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a. What is protected?

To be taken into account as a designation of origin, it has to be "the name of a region, of a specific place or in exceptional cases of a country, that is used in the designation of an agricultural product or foodstuff that originates from that region, that specific place or that country and of which the production, preparation and processing take place in that geographical region".

Certain traditional names (geographical or not) can also be taken into consideration to get protection as a designation of origin.

Is protected as a geographical indication: "the name of a region, of a specific place or in exceptional cases of a country, that is used in the designation of an agricultural product or foodstuff that originates from that region, that specific place or that country and of which a certain propriety, the fame or another characteristic can be attributed to that geographical origin and of which the production, preparation and processing take place in that geographical region".

According to Regulation number 1726/98 the protection can also be granted to a logo if it meets the requirements.

Generic names cannot be registered.

Names cannot be registered if they are misleading.

b. On which territory?

These names can be protected for the total territory of the European Union by way of the Community Registration proceedure.

c. What do the "RDO" and "PGI" mentions mean?

In case the name is eventually registered, "PDO" for a protected designation of origin and "PGI" for a protected geographical indication can be applied on the product.