“Lapin Poron liha”, reindeer meat from Finnish Lapland, is now recognised within the EU as a high-quality traditional product. Yesterday Lapin Poron liha was added by a Commission Regulation to the list of products with a protected designation of origin (PDO), which also includes, for example, Parma ham.

This name applies to reindeer meat from reindeer born and grown in the Finnish reindeer herding area. It I also required that the meat has been cut and packed in this area. Finnish reindeer husbandry produces annually 2-2.5 million kilograms of reindeer meat.

Of the Finnish products only the Lapin Puikula potato has been registered earlier as a PDO product. Last year ”Kainuun rönttönen” pie was registered with protected geographical indication (PGI). “Karjalanpiirakka” (Karelian pie), ”kalakukko” (fish and pork pie) and ”sahti” (malt beverage) have been registered with traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG).

The purpose of the product indications applied in the EU is to protect established names of agricultural products and foodstuffs against misuse and low-priced imitations. In most cases this applies to products manufactured or produced in a traditional way in a certain area or using a certain methods for several generations. For the consumer the protection is a guarantee that the origin, raw material and production methods are known.

There are three systems for protecting product names in the EU, of which the PDO and (PGI) guarantee the production and manufacture of the products in a certain traditional geographical are. The third system, TSG, protects the traditional manufacturing method of the product. The systems apply to all Member States, which means that the registered names are protected in the whole Community territory. So far more than 800 product names have been protected.

The Reindeer Herders’ Association organises an information session on Lapin Poron liha at the Association’s headquarters in Rovaniemi (Koskikatu 33 A) on Friday 8 May at 9.00.

Further information:
Maija Heinonen, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 (0)9 160 54278, maija.heinonen@mmm.fi
Matti Särkelä, Head of Office, Reindeer Herders’ Association, tel. +358 (0)40 581 1971, matti.sarkela@paliskunnat.fi