Types of Designations Around the World

Europe is reputed to be the birthplace of agri-food designations and quality control symbols used around the world. It is thus to this destination that we should turn when looking at various designations already in use, particularly those from the last several decades.

Appellations of Origin (AOC) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) are based on community regulations and apply to the agri-food sector, while for wines and spirits, regulation are based on written specifications. These various designations are transmitted to the European Commission via the proper authorities within member countries. Once these appellations have been examined and published, they are then afforded protection within the entire European Union territory.

From a schematic point of view, the symbolic devices used to represent quality and origin can be categorized under three major headings, each being tools with their own specific characteristics (source: Europa, APCA):

• The territorial approach based on the PGI, AOO, the AOS and the Mountain designation.
• The qualitative approach based on the Red Label and the Certification of Compliance
• The mode of production approach based on the Organic Designation.

a) The territorial approach

The "Appellation of Origin" grants recognition to products whose basic characteristics come from their soil of origin. Each product can be expressed in terms its original soil and to its integral complexity, to which are added the human elements, characterized by specific practices and know-how:

• The "Protected Geographical Indication" (PGI) testifies that in addition to a link with the soil, there remains a link with at least one of the production, transformation or development stages. The product may enjoy a great reputation.
• The "Appellation of Origin" (AOO) refers to a geographical name, be it a country or a region. It implies a close link between the product and the soil, one that cannot be replicated on another soil.
• The "Appellation of Specificity" (AOS) involves a product whose production, transformation and development must take place within a given geographical area, identified by a certain know-how that has been recognized and stated.
• The "Mountain" and geographical designations are specific to mountain zones, and they are used to highlight the particular mountain region from which a given food or product originates.

b) The qualitative approach

Here the link with the soil is much less important that are notions such as quality, tradition or particular fabrication methods, all of which determine the designation's attributes.

For this reason as well as others, products are subjected to tests involving taste and sensory analyses. Production modes are codified and respected to the letter, resulting in the long-term preservation of each specific quality and intrinsic characteristic:

• The "Red Label" is the most well-known designation, and it certifies that a food or product's pre-determined set of characteristics provides it with a superior level of gustatory qualities, especially when compared to similar and current products.
• The "Certification of Compliance" recognizes an agricultural food or a non-agricultural product's compliance to pre-assigned, specific and measurable characteristics or rules that, depending on the case, include its fabrication, processing and conditioning.
• The "Guarantee Traditional Specialty" (GTS) does not refer to an origin. Rather its aim is to emphasize a product's traditional ingredient list or mode of production.

c) Mode of production

"Organic" agriculture responds to contemporary society's increasing awareness of problems associated with the operation, management and protection of the agricultural environment. Products or ingredients that result from this specific mode of production are subjected to a very strict legal framework, meaning that before they are marketed they must obtain certification. To achieve this, the government or institution officially designated as the certifying body will monitor and inspect companies that wish to benefit from an organic designation.