In 1993 EU legislation came into force which provides for a system for the protection of food names on a geographical or traditional recipe basis. The scheme highlights regional and traditional foods whose authenticity and origin can be guaranteed. Under this system a named food or drink registered at a European level will be given legal protection against imitation throughout the EU. Producers who register their products for protection benefit from having a raised awareness of their product throughout Europe. This may in turn help them take advantage of consumers’ increasing awareness of the importance of regional and speciality foods.

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)

Open to products which are produced, processed and prepared within a particular geographical area, and with features and characteristics which must be due to the geographical area.

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)

Open to products which must be produced or processed or prepared within the geographical area and have a reputation, features or certain qualities attributable to that area.

Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)

Open to products which are traditional or have customary names and have a set of features which distinguish them from other similar products. These features must not be due to the geographical area the product is produced in nor entirely based on technical advances in the method of production.

Latest news

• January 2012 – Defra’s decision (PDF 70 KB) on East Kent Goldings PDO (PDF 150 KB) application.
  
• November 2011 – Melton Mowbray Pork Pie. Defra has made its decision on the application by the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association to amend the PGI specification for Melton Mowbray Pork Pie.  A copy of the Decision Letter (PDF 370 KB) and attachments (ZIP 250 KB) are available.
  
• November 2011 – Lough Neagh Eels (PGI) (PDF 100 KB) and Native Shetland Wool PDO (PDF 50 KB) gain protected status
  
• September 2011 – Defra’s decision (PDF 60 KB) on Orkney Island Cheddar (PGI) (PDF 150 KB) application
  
• July 2011 – Defra’s decision on the applications to protect Fenland Celery (PDF 80 KB), Lakeland Herdwick (PDF 80 KB) and Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop (PDF 80 KB)
• June 2011 – Application to protect Newmarket Sausage (PGI) (PDF 90 KB) submitted to Brussels.
• May 2011 - Defra’s  decision (PDF 70 KB) on the application to protect Newmarket Sausage (PDF 90 KB) notified to interested parties.
• 18 March 2011 – Traditional Cumberland sausages win protected status in Europe
• February 2011 – Cornish pasties won official recognition protection under the EU protected food names scheme
• February 2011 – Application to protect Isle of Man Queenies (PDF 110 KB) as a PDO submitted to Brussels.

The logos can be downloaded from the European Commission website.

See also

• Products applying for Protected Food Name status
• UK registered Protected Food Names
• Application procedure
• Objection procedure (PDF 30 KB)
• Protected Food Names Scheme contacts
• European Commission site for protected food name scheme
• European Commission – Database of Origin Registration (DOOR)