The Certification

    Certification

    PDO Products

    The DOP was born (together with the IGP) in 1992 thanks to the Regulation (EC) 2081/92, updated to 2012 with EU Reg. 1151/2012. 

    These regulations have been established in order to protect the products of the tradition of the different European countries from imitative phenomena and to satisfy the ever-increasing consumer research of quality foods linked to tradition and to an identifiable geographical origin. Through the regulation of PDO and PGI, food products have become easily recognizable by the consumer, thanks to the application of European identification symbols. 

    In order to be able to boast of these two symbols, food products must follow a precise and rigid process of recognition at the first national and then European level. Before being placed on the market they must be subjected to strict controls by the Certification Bodies, which operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food, Forestry and Tourism Policies (MIPAAFT).

    Registration of a PDO

    Italy approved Ministerial Decree n. 12511 of 14 October 2013 containing the procedure at national level for the registration of PDOs and PGIs pursuant to Regulation (EU) No. 1151/2012. 
    To achieve a PDO the producers must associate themselves with a public act and make explicit the desire to register the product among the social aims. 
    The associations are generally the Consortia that must apply to the MIPAAFT, accompanied by a specific document: the Production Regulations. 
    The latter must include the following aspects: 
    - the name of the agricultural or food product that includes the denomination of origin; 
    - the description of the product (indication of the raw materials, of the main physical, chemical, microbiological or organoleptic characteristics); 
    - the delimitation of the geographical area and the elements which prove that it originates in this area; 
    - the description of the method of obtaining; 
    - the elements that justify the link between the quality or characteristics of the product and the identified geographical environment; 
    - the precise indication of the authorities or bodies that verify compliance with the provisions of the specification; 
    - any specific labeling rule for the product. 
    The documentation to be presented together with the application includes, in addition to the specification, also a historical report, accompanied by bibliographical references, able to prove the production for at least twenty-five years, even if not continuous, of the product in question. The application must be presented to the Mipaaft and to the competent Region which decides on the acceptability of the same. In the event of a positive outcome at the national level, the question is submitted to the European Commission that, having ascertained the absence of oppositions in this regard, within six months of the submission of the application, it notifies the member state of the registration of the name in the European register, through the published in the European Official Journal. The DOP recognition of Coppa Piacentina, Pancetta Piacentina and Salame Piacentino has been registered with the publication of Regulation (EC) n ° 1263/96.

    The controls

    Checks on compliance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 1151/2012 in Italy are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food, Forestry and Tourism Policies. 
    To verify compliance with the production specifications, the Ministry authorizes Certification Bodies, which must comply with the European standard EN 45011 or the ISO / CEI 65 guide (General requirements relating to the bodies that manage product certification systems) and which must to be accredited. 
    Verification of compliance with the specification is carried out prior to placing the product on the market and includes control over all stages of the supply chain, from breeding to labeling. 
    Piacentini Salami has been controlled and certified since 1998 by a Food and Product Certification Body, which operates with specific Ministerial authorization.

    The protection

    Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 1151/2012 states that "The registered names are protected against: 
    a) any direct or indirect commercial use of a registered name for products that are not registered, if the latter are comparable to the products registered with this name or the use of this name allows to exploit the reputation of the protected name, even if these products are used as an ingredient; 
    b) any usurpation, imitation or evocation, even if the true origin of the products or services is indicated or if the protected name is a translation or is accompanied by expressions such as "style", "type", "method", "in the manner »,« Imitation »or similar, even if these products are used as an ingredient; 
    c) any other false or misleading indication as to the origin, origin, nature or essential qualities of the product used on the packaging or on the packaging, in the advertising material or on the documents relating to the product in question and the use, for packaging , of containers that can mislead on its origin; 
    d) any other practice that may mislead the consumer as to the true origin of the product". 
    PDO protection is guaranteed by the Protection Consortia which are recognized by MIPAAFT. 
    The Protection Consortia check that no person unlawfully uses the Denomination. Supervision also extends to the marketing phases at retailers (supermarkets, retailers, wholesalers, etc.) where certification bodies cannot operate. The unlawful use of a PDO can lead to very severe penalties against those who committed the offense.

    Certification and Protection

    Deepening by Alessandra Scansani, Food Technologist
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