EEQ, Enjoy European Quality

is a project co-funded by the European Community and promoted by the Consorzio per la Tutela dell’ASTI Docg, by Istituto Valorizzazione Salumi Italiani – IVSI (Institute for the valorization of Italian deli meats), and the Consorzio Tutela Provolone Valpadana.

The projects last for three years and events are scheduled to be held in the United States.

The “Consorzio per la Tutela dell’ASTI” (Consortium for the Protection of ASTI wines) was officially founded on 17th December 1932 and recognized in 1934. It was originally called “Consorzio per la Difesa dei Vini Tipici MOSCATO d’ASTI  Spumante and ASTI Spumante” (Consortium for the Protection of Typical MOSCATO d’ASTI  Spumante and ASTI Spumante wines). Its trademark has always been the patron saint of Asti, Saint Secundus, on horseback. The Consorzio works to protect, develop and promote Asti and Moscato d’Asti in Italy and worldwide.

The Consorzio’s role also includes quality control along the entire production chain and monitoring the use of the designation name to prevent counterfeiting. Its Research Laboratory promotes and coordinates specific scientific studies and innovative technologies to continuously improve the production process as a whole.

The Consorzio coordinates and promotes activities valorizing the area of origin of Moscato Bianco grapes, whose cultivation covers 10,000 hectares across 52 municipalities of the provinces of Alessandria, Asti, and Cuneo. More than 1,400 ha have a gradient over 40%, with 330 ha of this area over 50% – these are vineyards historically named “sorì“, where no mechanical equipment can be used and vines are tended exclusively by hand.

Asti Spumante is also the name of one of the five Core Zones of the vineyard landscapes of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In February 2012 the Consorzio received an important recognition from the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (Ministerial Decree no. 1778 dated 27th January 2012), becoming the only agency entrusted with essential functions envisaged under the legislation governing the production of protected wines, namely:

•  provide technical assistance, draw up study proposals and business and economic assessments to enhance the value of the Designation;

•  protect and safeguard the Designation from violations, unfair competition, and wine fraud;

•  carry out activities involving protection, promotion, consumer information and general protection of the interests of the Designation on behalf of all the members included in the Designation surveillance systems;

•  implement supply control policies to improve the coordination of market access for the Designation, after consulting the industry representatives;

•  define plans to improve product quality;

•  act in administrative and judicial courts, in Italy and abroad, to protect and safeguard the Designation and to protect the interests and rights of the producers;

•  perform surveillance activities, mainly in the market.

The Istituto Valorizzazione Salumi Italiani – IVSI (Institute for the valorization of Italian deli meats) is a voluntary Consortium, non-profit organization. It was formed in 1985 in response to the growing need for information from consumers and with the aim of enhancing the image of Italian deli meats.

The Institute has become a reference point as well as a valuable source of information for journalists and opinion leaders. In this context, the “Reporter del Gusto” Press Award is of growing interest.

IVSI carries out the following objectives:

•  spreads knowledge on the various aspects of Italian Salumi – economic, nutritional and cultural – both in Italy and abroad, promoting the unique heritage
of Made in Italy food products;

• promotes research on nutritional profiles of Italian Salumi and, is active in communicating the relevant results to the general public, together with the Institutions which are involved in nutritional education;

• support training activity to spread Salumi culture and its history in Italy and abroad.

The Consorzio Tutela Provolone Valpadana is a volunteer organisation, formed in 1975 under the name Consorzio per la tutela del Provolone Tipico Italiano, subsequently changed to Consorzio del formaggio tipico Provolone (1986), then Consorzio Tutela Provolone (1993) and then, in 2002, to Consorzio Tutela Provolone Valpadana.

The Consortium is not for profit and carries out the following activities:

• protecting and monitoring the production and sale of the Protected Designation of Origin Provolone Valpadana cheese and the use of its name;

• promoting any useful initiative to preserve it uniqueness and special characteristics from abuse, unfair competition, counterfeiting, misuse and all other conduct prohibited by law;

• raising awareness about the Protected Designation of Origin Provolone Valpadana cheese in all marketplaces;

• valorising the Protected Designation of Origin Provolone Valpadana cheese;

• taking care of the general interests of the Protected Designation of Origin Provolone Valpadana cheese;

• carrying out development and research activities in order to encourage the continued improvement of production techniques and consequent improvement in quality;

• organising and overseeing the proper conduct of training activities;

• undertaking activities to support the entire Provolone Valpadana DOP production chain.

PDO/PGI:
THE TWO ACRONYMS OF VALUE

To protect the uniqueness of certain food products, the European Union has launched a specific legislation, establishing two levels of recognition: PDO and PGI, with which it aims to protect the products’ names and their typical qualities from imitations and abuses.

The PDO and PGI products represent a great asset for Europe thanks to their consolidated production tradition, the high-quality standards, the connection with the region of origin and the cultural and business structure to which they belong. Who makes PDO products must adhere to strict production rules set out in the specification. The respect of these rules is guaranteed by a specific independent control body.

These Community marks are a guarantee for the consumer, who knows to buy quality food produced respecting strict specifications.

Who makes PDO and PGI products must adhere to strict rules set out in the Production Regulation and the respect of these rules is guaranteed by a specific independent control body.