Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders Club

It was announced at the Three Counties Show on Friday 18th June by Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State at Defra, that the GOS breed has been awarded TSG Status throughout Europe. TSG (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed) is part of the European Protected Food Names Scheme. They are much less common than PDOs and PGIs which are applied to products such as Champagne, Parma Ham and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies. The main difference is that while the food product remains significant, there is no geographic limitation to where the pigs are produced and processed. So instead of it having to take place within so many miles of Gloucestershire, for instance, the TSG applied to GOS pigs means they can be produced and processed anywhere in the UK or indeed within the whole of the EU.

The actual wording of the Act can be found here http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2009:238:0008:0013:EN:PDF

In brief terms, in order for pigs to comply, they must be birth notifed (the first phase of registration) and tattooed to be identified. In other words both parents by definition must be pedigree. Further, there are husbandry requirements listed to ensure that the pigs are kept in non-intensive conditions throughout their life to ensure that they are not factory farmed and they must be transported direct to a local small- or medium-sized abattoir.

Most existing GOS keepers should be able to comply with these requirements and the Club hopes to be able to implement an inspection and certification system to allow individual producers to be able to use the TSG logo. Producers who do not meet these standards cannot call their produce 'Gloucester Old Spot' or anything similar if they are not so approved even if they believe that they meet the requirements.

In time, this should raise the importance of GOS produce and help to increase prices paid to producers.

This is only the second TSG awarded in the UK, (the other was Traditional Farmfresh Turkeys), and the first TSG to a breed of any species anywhere in the world. So that alone is a major feather in our cap.

Some of the media have suggested that by limiting production methods to non-intensive, we have consigned the breed to niche-market status forever. This is quite true and deliberate bacause since the breed first began pedigree recording in 1913, it has never competed with modern breeds and hybrids for the mass market and never could do. If we can ensure the integrity of GOS produce and keep supplying a growing niche market for quality food then the future of the breed (and its keepers) should be greatly secured.

	Gloucestershire Old Spots Get Unique Protection It was announced at the Three Counties Show on Friday 18th June by Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State at Defra, that the GOS breed has been awarded TSG Status throughout Europe. TSG (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed) is part of the European Protected Food Names Scheme. They are much less common than PDOs and PGIs which are applied to products such as Champagne, Parma Ham and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies. The main difference is that while the food product remains significant, there is no geographic limitation to where the pigs are produced and processed. So instead of it having to take place within so many miles of Gloucestershire, for instance, the TSG applied to GOS pigs means they can be produced and processed anywhere in the UK or indeed within the whole of the EU. The actual wording of the Act can be found here http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2009:238:0008:0013:EN:PDF In brief terms, in order for pigs to comply, they must be birth notifed (the first phase of registration) and tattooed to be identified. In other words both parents by definition must be pedigree. Further, there are husbandry requirements listed to ensure that the pigs are kept in non-intensive conditions throughout their life to ensure that they are not factory farmed and they must be transported direct to a local small- or medium-sized abattoir. Most existing GOS keepers should be able to comply with these requirements and the Club hopes to be able to implement an inspection and certification system to allow individual producers to be able to use the TSG logo. Producers who do not meet these standards cannot call their produce 'Gloucester Old Spot' or anything similar if they are not so approved even if they believe that they meet the requirements. In time, this should raise the importance of GOS produce and help to increase prices paid to producers. This is only the second TSG awarded in the UK, (the other was Traditional Farmfresh Turkeys), and the first TSG to a breed of any species anywhere in the world. So that alone is a major feather in our cap. Some of the media have suggested that by limiting production methods to non-intensive, we have consigned the breed to niche-market status forever. This is quite true and deliberate bacause since the breed first began pedigree recording in 1913, it has never competed with modern breeds and hybrids for the mass market and never could do. If we can ensure the integrity of GOS produce and keep supplying a growing niche market for quality food then the future of the breed (and its keepers) should be greatly secured. More Information Richard Lutwyche 23rd June 2010


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