The successful all-island campaign to get Protected Geographic Indicator (PGI) status for Irish grass-fed beef is "one of the finest examples from the last few years of what we can achieve working north-south", according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Minister Charlie McConalogue met his Northern counterpart Minister Andrew Muir at a farm in Co Donegal - the first meeting between the pair since Stormont was restored.
Speaking at the event, Mr McConalogue said the campaign was very significant from the point of view of cross-border cooperation.
"I was glad previously to work with [former] Minister Edwin Poots, who was very much in favour of this, and now with Minister Andrew Muir in relation to taking it forward," he said.
Asked by RTÉ about the environmental impact of the new promotion and marketing of Irish beef, the minister said it was one of the most sustainable beef products in the world.
"Grass-fed beef is one of the most sustainable ways you can produce meats anywhere," he said.
"We have a wonderful product here and we are unique in international terms because we do produce it, north and south, off grass...and that's the message we will be going forward with in the weeks ahead as we make sure it gets onto shelves."
Minister Andrew Muir said today demonstrated the advantages of working together on an all-island basis.
"This is a benefit of north-south cooperation. It's really good to be able to celebrate that," he said.
The State food promotion body, Bord Bia, has already begun to promote Irish grass fed beef in a number of European markets and the first products market with PGI labels are expected on the shelves in some supermarkets before the end of the month.
PGI status awarded after long campaign
Before Christmas, Irish grass-fed beef finally received recognition for its unique characteristics and geographical origin from the EU after a years' long campaign.
The application had initially excluded cattle from north of the border, but later a joint submission was made by Bord Bia and the Northern Ireland Livestock and Meat Commission for all 32 counties, which was successful.
PGI status was awarded on the basis that cattle on this island naturally graze grass in open fields for the majority of their lives.
They must spend at least 220 days per year in pasture and 90% of their diet must be grass, which includes silage in winter months.
That contrasts with beef rearing in most other countries where cattle are housed indoors and reared on feed much of the time.
The PGI symbol is expected to help identify and distinguish Irish grass-fed beef from other beef products.
