§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average(a) time and (b) cost has been for registering a regional food in the last 12 months; and what assistance including advertising, her Department provides to organisations wishing to register a regional food. [56842]
§ Mr. MorleyRegional foods can be registered as EU protected food names under a system set up under Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2081–92. The application process for registering such products involves a number of steps including checks by both this Department, the agriculture Departments of the devolved Administrations and the Commission to ensure that the applications meet the940W necessary criteria for registration. Participation in the scheme is voluntary. No fee is charged on producers wishing to register a product.
In the last 12 months no UK regional food has been registered as a protected food name although a number have been lodged with the European Commission who are currently considering whether they meet the criteria for registration. Officials from this Department work closely with colleagues from the agriculture Departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as the applicant themselves in handling applications. The work involves advising applicants, both in writing and face-to-face, on the application process, the consideration of application and liaising with the European Commission. It is estimated that the staff costs to the Department for this work in the last 12 months is £15,106.10.
§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regional foods are registered in(a) Angus, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK. [56846]
§ Mr. MorleyNo regional foods have been registered as protected food names in Angus. Five regional foods have been registered in Scotland, (and including these) 31 in the UK.
§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice is given by her Department to organisations wishing to register a regional food. [56845]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Department provides written advice to organisations wishing to register a regional food. This advice covers the eligibility criteria, the information needed to support an application and details of the application process. In addition, officials from this Department, or if appropriate, officials from one of the agriculture Departments in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will visit potential applicants to advise them about completion of the required application form.
§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regional foods are registered in each other EU member state. [56847]
§ Mr. MorleyThe number of regional foods registered as protected food names by other EU member states is set out in the table:
Member state No. of registered protected food names Austria 11 Belgium 4 Denmark 12 Finland 2 France 127 Germany 62 Greece 88 Ireland 3 Italy 117 Luxembourg 4 Netherlands 5 Portugal 72 Spain 71 Sweden 2 Source:
European Commission (April 2002)