Quality seals, certification and designation of origin of cheeses in Spain are essential elements to guarantee the quality of the product. Given the large quantity and variety of cheeses produced in Spain, it is essential that each product can be clearly identified, as well as its origin.
For this reason, Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG) have emerged.
There are currently 26 Protected Designations of Origin in Spain, destinations where quality cheeses are produced. This seal is protected by the European Union to guarantee the origin of the product, processing and transformation.
PDOs can be found in many Spanish provinces, although Galicia and Asturias have the most PDO seals.
A product bearing the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) logo has demonstrated that it has characteristics that are only possible thanks to the natural environment and the skills of the producers in the production area with which it is associated.
Unlike PGI, PDO products require that all stages of the food production process take place in the area in question.
On the other hand, the PGI covers cheeses that have been produced, for the most part, in a specific area, even if the entire process has not been carried out within those same limits.
There are currently 3 Protected Geographical Indications, Valdeón, Los Beyos and Castellano, cheeses protected by the European Union.
If a product bears the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) logo, it has a specific characteristic or reputation that associates it with a specific area in which at least one stage of the production process takes place.
Finally, the Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG) seal assures consumers that the origin of the raw material of the product, in this case cheese, has been obtained from traditional raw materials.
Essentially, it serves to guarantee the traditional character of the product, leaving evidence that it is both a traditional and a quality product.
The TSG logo is intended for products linked to a particular method of production, which have distinctive characteristics either because they are composed of traditional ingredients or because they have been manufactured using traditional methods.
Importance of seals
The European quality policy recognizes and protects the designations of certain specific products that are linked to a territory or a production method.
This recognition translates into quality logos that identify products of differentiated quality in the EU and, through specific controls, guarantee their authenticity.
