Other Symbols of quality and Origin: Designations of Origin:

Presentation.

In general terms we can define the designation of origin as the name of a geographic location which serves to designate an agrofood product originating from that location. The product quality or characteristics basically or exclusively result the geographical location with its natural and human factors, with production, transformation and preparation performed in that geographic region.

The first legal regulation of the Designations of Origin in Spain came from the Wine Statute in 1932 limiting wines. With the passing of Law 25/1970 of the Wine Statute, of the Vineyard, Wine and Alcohols, a second stage began and the possibility of authorising designations of origin for other agricultural products was established. This 1970 Wine statute was repealed by Law 24/2003, of the 10th of July, of the Vineyard and Wine.

 

Prior to Spain joining the European Economic Committee there had been community regulation for the protection of agrofood quality, but this was restricted to wine products. Wine protection was included in the old wine OCM (Regulation (EEC) 823/87) which distinguished between table wines and quality wines produced in specific regions (vcprd). The determined regions were understood as the vine-growing area producing wines with special quality characteristics. The inclusion of Spain in the EEC lead to the D.O. wines were assimilated to the vcprd wines

 

With regards to the remaining agrofood products, in 1992 the European Community set up systems to evaluate and protect the geographic designations and the traditional specialities through Regulations (EEC) 2081/92 and 2082/92:

- In the Protected Geographic Indication (IGP) the link with the geographic location remains present in at least one of the stages of production, transformation or preparation. The product can also benefit from a good reputation.

- The Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) designated the name of a product whose production, transformation and preparation must be carried out in a specific geographic area, with specific recognised and approved of knowledge Indicación Geográfica Protegida.

- The Guaranteed Traditional Specialty certificate (ETG) does not refer to the origin but its purpose is to emphasize a traditional composition of the product or traditional production method.

 

In Both the standards regulating the wine designations of origin and those regulating other agrofood products demand that these products be subjected to controls which must be performed by organisations complying with standard UNE-EN 45011.

Also, Not only does Kalitatea perform controls on products provided to Eusko Label but they also perform controls on products provided to the Idiazábal Designation of Origin, the Complete Production and the three txakoli wines with existing Designation of Origin in Euskadi.