Scots EU MEPs fight for the rights of haggis

A cross-party group of Scottish MEPs have launched a bid to secure EU market protection for haggis.

They are seeking recognition for their national dish to be known as “Scotch or Scottish haggis”, under EU regulations called protected geographical indications or PGIs.

The regulation states that PGIs “identify a good as originating in the territory of a member state or a region or locality of that territory, where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin”.

The MEPs, Struan Stevenson, Alyn Smith, Elspeth Attwooll, Catherine Stihler, John Purvis and Ian Hudghton, argue that protection for haggis is necessary to ensure that no-one outside Scotland can try to pass off haggis as Scottish by adding tartan labels or pictures of bagpipers in an attempt to “mislead” the public.

Smith said that confirming Scottish haggis as a traditional speciality would ensure that the product is made in Scotland.

So far, across the EU, more than 4200 wines and spirits and 600 other products have achieved protected status under the PGI regulations, including champagne, feta cheese and Shetland lamb.

Scots around the world will toast the haggis in verse on 25 January for Burns night, thought to be the birthday of the Scottish poet and balladeer.

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