The European PDO and PGI certifications were developed in order to safeguard the best European food products. Indeed, quality labels protect and promote the origins, traditions and unique characteristics of many distinctive EU products. EU quality policy aims to protect the names of specific products to promote their unique characteristics, linked to their geographical origin as well as traditional know-how.
The PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) seals of quality, established by the European Community, protect agricultural and food products whose qualitative characteristics essentially or exclusively depend on their geographic environment.
Geographic environment refers to the sum of all the natural and human factors, including the production and transformation techniques, that make the product unique and inimitable. They are products of extreme excellence, resulting from the application of rigorous production rules defined in specific regulations. Compliance with these rules is constantly monitored by independent entities who certify that the standards are met.
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certifies that olive oil, from the raw material to the finished product, is produced in a specific region or place and whose qualities and characteristics are predominantly or exclusively due to that geographical environment. Olive oils registered as PDO are those that have the strongest links to the place in which they are made. Every part of the production, processing and preparation process must take place in the specific region.
Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
The Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) emphasises the relationship between the specific geographic region and the name of the product, where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable
to its geographical origin. This means that, in the PGI, the criteria are extended to regional scope. At least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation should take place in the region
Organic
Producing organically means respecting the rules on organic farming. These rules are designed based on principles to promote environmental protection, maintain the biodiversity and build consumer trust in organic products.
Organic production requires scrupulous attention from the producer, as regards for example soil fertility management, choice of species and varieties, multi-year rotation, cultivation techniques and recycling of organic matter.
