THE CERTIFICATIONS OF OUR TYPICALITIES

The EU Reg Regulation n. 1151/2012 was born from the desire to enhance those products that present peculiar characteristics due exclusively or essentially to the geographical area of ​​origin.

“Designation of origin” therefore means the name of a defined geographical area which serves to designate an agricultural or food product originating in that place and whose quality or characteristics are essentially or exclusively due to the geographical environment (inclusive of natural and human factors).

It is fundamental that both production and transformation and processing take place in the area itself.
The production process must comply with a production specification.

CSQA, as a control body authorized by the MIPAAF, can be chosen by the producers, in order to prepare a Control Plan for the product in question, and therefore submits to the MIPAAF a document drawn up on the basis of the requirements set out in the specific production regulations and according to precise ministerial provisions.

The document is examined by the Evaluation Technical Group specifically set up at the MIPAAF and, when approved, CSQA is authorized to carry out conformity checks.

Key points

The PDO offers guarantees on different levels of the production process:

• origin,
• origin of raw materials,
• location
• traditionality of the production process.

DOP certified products offer:

• Seriousness, as they are products regulated by Italian and EU laws;
• Traceability, since the products come from a defined geographical area;
• Link with the territory, since the products are obtained through traditional methods, they have peculiar characteristics due to an intimate link between the product and a territory with inimitable geological, agronomic and climatic characteristics;
• Typicality or respect for the traditional production method and manufacturing methods that preserve the typicality of the product;

The EU Reg Regulation n. 1151/2012 was born from the desire to enhance those products that present peculiar characteristics due exclusively or essentially to the geographical area of ​​origin.

“Geographical indication” means the name of a specific geographical area which serves to designate an agricultural or food product originating in that area and of which a certain quality, reputation or other characteristic can be attributed to the geographical origin.

It is fundamental that the production, and / or transformation, and / or processing take place in the area itself.

Unlike therefore the PDO, for the PGI it is sufficient that at least one of the phases listed above take place in the area.
The production process must comply with a production specification.

CSQA, as a control body authorized by the MIPAAF, can be chosen by the producers, in order to prepare a Control Plan for the product in question, and therefore submits to the MIPAAF a document drawn up on the basis of the requirements set out in the specific production regulations and according to precise ministerial provisions.

The document is examined by the Evaluation Technical Group specifically set up at the MIPAAF and, when approved, CSQA is authorized to carry out conformity checks.

Key points

The PGI offers guarantees on different levels of the production process:

• location
• traditionality of the production process.

In fact, PGI certified products offer:

• Seriousness, as they are products regulated by Italian and EU laws;
• Traceability, since the products come from a defined geographical area;
• Link with the territory, since the products are obtained through traditional methods, they have peculiar characteristics due to an intimate link between the product and a territory
  Typicality of the traditional production method.

Traditional specialty guaranteed (TSG) is recognition, pursuant to EU Reg. N. 1151/2012, of the specific nature of an agri-food product, intended as an element or set of elements which, by their quality and traditional features, clearly distinguish a product from other similar products. It therefore refers to products obtained according to a typical traditional production method of a particular geographical area, in order to protect its specificity. Products whose peculiar character is linked to the origin or geographical origin are excluded from this discipline; this aspect distinguishes the TSGs from the PDOs and PGIs. The production process must comply with a production specification.
CSQA, as a control body authorized by the MIPAAF, can be chosen by the producers, in order to prepare a Control Plan for the product in question, and therefore submits to the MIPAAF a document drawn up on the basis of the requirements set out in the specific production regulations and according to precise ministerial provisions.

Key points

In the EC regulation n. 509/2006, relating to traditional specialties guaranteed, the definition of “specificity” is specified and a definition of the term “traditional” is adopted (art, n. 2):

• “Specificity”, or the element or set of elements that clearly separate an agricultural product or foodstuff from other similar products or foods belonging to the same category;
• “Traditional”, or a use on the Community market attested by a period of time that denotes a generational change; this period should be that generally attributed to human generation, i.e. at least 25 years.

The DOC brand is a recognition of quality attributed to wines produced in limited areas, usually of small – medium size, bearing their geographical name.

Normally the name of the vine follows that of the Doc and the production discipline is rigid. These wines are allowed for consumption only after careful chemical and sensorial analyzes – Law 164/92.

The DOCG brand is a recognition of particular quality value attributed to some DOC wines of national and international reputation.

These wines are subjected to stricter checks, are marketed in containers with a capacity of less than five liters and must bear a mark guaranteeing the origin and which allows the numbering of the bottles produced – Law 164/92.

The IGT (Typical Geographical Indication) brand is a recognition of quality attributed to table wines characterized by generally large production areas and with little restrictive production regulations. The indication may be accompanied by other mentions, such as that of the grape variety.

Igt wines are the counterparts of the French “Vin de Pays” and the German “Landwein” – Law 164/92.

PAT (Traditional Agri-Food Products) are defined as agri-food and agricultural products intended for human consumption, characteristic of a territory and linked to traditional local productions. Article 8 of Legislative Decree No. 173/98 establishes the importance of enhancing the gastronomic heritage and Ministerial Decree 350/99 sets the rules for identifying traditional products.

PATs are foods characterized by working, conservation and seasoning methods consolidated in a given territory for at least 25 years; they are also closely linked to factors such as tradition, territory, raw materials and production techniques. Products that have already been assigned the PDO protection mark or the PGI origin mark cannot be included in the PAT.

The PAT designation offers the consumer guarantees in terms of the typicality of the product, linking its production and processing to the traditional methods used.

PATs are divided into the following product types:

• Non-alcoholic drinks, spirits and liqueurs
• Fresh meats and their preparations
• Condiments
• Cheeses
• Fats
• Vegetable products in their natural state or processed
• Fresh pastries and products from the bakery, biscuits, pastry and confectionery
• Preparations of fish, molluscs and crustaceans and special breeding techniques
• Animal products (honey, various types of dairy products except butter)