EU agricultural product quality policy

Three EU schemes known as PDO (protected designation of origin), PGI (protected geographical indication) and TSG (traditional speciality guaranteed) promote and protect names of quality agricultural products and foodstuffs.

Food Quality Certification Schemes

Private and national certification schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs provide assurance that certain aspects of the product or its production method, as laid down in a specification, have been observed.

They cover a wide range of different initiatives that function at different stages of the food supply chain. They can operate at the business-to-business (B2B) level or at the business-to-consumer (B2C) level. They can make use of logos but, especially at the B2B-level, many do not.

Certification schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs in the EU range from compliance with compulsory production standards to additional requirements relating to environmental protection, animal welfare, organoleptic qualities, "Fair Trade".

Scheme owners are equally varied, covering the whole range from farmers and producers, through NGOs, interest groups and retailers, to public authorities.

The Commission launched several initiatives to assess the advantages and drawbacks of the Food Quality Certification Schemes:

Food Quality Assurance and Certification Schemes managed within an integrated supply chain

2007 conference - "Food quality certification – adding value to farm produce"

Background paper on Food Quality Certification Schemes (FQCS) for the Green Paper on Agricultural Product Quality

In the light of these works and the contributions received to the consultation on the Green Paper, the Commission plans to develop good practice guidelines for the operation of schemes relating to agricultural product quality. The guidelines will be drawn up in consultation with stakeholders.

Source: European Commission