover several British fruit and vegetable products. These include Armagh Bramley apples (PGI), Fenland celery (PGI), Vale of Evesham asparagus (PGI) and Yorkshire forced rhubarb (PDO).
In a technical notice outlining plans for PGI and PDO products in a ‘no deal’ scenario, Defra said an independent scheme would“broadly mirror the current EU regime and be no more burdensome to producers'. Protections will be similar to those currently enjoyed by UK GI producers, with all 86given new UKGIstatus automatically.
The UK would no longer be required to recognise EUGIstatus, however EU producers would be able to apply for UKGIstatus.
The government said it expected to introduce a new UK logo for GI products to replace the EU logo, “whether or not we leave the EU with a withdrawal agreement”.
It plans to publish guidance on a new domestic scheme in early 2019, with a consultation to discuss a UK GI logo and appeals process.
When it comes to EU protection of the UK’s protected products, Defra said it anticipates that all products currently certified by the EU's GI schemes will continue to be covered “irrespective of the outcome of EU negotiations”.
If this is not the case, UK producers wishing to regain the protection offered by EUGI status, and the right to use the EUGIlogo, would need to submit their applications to the European Commission as ‘third country’ producers.
There are currently 76 agricultural and food products with protected names, including five wines and five spirits which together make up a quarter of the value of UK food and drink exports.
