Shetland wool wins elite European status

ORGANIC Shetland wool is set to become the first non-food product from Britain to be awarded the same level of special protection from the European Commission granted to Roquefort cheese, Parma ham, and Scotland’s own Arbroath smokie.

The highest level of protection awarded by the European Union will come into force on 28 November, enabling all “Native Shetland Wool” products to carry the commission’s distinctive protected-product symbol to prevent fake Shetland woollen items being produced anywhere else in Europe.

The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) accreditation was granted to the Arbroath smokie in 2004, while two other famous Scottish food products – Stornoway black pudding and the Forfar bridie – are currently pursuing bids for similar protection.

The success of the Shetland bid, first launched six years ago, was announced by Richard Lochhead, the Scottish rural affairs secretary.

He said: “Scotland is home to some of the most popular protected food name products in Europe – including Scotch Beef and Scottish Farmed Salmon – and I’m delighted that Native Shetland Wool joins this exclusive club, as the first non-food product Scotland.

“This PDO proves there is further opportunity for farmers through animal by-products to carve out a prestigious, desirable commodity as well as food and drink.”

Mr Lochhead added: “The high quality of Scottish sheep fleece together with extensive world-wide promotion of wool has seen demand soar. Consumers are moving away from synthetic offerings and demanding the genuine article – be it clothing or furnishings. Therefore, protecting our valuable natural resources is absolutely crucial.

“Scotland is a land rich in raw materials and the Scottish government will work with companies to make sure more of our iconic produce has maximum protection. There is no substitute for our fantastic Scottish produce, and the market clearly shows this.

“The 2010 wool clip value is double that of 2009, and three times that of 2008. Scottish sheep farmers are well placed to benefit from this remarkable rise in market prices, currently at a 25-year high.”

The bid to secure PDO accreditation for organic native Shetland wool was led by ShetlandOrganics CIC, a community interest company of crofters and farmers formed in August 2001 to promote the organic movement in Shetland and initiate a series of business development projects.

Dorota Rychlik, from ShetlandOrganics CIC, said: “We are all delighted that as ShetlandOrganics members, we have finally received the well-deserved accreditation which, we find, means a lot to our well-informed customer and buyer of our outstanding woollen products.

“It comes at the time of increasing consumer awareness of provenance and traceability, and while the indigenous industries are enjoying a happy revival, as demonstrated by the popularity of our Wool Week here, in Shetland.”

Ms Rychlik added: “We could not have hoped for a better boost for our long-term determination to achieve European and world-wide recognition for the special quality of Shetland wool.”