So far, 12 products enjoy protected status – including Stornoway black pudding, Arbroath Smokies and Scotch Lamb.
Protected food name status recognises the authenticity and origin of high-quality regional and traditional foods products, which are subject to an independent inspection system. The system is similar to the prestigious ‘appellation controlee’ system used for wine.
Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead said Scotland had one of the “world’s finest natural larders” and its produce was the envy of many nations around the world.
Stornoway black pudding
“In recent weeks, we have seen the Stornoway black pudding become the latest Scottish product to secure EU protected food name status and applications for Ayrshire Dunlop cheese and Orkney Island Cheddar are in the pipeline,” said Lochhead.
“But I believe there’s scope for many more producers to put their products forward for recognition, protecting them from imitation and giving their brand a real boost.”
Lochhead added that Scottish government officials would be visiting this week’s Royal Highland Show to advise food producers how to apply for protected food status.
“I hope our push at the Royal Highland Show will give more producers the encouragement they need to get involved in the scheme – ultimately their product stands to be a winner as well as Scotland’s food and drink industry as a whole,” he said.
The Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, between June 20–23.
Protection of food names
The EU implemented protected food name schemes in 1993 to provide a system for the protection of food names on a geographical or traditional recipe basis. It runs three schemes: Protected designation of origin (PDO), Protected geographical indication (PGI)and Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG).
Elsewhere in the UK, Rutland bitter and Kentish strong ale both enjoy PGI status, as do Cornish pasty, Cumberland sausage and Melton Mowbray pork pie.
In Wales, Welsh beef and Welsh lamb have PGI status.
Meanwhile, last month a food manufacturer in the Cambridgeshire village of Stilton launched a campaign for the right to call his cheese Stilton. The bid followed evidence that cheese had been made in the village as early as 1722.
Scottish protected name status products
- Stornoway Black Pudding, PDO
- Shetland Lamb, PDO
- Orkney Beef, PDO
- Orkney Lamb, PDO
- Scottish Farmed Salmon, PGI
- Scottish Wild Salmon, PGI
- Scotch Lamb, PGI
- Scotch Beef, PGI
- Arbroath Smokie, PGI
- Native Sheltland Wool
- Teviotdale Cheese, PGI, (not in production)
- Bonchester Cheese, PDO, (not in production).