What are geographical indications (GIs) and why do they matter?
Inspired by his summer barbecue, Matteo Mariano explores some of the GIs that
protect food and drinks.
When you buy groceries to prepare your barbecue and impress your
friends, you will likely encounter a range of food and drinks in
the supermarket with a similar logo on their packaging. This logo
shows that the name of the product is a protected geographical
indication (PGI or GI) or a protected denomination of origin
(PDO).
What are geographical indications?
These PGI and PDO registrations aim to guarantee the
geographical origin of products, i.e., to indicate that they have
been produced in a specific area, according to a specific set of
rules and requirements, and combining the intrinsic qualities of
the raw materials, the environment and the know-how of
artisans.
