Protecting geographical food and drink names in Northern Ireland
Guidance on geographical indication and traditional specialty guaranteed protection for food, drink or agricultural products in Northern Ireland.
There are schemes, in the UK and EU, for protecting the names of food, drink and agricultural products. To be eligible for protection, a product must have characteristics or reputation derived from its geographical origin - this is known as geographical indication (GI) protection. You can also protect food and drink names of products that are produced using a traditional recipe - this is known as traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) protection.
UK schemes apply to products marketed in Great Britain. European Union (EU) schemes apply to products marketed in Northern Ireland and the EU. This has been the case since 1 January 2021.
All product names protected by EU schemes before 31 December 2020 continue to be protected under the UK and EU schemes.
This guide explains the UK protected food name schemes and EU protected food name schemes. It also advises on how to apply for protecting a geographical food or drink name in Northern Ireland.
What are geographical indications and protected food names?
Explanation and examples of geographical indications and protected food names, used to protect products from imitation.
Geographical indications (GIs) are place names used to identify the origin and quality, reputation or other characteristics of products.
Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) status is open to products which are traditional or have customary names, and have a set of features which distinguish them from other similar products.
To gain GI protection, a product must have characteristics, qualities or reputation derived from its geographical origin – perhaps due to its climate and environment and/or the expertise of producers in the area. For example, Cornish clotted cream or Orkney beef.
To gain TSG status, a product must be produced using traditional methods. For example, traditionally farmed Gloucestershire Old Spots pork.
UK and European Union (EU) schemes give legal protection against imitation to products with GI or TSG status. See EU GI Schemes and UK GI schemes.
An individual or business does not own a protected food or drink name. Any producer can make and sell a product under a registered product name if they:
- follow the product’s specification
- are verified to do so
Northern Ireland geographical indications
The products with GIs in Northern Ireland are:
- Comber New Potatoes
- Armagh Bramley Apples
- Lough Neagh Eels
- Lough Neagh Pollan
- Irish Cream (‘all-island’ name protection)
- Irish Poteen (‘all-island’ name protection)
- Irish Whiskey (‘all-island’ name protection)
- Irish Grass Fed Beef (‘all-island’ name protection – EU Scheme only)
Product names on the EU GI register can be viewed on the EU Quality products register. Product names on the UK GI register can be viewed on the UK register.
Apply to protect a geographical food or drink name in Northern Ireland
How to protect a product name under UK and EU geographical indication schemes in Northern Ireland.
If you are a Northern Ireland producer, you can apply to protect a product name in Northern Ireland and the European Union (EU) under the EU GI scheme. You can also apply to the UK geographical indication (GI) scheme to protect your product name in Great Britain. You do not need to secure UK GI protection first.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will handle applications under both the UK and EU GI scheme application processes. You must make it clear if you are applying to one or both schemes in your application.
Defra is the competent authority for the GI schemes in the UK (including Northern Ireland). Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has an advisory role in Northern Ireland.
If applying for an all-island GI, Defra and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the Republic of Ireland would work together on the submission. For more information, contact DAERA.
Help with applications
DAERA offers help and advice to applicants in the completion of their applications. It also acts as a liaison between Defra and the applicant.
DAERA - Food Security, Beef, Pigs and Sheep Policy Branch
1st Floor East
Clare House
303 Airport Road West
Belfast
BT3 9ED
Telephone: 028 9037 8339
EU protected food name schemes
Description of the four EU protected food name schemes which protect registered product names when they are marketed in Northern Ireland.
The European Union (EU) protected food name schemes protect registered product names when they are marketed 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. It also has PDO status under the UK schemes.
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 four PGIs - Comber New Potatoes, Armagh Bramley Apples, Lough Neagh Eels and Irish Grass Fed Beef (which may be produced in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland).
Comber New Potatoes, Armagh Bramley Apples and Lough Neagh Eel also have PGI status under the UK schemes.
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). These also have GI status under the UK schemes.
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.
UK protected food name schemes
Description of the UK protected food name schemes which protect registered product names when they are marketed in Great Britain.
The UK protected food name schemes protect registered product names when they are marketed in England, Scotland and Wales. The UK schemes and designations are similar to the European Union (EU) schemes and may protect:
- food, agricultural products, beer, cider and perry
- wine
- aromatised wine
- spirit drinks
Products registered on the EU schemes prior to 1 January 2021 have been automatically transferred to the UK schemes.
The UK has the following designations of protection for protected food name products.
Protected designation of origin (PDO)
To get a PDO for your product you must produce, process and prepare it in the geographical area you identify in your application. You must use local knowledge and, where relevant, traditional skills to produce it.
A product with a PDO is recognised for its qualities and characteristics that are exclusively a result of the geographical area it comes from. Examples include Cornish clotted cream or Orkney beef.
Protected geographical indication (PGI)
To get a PGI for your product, you must carry out at least one important stage of preparation in the geographical area you identify in your application. That's either production, processing or preparing the product.
A product with a PGI is recognised for its reputation, qualities or characteristics attributed to the local area, such as Welsh lamb or Armagh Bramley apples.
Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG)
To get a TSG for your product, you must:
- have a traditional name that's been in use for 30 years or more
- produce it using traditional methods or a traditional recipe
A product with TSG protection does not need to be produced in a specific geographical area. Examples include:
- traditionally farmed Gloucestershire Old Spots pork
- traditional farm-fresh turkey
Geographical indications (GI)
The GI scheme is for spirit drinks and aromatised wines. A protected spirit drink name originates in a territory of a country or a region or locality within that territory. The spirit drink's quality, reputation or distinctive characteristic is attributed to its geographical location.
Logos for protected products in UK schemes
Rules on how you use a UK GI logo are specific to each UK GI scheme. They also vary depending on:
- where the protected product is sold
- when the protected product was registered (before or after 1 January 2021)
Existing agri-food products protected under the UK schemes marketed in Great Britain must use the appropriate UK GI logos. Newly registered products must now use the appropriate logo. The use of logos is optional for wines and spirit drinks.
Read the rules on adding a UK GI scheme logo to a protected food or drink name.