A System to Protect Quality
The European Union has built a geographical indication system to protect traditional, region-specific products from imitation. Champagne, Parmesan and many olive oils are protected this way. So what do these labels mean?
PDO (Protected Designation of Origin)
PDO:
- All stages of the product take place in a specific geographical region
- Raw material, production and processing belong to the same area
- The strictest quality and origin guarantee
Greece's Kalamata and many regional olive oils are under PDO protection.
PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)
PGI:
- At least one of the production stages takes place in the region
- There is a link to the area but it is less strict than PDO
- Still a reliable mark of origin
Why It Matters
These marks guarantee the consumer that:
- The product really comes from that region
- Certain quality standards are met
- It has passed independent inspection
So it is not just marketing but a legal quality assurance.
What Completes the Label
Alongside the geographical indication, the EL production code, the cold pressed wording and the harvest year are also marks that support quality.
Europe Olive Oil is 100% natural extra virgin olive oil of Cretan origin — traceable via EL40296, compliant with European standards.