Summary
Would your producer group like to have a new PDO, PGI or TSG designation recognised (application for recognition)? Or are you a producer wishing to apply for certification in order to benefit from a designation recognised as a PDO, PGI or TSG (application for certification)?
In Wallonia, it is the SPW that manages applications for European quality labels.
TWO EUROPEAN QUALITY SCHEMES
The European Union’s agricultural product quality policy has put in place two schemes:
- geographical indications (GIs): this includes PDOs and PGIs
- traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG)
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PDO, PGI or STG? PDO: protected designation of origin
PGI: protected geographical indication
TSG: traditional speciality guaranteed
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WHAT PRODUCTS CAN I HAVE RECOGNISED/CERTIFIED?
- Agricultural products and foodstuffs (PDO and TSG)
- Wines (PDO and PGI)
- Spirits (PGI)
- Aromatised wines (IGP)
ADVANTAGES OF A LONG-TERM VIEW
As a producer, you benefit from direct advantages from the certification of your product:
- the exclusive right over the designation
- protection against misappropriation
- access to public promotion funds
You are also entitled to certification aid (if you are a farmer).
Remember that the brand becomes a collective one, and that the process of recognition up to European level takes time, often several years.
A SERIES OF STAKEHOLDERS
Several stakeholders will accompany you through process of applying for recognition. They can advise you on how to prepare your application, right through to the moment you finally submit it to the European Commission. These include:
- Our Directorate for Quality and Animal Welfare (DQBEA) at SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (ARNE)
- Agribel
Once the quality label has been recognised, other stakeholders come into play:
- independent certifying bodies check that the product conforms with the specifications for the PDO/PGI/TSG designation. Independent certifying bodies must obtain accreditation from the DQBEA
- APAQ-W promotes recognised designations
Applications for recognition are free of charge. There is, thereafter, a cost for certification. Contact the independent certifying body for the product in question to find out the costs related to an application for certification.
DO YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR PRODUCT RECOGNISED OR CERTIFIED ?
Find out more about the procedure below.
In detail
Any producer or group of producers wishing to:
- have a new designation recognised as a PDO, PGI or TSG (case 1 = application for recognition)
- become certified in order to benefit from a designation already recognised as a PDO, PGI or TSG (case 2 = application for certification)
A producer group is any association essentially composed of producers or processors dealing with the same product, irrespective of the legal form the grouping takes.
For example: unincorporated association, ASBL, professional union, private foundation or public utility foundation.
CASE 1: APPLICATION FOR RECOGNITION
You wish to apply for recognition of a designation as a PDO, PGI or TSG.
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IN STEPS In Wallonia / Belgium
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IN DETAIL – APPLICATION DOSSIER – FROM PREPARATION TO SUBMISSION (STEPS 1 AND 2)
These steps can take several months to several years !
- Form a group of producers that wish to apply for recognition
- Send an email to the Directorate for Quality and Animal Welfare summarising your application
- Our department, together with Agrilabel, examines the feasibility of your application bearing in mind European legislation
- We will contact you to arrange a meeting to get you started
- We will guide you and advise you on how to draw up the specifications and prepare the application dossier
- Once the dossier is complete, send the official application for recognition, including the product specifications, by post to our directorate.
FOR INFO – DOSSIER – SPECIFICATIONS – CONTENT
In your application dossier, you must annex the technical specifications to the product specifications. The technical specifications will serve as a reference document for the independent certifying bodies when they certify product conformity. They must be accompanied by a minimum control plan.
- Structure of product specifications
- Product name
- Technical information
- product description
- delimitation of geographical area
- proof of origin of traceability
- method of obtaining the product
- Link with geographical origin
- Control structure
- Specific labelling rules
- EU, national and regional requirements
- In attachment: technical specifications
- Definitions of technical terms
- Product description
- Delimitation of geographical area
- Raw materials and ingredients
- Manufacturing
- Marketing and labelling
- Product characteristics (organoleptic and physicochemical)
- Control and certification
- Annexes: Positive list of ingredients + Minimum control plan
- Other annexes (requirements specifically in Wallonia)
- Map of geographical area
- Bibliography
- Collection of evidence of the designation’s longstanding and current reputation
- Proving the link with the geographical origin
- Description of geographical area (specific features of geographical area)
- Description (specific features) and reputation of the product
- Causal link: influence of the specific features of the geographical area on the specific features of the product + reputation link between the product and its area of origin
CASE 2: APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION
You wish to apply for certification where the designation is already recognised as a PDO, PGI or TSG.
There are currently several accredited independent certifying bodies in Wallonia that you can contact depending on your application:
- TerraCert is the certifying body for seven products, including Beurre d’Ardenne (PDO) and the Escavèche de Chimay (PGI) for example. Find certified producers by product on their website (see useful links below).
- Comité du Lait is the certifying body for hay milk from cows, goats and sheep.
For wines, contact our directorate.
How much will my certification cost ?
There is a maximum certification rate specified in the ministerial decree linked to the certifying body for the PDO, PGI or TSG. Get in touch with the independent certifying body to find out the costs.
- Walloon Government Order of 14 July 2016 on European quality schemes and regional optional quality terms (french only)
- Ministerial Decree implementing the Walloon Government Order of 14 July 2016 on European quality schemes and regional optional quality terms (french only)
- EU regulations on food and agricultural products, wine and spirits
Forms
Online
To download
Useful links
- PDO, PGI and TSG page in Wallonia – Walloon Region Agriculture Portal (only in french)
- Comité du Lait, independent certifying body
- European quality schemes – PDO PGI TSG on agrilabel website (only in french)
- EU quality schemes (europa.eu page)
- Consult the EU geographical indications (GI) and specifications register (eAmbrosia)
- Apaq-W, for promoting designations – PDO | Apaq-W (apaqw.be) - Only in french
- Production quality and certification – Walloon Region Agriculture Portal (only in french)
- Terracert, independent certifying body – Page on PDOs and PGIs certified by Terracert (in french)