Lots of food packaging carries abbreviations like DOP or IGP, alongside words like "traditional" or "handmade". At first glance they look similar, but they mean very different things. Here's the plain-English version, no legal jargon.
What's actually behind the three abbreviations
Think of DOP as the strictest label: everything that goes into a product, and how it's made, has to happen in a specific region. The soil, the climate, the local people — all of that shapes the product, and that's exactly what gets checked. IGP is a bit more relaxed: it's enough for one important production step to happen in the region, as long as the product's reputation is clearly tied to that place. STG is different again: it's not about a place at all, but about an old recipe or traditional way of making something that's existed for at least 30 years — no matter where in Europe it's actually produced.
Who actually checks all this?
With all three labels, someone from outside regularly comes and checks the rules are genuinely being followed. Cut corners, and you lose the label. Words like "traditional" on packaging don't work that way — pretty much anyone can use them, with no checks at all.
DOP: Strictly checked, the whole product comes from the region (Official EU label) IGP: A bit more relaxed, one step is enough (Official EU label) STG: About an old recipe, not a place (Official EU label) Slow Food Presidium: Protects rare, traditional foods (Private recognition, not a government body) "Traditional", "handmade": Sounds good, but means nothing legally (No checks behind it)
FAQ
What's the key difference between DOP and IGP? For DOP, almost everything must happen in the region; for IGP, one important step is enough, as long as the product's reputation is clearly tied to that place.
Is a Slow Food Presidium just as official as a DOP? No — Presidia are a genuinely valuable but private recognition from Slow Food, not an official EU label.
Does "traditional" on a label mean the same as STG? No. Only STG is a checked, official label. The word "traditional" on its own can be used freely by anyone, with no checks at all.
How can I tell if a label is genuinely audited? A real label like DOP, IGP or STG can easily be looked up against an official EU list — there's no equivalent list for purely marketing words.
SOURCES
[1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council, applicable since 13 May 2024. EUR-Lex. [2] Accredia. DOP – Denominazione di Origine Protetta, IGP, STG. https://www.accredia.it/servizio-accreditato/dop-denominazione -di-origine-protetta-igp-indicazione-geografica-protetta-stg-specialita-tradizionale-garantita/ [3] Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity. Slow Food Presidia — The project. https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/what-we-do/slow-food-presidia/the-project/
