PDO and PGI products: what are they and what are the differences?

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) are distinctive marks that identify or designate a product by the name of a region or country.

The main difference between them lies in how strong the link is between the qualities and characteristics of the products and their geographical place of origin.

In PDO products, the link to the region is stronger. Their specific characteristics come from human factors and from the natural conditions of the environment. Unlike PGI products, they must be entirely produced, processed and prepared within the region.

In PGI products, this link is weaker. Their reputation alone may be attributable to the place, without a link to human or natural factors, and there is no requirement for every production, processing and preparation operation to take place in the region. These products must always include a geographical name.

Examples of PDO products

• Cereja da Cova da Beira
• Queijo da Serra da Estrela
• Vinho do Porto
• Ananás dos Açores

Examples of PGI products

• Ovos Moles de Aveiro
• Maçã de Alcobaça
• Alheira de Mirandela
• Lenço dos Namorados do Minho

According to this study, 190 PDO and PGI registrations were granted between 1946 and 2022.

NOTE: The NUTS II regions shown relate to the year in which this study was carried out.

Examples by region

NOTE: These examples "are based on the first and the last applications granted per region of the applicant". The map shown is the 2013 NUTS II map, in force when this study was carried out.

Applying to register a PDO or PGI

• For non-agricultural products the application is made to INPI (Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial);
• For agricultural products, such as foods or spirit drinks, the application is submitted to DGADR (Direção-Geral de Agricultura e Desenvolvimento Rural) and then forwarded to the European Commission;
• For wines, the application is submitted to the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho (IVV).

As quality marks, PDOs and PGIs play an increasingly contested role in world trade, especially for a country with Portugal's characteristics.

They promote the country's image and allow national and international recognition of production focused on the quality, authenticity and typicity of the products.

What other PDO and PGI products do you know?

Tell us in the comments!