PDO and PGI: stronger protection consortia under the new ministerial decree
The Ministry of Agriculture has issued a decree implementing EU Regulation 2024/1143, which reformed the rules on GI products by introducing new powers for consortia, including in the areas of tourism and sustainability
The green light has been given to new rules strengthening the role of consortia for the protection of quality agri-food products (PDO and PGI). The Ministry of Agriculture has issued a decree implementing EU Regulation 2024/1143, which had reformed the rules on PDO and PGI products by introducing new powers specifically for protection consortia. These are very important measures for Italy, a pioneering country (the Grana Padano consortium was founded in 1954, whilst the EU regulation introducing PDO and PGI dates from 1992) and a leader in designations of origin, and in which protection consortia have played a decisive role in the development and market penetration of quality products.
The new regulations primarily provide for a strengthening of the powers of the consortia, confirming their role as key players in the promotion, enhancement, supervision and legal protection of trademarks, responsibilities to which are now added the management of production under the designation and enhanced powers regarding intellectual property, combating unlawful use, market monitoring and online protection. From a protection perspective, the consortia’s powers have been strengthened regarding the increasingly widespread use of PDO and PGI products as ingredients in other processed food products.
In addition to these areas of expertise, two new ones have been added: food and wine tourism and sustainability . On the one hand, the consortia will be able to act as promoters of tourism initiatives by showcasing the product, its history, its connection to the environment, and the added value provided by local communities. On the other hand, they can take on a leading role and encourage businesses to invest in sustainability.
The MASAF decree concerning PDO and PGI food products (a second ad hoc measure for wine will follow) includes, among its key points, the definition of criteria for the representation of the various production categories, sector by sector. This is another important aspect because, in the past, disagreements over the weighting to be assigned to the different categories (in the olive oil sector, do olive growers or millers carry more weight?) have often held back the development of consortium initiatives.
Finally, it is also important to note the possibility of establishing a consortium representing multiple PDO and PGI brands, even from different product categories but within the same territory. This provision will enable even small-scale local producers to be represented.
