What does PDO mean?

The Protected Designation of Origin mark, better known by the acronym P.D.O., is a mark for the legal protection of the name that the European Union attributes to those foodstuffs whose intrinsic quality characteristics are due essentially or exclusively to the geographical area in which they are produced. 

The geographical area includes both natural factors (climate, environmental characteristics), and human factors including agricultural techniques developed over time, which together enable the creation of a unique product that cannot be recreated outside the specific production zone. For a product to qualify as P.D.O., the production, transformation and processing stages must all take place in a defined geographical area. Those who make P.D.O. products must comply with the strict rules established in the Production Specifications. An independent supervisory body ensures compliance with these rules