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Protected designation of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indication (PGI) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) are classifications defined in European Union Law to protect regional foods.
The legislation came into force in 1992.
It protects the names of wines, cheeses, hams, sausages, olives, beers, and even regional breads, fruits, and vegetables.
As such, foods such as gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano, roquefort, and champagne can only be labelled as such if they come from the designated region.
This system is similar to the French Appellation d'Origine ContrôléeThe French designation Appellation d'Origine Controlee AOC , roughly translated to 'term of origin', is a certification granted to certain French wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products by a government bureau known as the Institut Nationa (AOC) system or the Denominazione di Origine ControllataDenominazione di origine controllata is an Italian quality ensurance label for food products and especially wines (an appellation). It is modelled after the French AOC. It was instituted in 1963 and overhauled in 1992 for compliance with the equivalent EU (DOC) used in ItalyThe Italian Republic or Italy ( Italian: Italia is a country in the south of Europe, consisting mainly of a boot-shaped peninsula together with two large islands in the Mediterranean Sea: Sicily and Sardinia. To the north, where it borders France, Switzer.
Article 13 of this legislation states that registered designations are protected against
...any usurpation or imitation, even if the true origin of the product is indicated or if the appellation is used in translated form or accompanied by terms such as "kind", "type"...
The geographical limitations can be quite strict. "Newcastle Brown Ale" is restricted to being brewed in the City of Newcastle in England. However, having obtained this protection for their product, the brewery decided in 2004 that it would move manufacture 2 miles away to the town on the other side of the river. This does not fall within the required geographical restriction so the brewery is now applying to the EU authorities to have the geographical restriction revoked – if it is not, the brewery will either have to stay put, or stop calling its beer "Newcastle" brown ale.
This legislation expanded upon the 1951 Stresa Convention, which was the first international agreement on cheese names.
Seven countries participated: AustriaAustria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, a federation of nine states. Austria is bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the, DenmarkKongeriget Danmark ( In Detail) Motto of the Queen: Guds hjaelp, Folkets kaerlighed, Danmarks styrke (English: God's help, the love of the people, Denmark's strength) Official language Danish Capital Copenhagen Kobenhavn Monarch Margrethe II Prime Ministe, France, Italy, NorwayThe Kingdom of Norway is a Nordic country west of Sweden on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It has a very elongated form and has an extensive coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean, where Norway's famous fjords are found. In addition to Sweden, it borders R, SwedenThe Kingdom of Sweden Konungariket Sverige in Swedish) is a Nordic country in Scandinavia, in Northern Europe. It is bordered by Norway on the west, Finland on the northeast, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat on the southwest, and the Baltic Sea and the Gulf, Switzerland.
There is no protection for these names on products both made and sold outside the EU. In the USA, for example, one can buy American Champagne, Roquefort, Gruyere and Camembert. Products which are either made or sold in the EU, such as Australian Shiraz, which is the same grape as Syrah are subject to regulation.
