Brussels, 15/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Piacentinu Ennese (PDO), a sheep's cheese from Italy, on Tuesday 15 February became the 1000th name to be registered under the Commission's agricultural product and foodstuff quality labels. Since their creation in 1992, the EU schemes have registered quality agricultural products and foodstuffs from across the EU and beyond. In recent years there has been a boost in applications due to enlargements of the EU and a growing interest from non-EU producers including from India, China, Thailand and Vietnam, among others.
“The 1000th name registered is a significant milestone for the quality schemes. There is still great potential for these schemes that give visibility to Europe's quality products and valorise agricultural traditions and rural heritage”, said Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Dacian Cioloº. He added that the EU quality schemes are the cornerstone of the “Quality Package” currently under discussion in the Parliament and Council.
The quality registers for agricultural products and foodstuffs comprise: 505 Protected Designations of Origin (PDO): names of products that owe their characteristics exclusively or essentially to their place of production and the savoir faire of local producers - the agricultural product or foodstuff must have been produced, processed and prepared in a given geographical area using recognised know-how; 465 Protected Geographical Indications (PGI): agricultural products and foodstuffs whose reputation or characteristics are closely linked to production in the geographical area: at least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation takes place in the area; 30 Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSG): product names that guarantee the traditional character, either in the composition or means of production; TSGs are not linked to any particular location, but must be produced in line with strict specifications.
The Commission also manages two registers for geographical indications of wines and spirits. (L.C./transl.rt)