Stornoway Black Pudding Receives European Protection Status

7th May 2013

Stornoway Black Pudding has been granted Protected Geographical Indicator status by the European Commission this morning (8th May 2013).

The PGI status means that only black pudding produced in the town or parish of Stornoway on Lewis can be sold as Stornoway Black Pudding. The status puts Stornoway Black Pudding alongside Champagne and the Cornish Pasty as PGI protected produce. The status is designed to protect the reputation of the regional foods, promote rural and agricultural activity, help producers obtain a premium price for their authentic products, and eliminate the unfair competition and misleading of consumers by non-genuine products, which may be of inferior quality or of different flavour.

The campaign was spearheaded by Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant working alongside four butchers in Stornoway. The campaign was launched to protect the high quality Stornoway pudding produced on the island after concerns were raised over the sale of �Stornoway Style Black Puddings� � puddings of a lesser quality which were being produced outside of Stornoway on Lewis.

Rhoda Grant MSP said:�I am delighted that Stornoway Black Pudding has been awarded Protected Geographical Indicator status by the European Commission.

�This helps put Stornoway on the map as a producer of high quality produce and ensures the unique black pudding cannot be replicated anywhere else.

�Now when you see Stornoway Black Pudding you know that it is the genuine high quality product, you know where it has been produced and you know it is directly benefiting the Islands economy.�

Four firms in Stornoway involved in the campaign were Charles Macleod, A France & Son, W J MacDonald, MacLeod & MacLeod.