Northern Ireland will use the European Commission’s opposition procedure to join the Irish grass-fed beef protected geographical indication (PGI) application, the Irish Farmers Journal has learned.

The application was first submitted by the Irish Government in November 2020 to apply to the Republic of Ireland only. The EU opened a three-month consultation period on 8 December 2021 to allow a “notice of opposition” be submitted, as per normal procedure.

Chief executive of the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) Ian Stevenson told the Irish Farmers Journal that while technically it is called an opposition procedure, the LMC is “not in any way opposed to the PGI, in fact they are completely supportive of it and want to be a part of it”.

Join application

He also said that Northern Ireland would have preferred to be part of a joint application from the outset, but that wasn’t possible and this is the point where they can join the process through using the procedure.

Stevenson is also hopeful that with a fair wind, the process can be completed this year.

When asked for an update on the PGI ahead of the launch of Bord Bia’s Performance and Prospects report on Wednesday, its CEO Tara McCarthy said that it has been accepted and is now opened to opposition procedures for a three-month window for commentary.

“After that process, we can respond to comments in open dialogue,” she said.