Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2021/C 492/06)

This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within three months from the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’

EU No: PGI-IE-02647 – 27 November 2020

PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1. Name(s)

‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’

2. Member State or Third Country

Ireland

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 1.1 Fresh meat (and offal)

3.2. Description of product to which the name in (1) applies

‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ is the name given to fresh and frozen bone-in and boneless beef, including carcases, quarters, bone-in cuts, boneless primals, minced beef of those cuts, and retail packs.

‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ has (i) low overall fat levels (ii) an even distribution of fat (as intermuscular marbling); (iii) a pronounced cherry-red meat colour; and (iv) a high degree of creaminess/yellowness of fat. It has a rich, complex, grassy, succulent, and juicy meat with a true beefy flavour and is tender.

Carcasses must be from the following two categories:

(i) Steers and heifers aged up to 36 months with conformation better than O- and fat score between 2+ and 4+

(ii) Beef cows of up to 120 months with conformation better than O+ and with fat score between 2+ and 5.

‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ from category (i) exhibits all the attributes in relation to a cherry-red meat colour and a cream/yellow fat colour, and external fat levels as described.

‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ described in category (ii) has an even more pronounced yellow fat and with deeper red meat colour than the steer and heifer category. Average fat levels are higher than in category (i). High pH (> 5,8) carcases are identified and excluded.

3.3. Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ only includes cattle that:

(a) Derive at least 90 % of their feed intake from grass. This is primarily grazed grass, with winter feeding of conserved grass.

(b) Spend a minimum of 220 days per year throughout their lifetime grazing pasture. Each year, as soon as weather conditions permit, ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ cattle are sent to pasture and spend 10 months, of entire days, grazing grass. Typically, cattle are housed in late November/early December when weather and ground conditions no longer facilitate active grass growth and/or grazing. A tolerance of up to 40 days is allowed due to exceptional circumstances, defined as: where weather, soil condition, other environmental conditions or animal welfare considerations are impeding factors.

Conserved Grass is only fed during the housing period (maximum 145 days). The nutritional quality of Conserved Grass is assessed by all producers as part of a winter-feeding plan. Cattle can be fed non-grass forage (e.g. Straw; Fodder Beet; Maize; other Grains) and concentrated feedstuff but this is restricted to a maximum of 10 % feed intake over the animal’s lifetime. These non-grass feeds are only used when necessary, e.g. at weaning, during winter, extreme weather episodes and during the final finishing period, but only where the nutritional quality of the grass/grass forage is insufficient to ensure optimum meat eating quality. All conserved grass must be harvested in the geographical area.

3.4. Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

Cattle must be born, raised on grass, finished, slaughtered, chilled, and quartered within the geographical area.

The meat maturation process (a minimum of 3 days or in the case of speciality manufacturing cuts, 2 days), which is essential to ensure the eating quality of ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ takes place within the geographical area.

3.5. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

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3.6. Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

Products that may be labelled as PGI ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’

— Fresh and frozen bone-in and boneless beef, including carcases, quarters, bone in cuts, boneless primal cuts, and retail packs, from qualifying categories of beef cattle.

— Minced beef containing 100 % beef sourced from qualifying categories of beef cattle and containing a minimum of 90 % visual lean beef.

— Minced beef products (e.g. Burgers) containing 100 % beef sourced from qualifying categories of beef cattle and containing a minimum of 90 % visual lean beef.

Products that may be labelled ‘as derived’ from PGI ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’

— Composite beef products containing 100 % beef sourced from qualifying categories of ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ cattle and containing a minimum of 90 % visual lean beef.

— Premium Offals (Cheek, Tail, Thick-Skirt and Tongue) sourced from qualifying categories of ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ cattle.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

Ireland

5. Link with the Geographical Area

The causal link between the product and the area in which it is produced is based on its consistently high eating quality which in turn has led to a well-established reputation. ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ has established a reputation amongst European consumers, retailers, chefs, journalists, and opinion leaders, which is based on a pasture grazing and grass forage production system that is employed to raise and ‘finish’ the qualifying categories of beef animals, processed to a strict protocol, resulting in a meat with a differentiated visual appearance and renowned eating quality.

Specificities of the geographical area : natural factors and know how

Ireland’s unique dependence on grass-based agriculture, and its grass growing potential has been recognised for centuries. Cattle rearing has long been recognised an integral part of the Irish economy.

Ireland has a temperate climate, winters are mild, harsh frosts are rare, as are high summer temperatures. The prevalent, moist, westerly winds from the warm waters of the Gulf Stream ensure that Ireland has a markedly oceanic climate with frequent rain (up to 246 rain days/year) and a low annual temperature range (rarely below 0 °C or higher than 25 °C). As a result, annual grass output/ha exceeds the European average by more than a third.

The Irish beef herd differs from other beef systems, as it results from the practice of crossing traditional breeds (e.g. Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn) with both dairy breeds (with strong maternal traits) and Continental European beef breeds (e.g. Limousin, Charolais and Simmental). The resultant hardy, crossbred animal is optimally adapted to finish on the varied climatic and geographical conditions of the geographical area.

A noteworthy scientific advance available to ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ Farmers is the ICBF (Irish Cattle Breeding Federation) genotyping database, which includes functional, breeding, performance and more recently eating quality traits and this now covers the majority of the ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef ’ herd. Integrated agricultural education and strong on-farm support provides access to cutting edge scientific research, allowing farmers to achieve maximum advantage for their beef cattle from Ireland’s grasslands. Services are available to all farmers and new entrants to farming. This scientific support is an important input in the continuous improvement in eating quality of ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’. While the primary focus is the production of a visually distinctive and superior tasting beef, recent industry initiatives also assist the ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ producer to focus on reducing the carbon footprint of his beef enterprise.

‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ farms are central to the Irish rural landscape and communities. Historically, the structure is built up around small to medium residential farm holdings, which have been handed down intergenerationally. In this structure, the farmstead is centrally located to the grazing and forage areas for the livestock allowing regular visual assessment of livestock (‘herding’) and a continuous focus on the animals wellbeing which is a significant contributor to meat eating quality.

To this day, this rural patchwork is a recognised feature of the Irish landscape. While the Irish Grass Fed Beef production model is not exclusive to family farms and does not exclude new entrants, a 2016 Farm Structures Survey published by the Irish Central Statistics Office classified 99,6 % of Irish farms as ‘family farms’ (2). However, intensive feedlot operations employing industrial farming methods, without evidence of the family farm type pasture based and grass fed practices, are not eligible for the production of “Irish Grass Fed Beef”.

A traditional beef production system based around extensive pasture rearing, persists on “Irish Grass Fed Beef” farms. Data indicate an average land availability of c 3 000 sq metres per animal. The farming system has been derived from herds built up and stockmanship skills handed down, over generations. This process has preserved the knowledge and experience in beef production, both of which are sensitive to the local geographic and climatic conditions as well as animals’ welfare requirements. Pasture based beef is associated internationally with better animal welfare, less stress and improved animal health.

Moreover grazed grass and all grass based winter forage are from the geographical area.

“Irish Grass Fed Beef” production systems prioritise:

— the greatest possible weight gain from grazed grass,

— the harvesting of surplus summer grass at its optimum growing stage (May/June) to produce high-quality winter feed, thus

— maximising the Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD) of this conserved grass. This is essential in order to ensure that grass silage can provide the vast majority of the animal’s winter nutritional requirements.

Recent studies have confirmed that “Irish Grass Fed Beef” has significantly higher concentrations of beneficial minerals and vitamins including: Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Zinc, Selenium, Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus and Vitamin E than non or low-grass feed systems.

Specificity of Product

The links between the land, people and animals show the importance placed on herdsmanship, the small family farm, local know how and grassland management by “Irish Grass Fed Beef” farmers and give the following specificities to the meat.

It has been found that “Irish Grass Fed Beef” have specific nutritional properties that differentiate them from non or low-grass feed systems: “Irish Grass Fed Beef” has a lower saturated fatty acid profile than beef from cattle fed from non or low-grass feed systems. Research also found that the differences in fatty acid content will give grass-fed beef a distinct grass flavour and unique cooking qualities such as more complex, “nutty” undertones.

Both categories of “Irish Grass Fed Beef” are visually different in terms of meat and fat colour from beef produced in non or low-grass fed systems.

A recent study found that the subcutaneous fat of “Irish Grass Fed Beef” cattle is around 40 % more yellow than that of cereal concentrate-fed animals. The higher yellowness can be related to higher levels of carotenoids (e.g. beta-carotene and lutein) in pasture from the geographical area than in cereal concentrates.’

The muscle colour in ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ is reported to be darker (deeper red) than that of cereal concentrate fed animals

The flavour which is rich, complex, grassy and juicy and properties of ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ are a consequence of the predominantly outdoor, traditional pasture grazing system where animals spend over 220 days of the year at pasture and consume over 90 % of their diet as grass from the geographical area.

Meat tenderness (texture) is one of the most important organoleptic properties influencing acceptability and eating satisfaction of meat products for consumers. The high tenderness associated with ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ is achieved because the pre-slaughter handling of livestock and post slaughter chilling and maturation of carcasses and cuts follows an exacting blueprint which Irish farmers and processors follow meticulously. This allows the natural fibre maturation/ decomposition process to occur resulting in greater tenderness and an accentuation of the natural flavours of the beef. It is also achieved thanks to proven meat technology and controlled maturation process that enhance tenderness and eliminates the risk of cold shortening is used. High pH (> 5,8) carcases are identified and excluded.

Causal link: Reputation

The links between the land, people, and animals, combined with the human factors associated with the region’s traditional herdsmanship, the Irish farming system and the grassland management techniques practised by ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ farmers creates ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’.

This results in a differentiated high quality, tender beef with a unique appearance, flavour, and nutritional profile. These properties are highly valued by consumers, chefs, and food buyers.

‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ has established two distinct premium markets, based on regional culinary differences and preferences:

(i) ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ from steers and heifers has found favour in various markets including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Luxemburg; it is positioned in these markets at a premium price.

(ii) ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ from qualifying cows has been the beef of choice in areas of Europe with a preference for richer, highly flavoured beef from mature animals (e.g. France and Northern Spain). This market niche has expanded substantially recently, as evidenced by the high-end culinary trend towards ‘mature’ cow beef (e.g. Galician) among leading European chefs.

Consumer research confirms the clear visual, taste and compositional differences between ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ and beef from non-or-low grass feed systems. Taste tests were carried out in 2011 in three European markets (Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy) to establish the consumer perception of the eating quality of ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’, which was judged against competitors. Across all three markets ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ scored higher on taste intensity, texture, and balance of fat cover/marbling in the meat.

‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ is described as having a differentiated and specific eating quality by various professionals:

— ‘a rich flavour’

— ‘succulent’

— ‘some of the world’s tastiest beef’.

Tenderness is also appreciated:

— ‘conquered by the quality (and) tenderness…of this meat’

— ‘meat is extremely tender’.

Irish steaks, in the Grass Fed Category, won more medals than any other country 2018 and 2019 World Steak Challenge. In 2019, when assessed by expert tasting panels against steak from 25 countries, striploins, rib eyes and fillets from ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ won a record 75 medals, more than any other competing country, including the World’s Best Fillet. (World Steak Challenge)

‘High Marbling from grass fed beef – Wonderful.’‘Tender and flavoursome, slightly nutty, short fibres, low acidity, extremely juicy – Wow’. Judges’ comments on ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ winning World’s Best Steak Contest, BEEF Magazine, 2009

‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ features at many leading restaurants around the world. The CIBC (Chefs Irish Beef Club) with nine chapters in Europe and internationally has over 100 participating chefs who chose to use and endorse ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ as their beef of choice. An International gathering of CIBC chefs and Bocuse d’Or winners (June 2013) heard numerous endorsements of ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef’ including:

— Mario Corti, Chef, Germany: ‘I like the grass-fed beef and for me the Irish Grass Fed Beef is the best you can find actually…’

— Jean-Paul Jeunet, Chef: ‘I want the best for my guests and in Ireland you have the grass and you have the climate and all of the year the beef are outside – it is very interesting.’

Reference to publication of the specification

(the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of this Regulation)

https://assets.gov.ie/201788/6ebea219-d05c-499e-b997-181e84cb0165.pdf

(1) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.

(2) Family farms are operated as family based enterprises (including any registered as commercial concerns). (Ref. CSO). Family farm type pasture based and grass fed practices must be evident for PGI purposes.