In a recent letter the NFU, in conjunction with NFU Cymru, National Pig Association and NFU Scotland, wrote to Andrea Leadsom MP expressing our concern. The letter said:
“Our organisations remain concerned with the possible loss of food name protection in the coming years as the United Kingdom negotiates its new relationship with the European Union. We hope that you will agree that the food name protection through the use European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) has been vital in protecting food provenance in the marketplace.
“We wish to see the continuation of food name protections in the United Kingdom following our exit from the European Union and request that DEFRA make clear at the earliest opportunity what plans there are to maintain food name protection in the United Kingdom, to provide confidence to food producers and manufacturers.”
Defra recognises the benefits of protected food names and we will continue to talk to them about how these schemes can work in the future.