28/05/2009 - Action is needed to improve communication about the qualities of agricultural products — to help reconnect farmers with consumers. Quality labelling schemes must also be easier for people to use and understand and EU policy must be more coherent. These are the main recommendations of a European Commission Communication on agricultural product quality policy, adopted today.

Read the press release - More on the Communication

EU agricultural product quality policy

Quality is an issue for every farmer and buyer, whether dealing with commodities produced to basic standards or with the high-end quality products in which Europe excels.

EU law lays down stringent requirements guaranteeing the standards of all European products. In addition, EU quality schemes identify products and foodstuffs farmed and produced to exacting specifications.

Specific EU quality schemes - guaranteeing quality

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for

Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)

agricultural farm products and foodstuffs

Organic farming – see the "Good for nature, good for you" campaign

Outermost regions: Products specific to Azores, Canary Islands, French Guyana, Guadeloupe, La Réunion, Madeira, and Martinique

The DOOR database includes product names registered as PDO, PGI or TSG as well as names for which registration has been applied.

E-BACCHUS is the database on geographical indications protected in the European Community for wines originating in Member States and third countries.

EU schemes operate in the market alongside an increasing number of public and private certification schemes.

See also: Quality is key to success, how the EU is keeping consumers confident about food safety and the frequently asked questions on quality and food safety.

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PDO/PGI/TSG:

Certification schemes

Policy development: