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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PGI?
Since 1993, the European Union (EU) has provided a framework that gives
legal protection for named regional food products against imitation
across the EU. This framework is important because it aims to
protect and promote regional food products and rural economies that can
become vulnerable as the EU expands and regional markets move to
national and international supply chains.
A Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) is one of three European
designations created to protect regional foods that have a specific
quality, reputation or other characteristics attributable to that
area. It acts like a Trade Mark or ‘Appellation Controllee’ and
stops manufacturers from outside a region copying a regional product
and selling it as that product.
The Cornish pasty was awarded PGI status in 2011 which means that only
Cornish pasties made in Cornwall and following the traditional recipe
can legally be called ‘Cornish pasties’.
Are my Cornish pasties
genuine?
A genuine Cornish pasty has a distinctive ‘D’ shape and is crimped on
one side, never on top. The filling for the pasty is made up of
uncooked minced or roughly cut chunks of beef (not less than 12.5%),
swede, potato and onion with a light seasoning. The pastry casing
is golden in colour, savoury, glazed with milk or egg and robust enough
to retain its shape throughout the cooking and cooling process without
splitting or cracking. The whole pasty is slow-baked to ensure
that flavours from the raw ingredients are maximised. No
artificial flavourings or additives must be used. And, perhaps most
importantly, it must be made in Cornwall.
What does the PGI status
mean for Cornish pasty makers?
Since the regulation was published in the Official Journal of the
European Union, Cornish pasty makers who do not meet the requirements
of the registered specification and are not eligible to make use of the
transitional arrangements, must take action immediately to ensure that
their products will no longer carry the protected name.
There are only seven businesses entitled to benefit from the three year
transitional period, where production of non genuine Cornish pasties
will be halted and marketing materials and packaging changed. After
this three year period is over, these businesses must ensure their non
genuine products do not carry the protected name.
How will the industry be
regulated?
Trading Standards will be visiting pasty producers who label their
products as Cornish pasties to establish whether the pasties are made
according to the requirements of the registered specification.
Producers that do not comply with regulation will either be required to
adjust the way they produce Cornish pasties or to stop trading their
products as Cornish pasties.
How do consumers know if
they have bought a genuine Cornish pasty?
PGI approved products will carry an official PGI symbol on pack.
Bakeries who sell genuine Cornish pasties will show the PGI logo in
their stores too.
All Cornish pasty producers that wish to label and sell pasties as
Cornish pasties will be required to undergo a product authentication
inspection. Inspections will be carried out annually by Trading
Standards to ensure the Cornish pasties are genuine.
Consumers should look for the Cornish Pasty Association’s logo as this
is being used by the members to demonstrate that their product
specification complies with the PGI standards and is the genuine
article.
Who should I go to for
advice on this issue?
The Cornwall Development Company can be contacted on 01209 616 093 or
by email on info@cornishpastyassociation.co.uk
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