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Think local – protect local: protecting UK geographical food and drink

In the UK, we are spoilt by the abundance of fresh produce and products that are produced within our country and are enjoyed across the world.

In order to ensure these products remain at the highest of quality, it is important to their producers that they are protected in some way.

This is done by way of an application through a Protected Food name Scheme of which there are three:

  1. Protected designation of origin (PDO)

To get a PDO for your product you must produce, process and prepare it in the geographical area you identify in your application. Therefore in the case of Lawdit’s local produce, this could be the Isle of Wight.

You must use local knowledge and, where relevant, traditional skills to produce it.

A product with a PDO is recognised for its qualities and characteristics that are exclusively a result of the geographical area it comes from. An example of this would be Cornish clotted cream.

  • Protected geographical indication (PGI)

To get a PGI for your product, you must carry out at least one important stage of preparation in the geographical area you identify in your application. That’s either production, processing or preparing the product. This is less stringent than a PDO so may be more appropriate for some local produce.

A product with a PGI is recognised for its reputation, qualities or characteristics attributed to the local area, such as Welsh lamb or Armagh Bramley apples.

  • Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG)

To get a TSG for your product, you must:

  • have a traditional name that’s been in use for 30 years or more
  • produce it using traditional methods or a traditional recipe

A product with TSG protection does not need to be produced in a specific geographical area. An example would include traditionally farmed Gloucestershire Old Spots pork.

There are certain products that are covered by each category therefore please do get in touch with us and we can guide you through the process on how you can make the application and the information you need to include.

Our intellectual property team is here to help. Please get in touch at info@lawdit.co.uk.

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Picture of Ellis Sweetenham

Ellis Sweetenham

Ellis is a contentious and non-contentious intellectual property (IP) solicitor at Lawdit Solicitors. Ellis also is an the Director and an intellectual property law consultant at Lawdit’s sister company Trademarkroom. Ellis qualified as a solicitor in 2019, and over her qualified years has gained valuable experience in all contentious and non- contentious matters relating to trade marks, copyright, designs and patents. Ellis has represented clients in a variety of matters, including those relating to infringement, licensing, oppositions, cancellations, invalidations, assignment, portfolio management, pre-filing due diligence and registration. This includes matters before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, UK Intellectual Property Office, EU Intellectual Property Office and Word Intellectual Property Organisation. In addition to IP matters, Ellis is also experienced in other commercial law matters, including music law, defamation, data protection, civil litigation and commercial disputes. Ellis has built a reputation for being detail-focused and thorough, always available to provide clients with the highest level of client care. Ellis acts with the highest level of professionalism to ensure that her clients are well informed and their best interests are at the centre of all advice given and action taken. Ellis is a regular on the Lawdit Solicitors Mark Wing Podcast, and has written many legal articles, both for Lawdit and Trademarkroom’s reading room, as well as for external IP publications. Ellis is based in our Isle of Wight office.