EU scheme to promote Northern Irish artisan food globally
A new European Union funding programme has been approved in the European Parliament, meaning that food items with protected EU status will be available internationally.
The move - which sees an increase in funding from £51 million across the EU to £165 million in 2020 - aims to promote the high quality of Europe's agricultural products in fast-developing countries such as China.
The move could benefit the three Northern Irish products which have been granted EU Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status - Armagh Bramley Apples (awarded in March 2012), Comber New Season Potatoes (January 2012) and Lough Neagh Eels (September 2011).
To date, they are among over 60 food items produced in the UK have gained EU protected status.
The expanded scheme, voted for by MEPs this week, will fund extra promotion of local speciality food and agricultural products in Europe and also in fast-growing economies around the world such as China and South Korea. The budget will see a significant boost from £51 million across the EU in 2014 to £165 million in 2020.
This revised and expanded scheme for speciality foods will give local producers across the region real help to take their finest products to the world.
The European Parliament voted to widen the scheme with a bigger budget to give producers significant extra funding to boost exports and win over new customers abroad.
Currently 62 unique products in the UK have gained EU protected status, protecting them from imitation or fraud and ensuring that customers know they are buying an authentic locally sourced product.
Projects funded under the new scheme will aim to increase awareness about the high quality of local products and the traditional methods used to make them, with a specific focus on winning over new customers in high-growth markets abroad. 70-80 per cent of funding for each programme will come from the EU, with the remainder being paid for by the individual producer or group of businesses.
As well as traditional products with EU protected status, certain other high quality agricultural products will be eligible including organic produce and fresh fruit and vegetables.
The existing EU scheme has three designations, the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical indication (PGI), and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) status.