Part 1: Geographical Indication control systems – Some basics

Part 1: Geographical Indication control systems – Some basics

Having an effective GI control system enhances the credibility of the OLP GI system and provides some guarantees about the product on the market in relation to:

•   Protection of producers against frauds and counterfeiting
•   Protection for the consumers as the GI guarantees traceability, labelling and true information on the quality and origin of the product
•   Integration of food safety and quality standards in domestic policy and codified in domestic law

Geographical Indications control systems are developed specifically in relation to the product and must be differentiated from other standards that can cover products such as organic standards (which relates to other production\ processes) or system controls based on the organisation of the enterprises such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14 001.

The key to successful GI control systems is being able to document what must be done to maintain the quality system associated with the OLP and its specifications (‘Saying what I do”) and then being able to check that producers are conforming to the documented controls (‘Doing what I say’).

The control system developed for an OLP must be easy to implement by the producers and by the control body.

There is a close relationship between the specification and the GI control plan and therefore it is important that the control system adopted reflects what is possible to be assessed/audited.