Consumers of agricultural products always tend to seek and choose agricultural products with exceptional quality features. They choose, trust, and “reward through their consistent loyalty” agricultural products with a strong identity and exceptional reputation that preserve their unique character and are renowned for their high quality. These products acquire their exceptional characteristics and their competitive advantage through the way they are produced and thanks to the geographical area in which they are made.
In 1992, the European Union adopted a regulation for the protection and promotion of special and high-quality agricultural products from various regions. This regulation aims at supporting such products and ensuring that consumers will have the chance to easily recognise and choose them.

The recognition and support of the said products are possible through:

• Protected Designation of Origin (P.D.O.) and Protected Geographical Indication (P.G.I.) labels

Products that have acquired a P.D.O. and P.G.I. status are products with distinctive quality features that are produced in a specific way and exclusively within one geographical region.