Patagonian Lamb acknowledged as Geographical Indication

By Estudio Chaloupka

Through resolution Nº 326/14, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Argentina approved the Geographical Indication (GI) of the “Cordero Patagónico” (“Patagonian lamb”), which will be used exclusively on those sheep bred south of the Colorado River. 

A lamb is a young sheep under 12 months of age which does not have permanent incisor teeth. The Patagonian lamb is internationally noted for its natural and organic breeding that secures a lean and tender meat of delicious flavor. The sheep is born and bred in the world known region of Patagonia, located at the southern end of Argentina and comprising the southern section adjacent to the Andes mountains.

Registration, protection and right of use of the GI was requested by the Chubut Group of Producers, the Chamber of ovine cold storage chambers of Patagonia, the Rural Society of Río Gallegos and the Santa Cruz Federation of Agricultural Institutions.

The new GI will secure that all promotion and commercialization of the Patagonian lamb acknowledges its geographical origin and those qualities and characteristics that are essentially attributable to the Patagonia, influenced by specific local factors such as climate and soil.