Black pudding bid served to EU

Labelling of Stornoway black pudding could be restricted

Campaigners are taking their fight to secure EU protected status for Stornoway black pudding to Brussels.

Labour Highlands and Islands MSP Rhona Grant and butcher Charles McLeod are due to meet European Commission officials on Tuesday.

Achieving protected status would place Stornoway black pudding alongside the likes of Stilton cheese and Parma ham.

More than 1,500 people have signed a petition to stop producers outside Stornoway using the label.

Ms Grant and Mr McLeod will meet the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development to discuss their campaign.

'Strong feeling'

Ms Grant said protected status would help raise the profile of the product.

She said: "There are four butchers in Stornoway who produce the black pudding, which is acknowledged as a quality product to such an extent that it is copied by butchers on the mainland and is referred to as 'Stornoway-style' black pudding.

"The strength of feeling on the islands is clear and I will be exploring the process and timescales for achieving geographical protection."

Local butchers have already met representatives of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to highlight the campaign.