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In a letter to three Secretaries of State, NFU Scotland has called for changes to be made to the way the UK proposes to deal with new products seeking Protected Food Names (PFN) status post-Brexit.PFN is the overall catch-all for any scheme to protect food names. The European system of PFN breaks down protected food names into three categories: Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) such as Orkney Beef and Lamb; Protected Geographical Indicator (PGI) such as Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSG).Post-Brexit, the Government’s current intention is to keep a UK system of PFN separate from the European system. That has no implications for existing PFN protected products but does mean that food producers who require future name protection will have to apply to both the UK Government and European Commission if they wish to receive protection in the UK and European Union. Given the additional layer of bureaucracy that they would face, NFU Scotland has written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove; the Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox and the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Dominic Raab.It calls for the system of mutual recognition of PFNs with Europe to be maintained and raises concerns that the food name protections Scotland enjoys just now could be lost under future trade deals if we do not maintain the system of mutual recognition with the European Union.NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick said: “Food name protection has brought significant benefits to Scottish food and farming. Products such as Scotch Whisky, Scottish Farmed Salmon, Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb. Stornoway Black Pudding and Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar all have PGI status and all have all been protected from imitation in a market of more than 500 million potential customers across Europe.“Given the huge uncertainties generated by Brexit, it will come as no surprise that we are extremely concerned that the food name protections we have just now could be lost under new trade deals if we do not maintain the existing system of mutual recognition with the European Union.“Currently, food producers apply to the UK Government or devolved administrations who then take the application to the European Commission. The understanding of NFUS is that the UK Government’s proposed position in dealing with new applications will add an additional bureaucratic step. “We are calling on the UK Government to seek a memorandum of understanding of mutual recognition for food name protection. This would mean that if the UK Government gives protection to a UK food product then this will also be given to the product in the European Union, equally if the European Commission gives protection to a European food product then the UK Government will adopt protection for this product in the United Kingdom.“We appreciate timetables are tight, particularly if the UK Government hopes to agree a deal with the European Union by early November, but we believe this is a sensible approach which will avoid any duplication of the current arrangements.” Notes to Editors
EndsContact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006
Author: Bob Carruth
Date Published: 13/09/2018
News Article No.: 132/18
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A dairy farmer’s son, I joined NFU Scotland in 1999 after 13 years as an agricultural journalist. Following spells as a regional manager and policy lead on milk, livestock and animal health and welfare, I became Communications Director in 2008.
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