Plaid Cymru calls for Welsh food branding to be maintained despite Brexit

Plaid Cymru calls for Welsh food branding to be maintained despite Brexit

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Simon Thomas has called on the Welsh Government to take the threat to Welsh food branding by Brexit seriously.

The Assembly Member has tabled a motion calling on the Labour led administration to ensure that food from Wales is recognised as Welsh food as we leave the EU.

In the statement of opinion Mid and West AM Simon Thomas has also congratulated Carwyn Adams and his family  from Caws Cenarth on obtaining European Protected Food Name (PFN) status for traditional Welsh Caerphilly cheese.

Wales has 15 food and drink products that have achieved PFN status.

Plaid Cymru’s Simon Thomas said:

“Every penny we spend on food from Wales benefits our own farmers and food producers. It boosts the local economy, is better for the environment in terms of food miles, yet we seem to whisper about our food rather than trumpet it. If you think today’s experiences of food in Wales is a bit of a sorry state just wait until the Brexit manure flies off the muck spreader.

“The main route to move Welsh food up the quality chain and improve exports and prices has been the designation of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status.Hybu Cig Cymru estimate that 25% of the growth in Welsh lamb exports between 2003 and 2012 can be directly attributed to its PGI status.

“Astonishingly however, as we leave the EU, there is no guarantee either of the continuation of PGI status for Welsh food nor even that Welsh food will be branded as Welsh. It is important that Welsh food is recognised as Welsh food as we exit the European Union, rather than it being draped in the Union Jack or marked as from some vague geographical Britain.

“This is vital for our nation’s self-confidence and economy. Food and drink companies turn over nearly £7 billion a year and exports increased nearly 13% in the first six months of 2016—an increase of £15.2 million alone.

“Now is the time that we should be upping our game on branding food from Wales as Welsh, with a clear story to tell about our excellent quality, the source of the food, animal welfare and environmental standards.

“I am not convinced that the Welsh Government is taking this threat to Welsh branding seriously enough. It axed our own food awards in 2013. “Gwir Flas” had an enviable marketing edge and told the story of the quality of our food. We need to bring back our own food awards, not rely on “Welsh winners” in a UK “Great Taste” competition.

“Awards raise status and increase ambition within the sector. A Plaid Cymru Welsh Government would have also designated 2018 as a National Year of Welsh Food and Drink to promote Wales’ quality produce in a sustained and intensive year-long campaign to encourage customers in the UK and overseas to buy more Welsh products.

“We don’t want Welsh food marketed and branded as “food from the UK”. We can work together on these islands for the highest quality food, but the story we tell when we sell must have a distinct Welsh flavour.”

Plaid Cymru yn galw am gadw brand bwyd Cymru er gwaethaf Brexit

Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet Cysgodol ar Faterion Gwledig, Simon Thomas, wedi galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gymryd y bygythiad i frandio bwyd o Gymru ar ôl Brexit o ddifrif.

Mae’r Aelod Cynulliad wedi cyflwyno cynnig yn galw ar y gweinyddwyr, sydd yn cael eu harwain gan Lafur, i sicrhau bod bwyd o Gymru yn cael ei adnabod felly wrth inni adael yr UE.

Yn y datganiad barn, mae AC y Canolbarth a’r Gorllewin, Simon Thomas wedi llongyfarch Carwyn Adams a’i deulu o Gaws Cenarth ar ennill statws o Enw Bwyd â Warchodir gan yr Undeb Ewropeaidd (PFN) am gaws Caerffili traddodiadol Cymreig.

Mae gan Gymru 15 o gynhyrchwyr bwyd a diod sydd wedi ennill statws PFN.

Dywed Simon Thomas o Blaid Cymru:

“Mae’n ffermwyr a’n cynhyrchwyr bwyd ni ein hunain yn elwa o bob ceiniog yr ydym yn ei wario ar fwyd o Gymru. Mae’n hybu’r economi leol, mae’n well ar gyfer yr amgylchedd o ran milltiroedd bwyd, ond eto, rydym yn dueddol o sibrwd am ein bwyd yn hytrach na seinio’r utgyrn. Os ydych chi’n credu bod eich profiad o fwyd yng Nghymru yn druenus heddiw, mi fydd gan gwaith gwaeth wrth i Brexit fynd yn ei flaen.

“Y ffordd orau o symud bwyd Cymru yn uwch ar y gadwyn ansawdd, gan wella allforion a phrisiau, oedd dynodi’r statws o Ddynodiad Daearyddol Gwarchodedig(PGI). Amcangyfrifa Hybu Cig Cymru bod 25% o’r twf yn allforion cig oen Cymreig rhwng 2003 a 2012 yn gallu cael ei briodoli i’w statws PGI.

“Yn rhyfeddol, fodd bynnag, wrth inni adael yr UE, does dim cadarnhad o barhad y statws PGI i fwyd Cymru nag addewid y byddai’n cael ei frandio yn fwyd o Gymru. Mae’n bwysig bod bwyd Cymru yn cael ei adnabod felly wrth inni adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, yn hytrach na’i fod yn cael ei orchuddio â Jac yr Undeb neu’n cael ei farcio fel ei fod o rhyw Brydain ddaearyddol annelwig.

“Mae hyn yn hanfodol ar gyfer hunan-hyder ein cenedl a’n heconomi. Mae cwmnïau bwyd a diod yn troi bron i £7biliwn y flwyddyn ac mae allforion wedi cynyddu bron i 13% yn 6 mis cyntaf 2016 – cynnydd o £15.2miliwn yn ei hun.

“Nawr yw’r amser y dylen ni roi ein troed ar y sbardun ar frandio bwyd o Gymru felly, gyda hanes clir i’w ddweud am ei ansawdd ardderchog, ffynhonnell y bwyd, lles anifeiliaid a’r safonau amgylcheddol.

“Dydw i heb fy argyhoeddi bod Llywodraeth Cymru’n cymryd y bygythiad hwn i frandio bwyd Cymru o ddifrif. Cawsant wared o’n gwobrau bwyd ein hunain yn 2013. Roedd gan “Gwir Flas” ymgyrch farchnata i’w chwennych ac roedd yn adrodd hanes ansawdd ein bwyd. Rydym angen dod a’n gwobrau bwyd ein hunain yn ôl, heb orfod dibynnu ar “enillwyr Cymreig” yng nghystadleuaeth “Great Taste” y DU.

“Coda wobrau statws yn ogystal â rhoi uchelgais o fewn y sector. Byddai Llywodraeth Cymru o dan arweiniad Plaid Cymru wedi dynodi 2018 fel Blwyddyn Genedlaethol o Fwyd a Diod Cymru i hybu cynnyrch o safon ein gwlad mewn ymgyrch barhaus a dwys am flwyddyn gyfan i annog cwsmeriaid yn y DU a thros y môr i brynu mwy o gynnyrch o Gymru.

“Dydyn ni ddim eisiau i fwyd Cymru gael ei farchnata a’i frandio fel “bwyd o’r DG”. Gallwn gydweithio ar yr ynysoedd hyn am y bwyd o’r ansawdd orau, ond bydd yr hanes adroddwn wrth