Dave Thompson MSP

For the past 10 days the Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight has been celebrating Scotland as the Land of Food & Drink with events across the country.

Tonight (Tuesday) Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for the Highlands & Islands, will be hosting Scotland Food and Drink in the Scottish Parliament, showcasing products from 8 world-class Scottish producers and discussing the strategy of growing the industry from £7.5billion to £10 billion by 2017, with speakers including the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead and the Managing Director of Peckhams Tony Johnston.

Commenting, Dave said: "Following all the success of Scottish Food Fortnight in previous years, Scotland's biggest gastronomic celebration has been re-launched as Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight showcasing the best of the country's high quality produce and cementing the event as the popular fixture in the food and drink calendar each year.

"The Fortnight plays a crucial role in developing Scotland's reputation as the land of food and drink, and Scotland Food & Drink is playing a further critical role by leading Workstream 1 of the National Food & Drink Policy which will support the food and drink industry in terms of experts, commercialising academic expertise and delivering training and skills across the industry.

"The producers within our land of food and drink demonstrate innovation, quality and dedication every day, giving Scotland its acclaimed international reputation.  I was pleased to commend this in a motion to Parliament, also praising the efforts of the Scottish Government to increase the reach of Protected Food Name (PFN) status for more iconic Scottish dishes including Stornoway Black Pudding and Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop Cheese, among others.

"By volume and value, Scotland has some of the largest PFNs in the EU, with high value products such as Scotch Beef and Scottish Farmed Salmon accounting for around £700 million in sales.   That is why the Scottish Food & Drink fortnight is so critical in furthering the representation and celebration of these amazing foods and driving forward sustainable economic growth across the industry for the benefit of the whole of Scotland.

Notes:

Producers that will be showcasing at tonight's event:

• Walkers Shortbread
• Connage Highland Dairy
• Taste of Arran
• The Highland Chocolatier
• Summer Harvest Oils
• Glenlyon Gourmet
• Graham’s the Family Dairy
• Angus Soft Fruits
  

Copy of Dave Thompson's motion:
Short Title: Protecting and Encouraging Scottish Food and Drink
S3M-04850 Dave Thompson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): That the Parliament welcomes the 2009 Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight and its aims to encourage people to discover, buy and enjoy the produce produced on their doorstep, encourage the food industry, from restaurants to retailers and caterers, to source and champion quality Scottish produce, build Scotland’s reputation for excellent quality food and drink and raise awareness of and support for the people who produce Scotland’s food and drink; praises Scotland Food and Drink’s goal of growing the industry from £7.5 billion to £10 billion by 2017 and its vision of building Scotland’s international reputation as the land of food and drink; further welcomes the Scottish Government’s support for Scotland Food and Drink and their collaboration on Workstream 1 of the National Food and Drink Policy, driving forward sustainable economic growth across the industry and boosting the profile of Scottish produce, and finally welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to protecting the identity of iconic Scottish produce through Protected Food Name (PFN) status, with nine Scottish foods already designated PFNs, and extending the list with a number of applications currently being considered, including Stornoway black pudding, traditional Ayrshire Dunlop cheese and Scottish wild salmon, which will further cement Scotland’s reputation as the land of food and drink.

1. In 1993 EU legislation came into force which provides for a system for Protected Food Names (PFNs). To gain PFN status food must be produced, processed or prepared in the geographic area from where it originates and to which it owes its distinctive characteristics or use a traditional recipe. Under this system a named food or drink registered at a European level will be given legal protection against imitation throughout the EU.  

2. There are over 800 PFNs registered across the European Union (EU), with Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Germany accounting for around 90 per cent of all PFNs. The UK has 38 PFNs – including nine in Scotland:

• Shetland Lamb
  
• Orkney Beef
  
• Orkney Lamb
  
• Scottish Farmed Salmon
  
• Scotch Lamb
  
• Scotch Beef
  
• Arbroath Smokie
  
• Teviotdale Cheese (not in production)
  
• Bonchester Cheese (not in production)

3. By volume and value, Scotland has some of the largest PFNs in the EU, with high value products such as Scotch Beef and Scottish Farmed Salmon accounting for around £700 million in sales.  

4. A number of PFN applications are currently being considered by producers in Scotland. These include Stornoway Black Pudding, Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop Cheese and Scottish Wild Salmon. Application for registration must come from producers – the Government cannot apply on behalf of producers, although it can support and facilitate producers through the application process.

6. Scotland Food and Drink Fortnight celebrates and promotes the benefits of fresh, seasonal produce. Key aims this year include: encouraging people to discover, buy and enjoy the produce produced on their doorstep; encouraging the food industry – from restaurants to retailers and caterers – to source and champion quality Scottish produce; building Scotland's reputation for excellent quality food and drink; raising awareness of and support the people who produce our food and drink. More details are available here.

7. Measures in the new national food and drink policy to help boost the profile of Scottish produce include:

• Action to get more Scottish food onto menus in hotels, restaurants, cafes and pubs 
• Supporting more farmers markets, farm shops and local food initiatives across Scotland
• A new charter with supermarkets who have committed to playing their part in taking forward the national policy  
• Promoting a better understanding of the food chain amongst young people in Scotland's schools  
  

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