Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)

The Protected designation of origin is the name of an area or a specific place, used as a designation for an agricultural product or a foodstuff, which comes from such an area or place. The quality or properties of the product are significantly or exclusively determined by the geographical environment, including natural and human factors, whose production, processing and preparation takes place within the determined geographical area.

In Italy PDO is DOP “Denominazione di Origine Protetta”

In other words, to receive the PDO status, the entire product must be traditionally and entirely manufactured (prepared, processed AND produced) within the specific region and thus acquire unique properties.

Protected geographical indication (PGI)

The Protected geographical indication is the name of an area or a specific place used as a description of an agricultural product or a foodstuff, The product comes from such an area, place or country,which has a specific quality, goodwill or other characteristic property, attributable to its geographical origin,whose production, processing or preparation takes place within the determined geographical area.
In other words, to receive the PGI status, the entire product must be traditionally and at least partially manufactured (prepared, processed OR produced) within the specific region and thus acquire unique properties.

The DOP and IGP designation serves as a protection for consumers. It provides them with the guarantee that the information about the origin and quality of the products corresponds to the truth.
Through DOP and IGP classification, Italy try to safeguarde the product names and their typicalness from any imitations and abuses.

In Italy PGI is IGP “Identificazione Geografica Protetta”

In Italy the list of protected food is updated costantly: there are more than
150 PDOs or D.O.P.
and 90 PGIs or I.G.P.