Traditional Speciality Guaranteed

Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) is a European Union quality scheme that provides a protection framework for traditional food products. The scheme was established by the European Union in 1992 to encourage diverse agricultural production, protect product names from misuse and imitation, and help consumers by giving them information concerning the specific character of the products.

Overview

The Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) scheme is one of three European schemes of geographical indications and traditional specialities, alongside Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). The TSG scheme protects the names of products which are traditional or have customary names and a set of features which distinguish them from other similar products. These features must not be due to the geographical area the product is produced in nor to the product being made from particular varieties or a particular type of animal.

Criteria

To qualify for a TSG, a food or drink product must be of “specific character” and either its raw materials, production method or processing must be “traditional”. Under the scheme, a traditional food is defined as a product that has a history of at least 30 years. The specific character of a product is the characteristic production attributes which make the product different from other similar products of the same category.

Examples

Examples of products with a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) status include Mozzarella (Italy), Kriek (Belgium), and Traditional Farmfresh Turkey (United Kingdom).

See also

• Protected Geographical Indication
• Protected Designation of Origin
• List of Traditional Speciality Guaranteed