Protecting and promoting regional speciality food and drink products in the European Union

Despite the increasingly globalized nature of food production and consumpti on patterns, the demand for regional speciality food and drink products is also increasing. Yet Little research exists that examines the link between specific products and particular places. This paper reports on an EU regula tion aimed at 'protecting' and 'promoting' food and drink products with a r ecognizable geographical origin. Results indicate quite marked national and regional variations in patterns of uptake, reflecting differences in both the cultural significance of regional foods in Europe and the importance of producer cooperatives. There is a real danger that the regulation will ben efit larger producers and retailers, rather than genuine small-scale busine sses.