The DOP and IGP Reform: towards greater protection of Italy's typical products

The recent reform of DOP and IGP, approved by the European Parliament, introduces several innovations aimed at strengthening the protection of certified products and improving consumer transparency and trust. Among the key innovations are new labeling regulations, requiring more detailed and clear information about the origin and characteristics of products.Labels must now indicate with greater precision the product’s name, geographic area of origin, and any certified DOP or IGP ingredients. This not only guarantees greater transparency but also further enhances the products in international markets, distinguishing them from counterfeits.

Another significant modification concerns the use of DOP and IGP designations in the ingredients of other products. According to the new regulations, in order to use these designations on the label, the certified ingredient must constitute a significant part of the final product, and the percentage of use must be clearly indicated. This measure was introduced to prevent the improper use of designations and to ensure that consumers are correctly informed about the origin and quality of the ingredients.

The protection consortia, which play a crucial role in the management and promotion of DOP and IGP products, are seeing their position strengthened. The reform gives them greater responsibilities in product control and promotion and introduces measures to improve governance and transparency. The goal is to ensure that the consortia operate in the collective interest of both producers and consumers, preventing potential conflicts of interest.

Other new measures include the simplification of procedures for obtaining DOP or IGP recognition, which should reduce the registration time from the current average of five years to three.The reform also introduces stricter measures against food fraud on digital platforms and extends the protection of geographical indications to non-agricultural products. This last change is particularly significant for Italy, one of the European countries with the strongest tradition in craftsmanship and specialized territorial production (for example, Faenza ceramics or Murano glass are globally recognized brands).

The adoption of these measures is seen as an essential step to consolidate consumer trust in geographical indication products and to ensure that these products can compete fairly and transparently in the market. For businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, adapting to these new regulations represents a challenge but also an opportunity to demonstrate their authenticity and quality. In a market increasingly oriented towards sustainability and attention to product origins, compliance with these regulations can become a significant competitive advantage.