Ecclefechan Tart and Ayrshire bacon perfect for PGIs?
The study was conducted by IBP Strategy & Research on behalf of the Intellectual Assets Centre in order to identify opportunities for Scottish food and drink producers to raise their profile at home and abroad.
“We would propose shortbread and the Ecclefechan Tart as priority areas,” says IBP. "Ecclefechan Tart presents a wider opportunity to market protected food names (PFN) and could demonstrate a meaningful impact in a small community, while shortbread could be a product where possible impact is significant.
“We would also propose wild salmon and regional shellfish as priority areas. Shellfish at a national level is thought to be less likely to meet the requirements of PFN status.”
‘Minimal’ consumer understanding
Currently there are almost 900 products registered under the PFN scheme in Europe including Buxton Blue cheese, Shetland Lamb, Melton Mowbray Pork Pies and Scotch Lamb. Others in the pipeline include Fenland Celery, Bakewell Pudding, Guernsey butter, Wiltshire Cured Bacon and Yorkshire Beer.
However, consumer awareness of the schemes in the UK was “minimal”, while understanding of the criteria governing the designations was “almost non-existent”, claimed IBP.
“Currently there is poor knowledge of what the scheme is, what the process of application involves in terms of investment of time, staff and money and confusion over the classifications. This needs to be addressed in order to encourage greater participation.”
