Protected designation of origin

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== Protected Designation of Origin ==

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) is a geographical indication defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. These foods must be produced, processed, and prepared in a given geographical area using recognized know-how. The purpose of PDO is to ensure that only products genuinely originating in that region are allowed to be identified as such in commerce.

History

The concept of PDO was introduced by the European Union in 1992 as part of its policy to protect the names of quality agricultural products and foodstuffs. This initiative was aimed at promoting and protecting the names of quality agricultural products and foodstuffs.

Criteria

To qualify for PDO status, a product must meet stringent criteria:

• It must be produced, processed, and prepared in a specific geographical area.
• The quality or characteristics of the product must be essentially or exclusively due to the particular geographical environment, including natural and human factors.

Examples

Some well-known examples of products with PDO status include:

• Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese from Italy
• Roquefort cheese from France
• Prosciutto di Parma from Italy
• Champagne from France

Legal Framework

The legal framework for PDO is established under EU Regulation No 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs. This regulation outlines the procedures for the registration of PDOs, the protection of registered names, and the enforcement of these protections.

Benefits

The PDO designation provides several benefits:

• It helps consumers identify genuine products with specific qualities.
• It protects producers from unfair competition and misuse of the product name.
• It promotes rural development by encouraging the production of high-quality products.

Related Terms

• Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
• Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)
• Geographical indication

See Also

• Appellation d'origine contrôlée
• Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union
• Intellectual property
• Trademark