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Products of Designated Origin or Geographical Indication (PDO/PGI)
European legislation concerning Regional Speciality Foods - PDO/PGI/CSC
Under the above legislation, PAI is pleased to be the appointed inspection body for a range of UK-based regional products including:
- Stilton Cheeses
- West Country Farmhouse Cheddar
- Kentish Ales
- Whitstable Oysters
- Newcastle Brown Ale
In 1992 the EU sought to protect the regional economies of Europe and their speciality food products which were being subject to increasing homogenisation and imitation. Remember that Cheddar once upon a time was only made in Somerset. The EU offered traditional regional foods protection from passing off.
The abbreviations are Eurospeak registration classifications: Protected Designated Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Certificate of Special Character (CSC).
PDO/PGI/CSC: the system explained.
The legislation involved is EEC Council Regulation 2081/92. Many food products, looked upon as being superior to the generality, are linked to the name of the place or region from which they come. By providing protection to those named products, the opportunity can be created for premium pricing on the back of assured quality. Then this begins to establish firmer, more predictable income for the producers and for the rural economy as a whole.
The classic long-standing example is of course Champagne. The categories of food that may seek protection in Europe are: Cheeses, Fresh Meat (including offal), Meat based Products, Oils and Fats, Bread Pastry and Cakes, Mineral Waters, Fresh Fish and molluscs, Olives, Fruit vegetables and cereals, and other animal-derived products such as eggs, honey, milk etc, ciders and beers. The way is then opened for a whole raft of linked promotional activity, a decrease in reliance on support subsidy and a viable, sustainable rural economy.
The Systems - Protected Designated of Origin (PDO)
The PDO covers foodstuffs: the production, processing and preparation of which must take place within a particular geographical area using recognised, certifiable know-how. The quality and character of the products must be particular or unique to that area. An example from UK would be Stilton Cheese. Protect Geographical Indication (PGI) Open to products which must be produced or processed or prepared within a geographical area and have a reputation, features or certain qualities attributable to that area. An example from the UK would be Newcastle Brown Ale. Certificate of Specific Character (CSC). Open to products, which are traditional or have customary names. The CSC does not refer to origin but highlights traditional character either in the composition or in the means of production. An example might be pastries prepared according to traditional methods. Some Benefits of PDO/PGI Registration under EU Regulations - Free EU legal protection of what amounts to a trademark. This alone can be worth tens of thousands of pounds.
- Identification of a product's special features. This in turn creates awareness of the U.S.P. for marketing.
- Branding – the quality image for everything else.
- Built-in third party verification for use as a marketing tool.
- Premium price for a premium product. Move away from producing a simple commodity.
- Create a base for integrated marketing with all the related enterprises of that region, wines, foods, tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, transport and so on.
- In the long run, decrease reliance on government subsidies.
The PDO/PGIs that PAI are the certifiers for are: West Country Farmhouse Cheddar, Stilton and Beaconfell, Buxton Blue, Dovedale and Wesleydale cheeses, Newcastle Brown Ale, Kentish Ales, Whitstable Oysters. In Italy, PAI are the certifiers for Grana Padano Cheeses the cheeses Valle d'Aosta and Asiago mushroom Borgotaro – and a myriad of various cheese starter cultures including that for Parma Reggiano cheese. PAI is working with a number of others.
A survey for the EU shows that over 700 UK Food Products would qualify for this protection - and thus benefit from it.
DEFRA has a department that deals with applications and will give advice on the requirements. The details are at DEFRA Agrifood Exports and Regional Food Promotion Division, Regional and Local Foods Branch, Room 405/407, Nobel House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR. Tel No: 0171 238 6623. Alternatively, PAI is happy to assist.