Orkney Cheddar obtains EU protected designation

Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar has been awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status under the EU Protected Food Names (PFN) scheme. The distinction means that consumers are guaranteed they are buying the genuine  product. The announcement brings Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar into the same category of protection as high-profile products like Stornoway Black Pudding, Arbroath Smokies and Scotch Beef.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead said: “It’s superb news that Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar now holds this protected status, which helps guarantee the quality and reputation of this iconic product. Receiving the highly sought after PGI status is a real result for the local community in Orkney. Cheese makers on the islands have worked extremely hard to achieve this successful application to the EU’s PFN scheme and I’m sure they’ll go on to reap the benefits.”

“It’s now 20 years since EU legislation brought in this level of protection for food names and Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar is our thirteenth successful award. PGI status undoubtedly helps increase valuable export sales and I would strongly encourage other Scottish producers to consider how they might also take advantage of the scheme,” Tim Deakin, general manager at Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar says, “The whole company is delighted to receive PGI status, in recognition of the fact that Orkney Cheddar is produced with locally sourced milk from the Orkney Isles. Production is a marrying of the local Orkney Island milk and the crafted techniques of its forefathers who created the cheese in 1946 and have passed down their expertise through generations of Orcadian dairy farmers.”