Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Article 5 Requirements for designations of origin and geographical indications

1. For the purpose of this Regulation, ‘designation of origin’ is a name which identifies a product:

(a) originating in a specific place, region or, in exceptional cases, a country;

(b) whose quality or characteristics are essentially or exclusively due to a particular geographical environment with its inherent natural and human factors; and

(c) the production steps of which all take place in the defined geographical area.

2. For the purpose of this Regulation, ‘geographical indication’ is a name which identifies a product:

(a) originating in a specific place, region or country;

(b) whose given quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin; and

(c) at least one of the production steps of which take place in the defined geographical area.

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, certain names shall be treated as designations of origin even though the raw materials for the products concerned come from a geographical area larger than, or different from, the defined geographical area, provided that:

(a) the production area of the raw materials is defined;

(b) special conditions for the production of the raw materials exist;

(c) there are control arrangements to ensure that the conditions referred to in point (b) are adhered to; and

(d) the designations of origin in question were recognised as designations of origin in the country of origin before 1 May 2004.

Only live animals, meat and milk may be considered as raw materials for the purposes of this paragraph.

4. In order to take into account the specific character of production of products of animal origin, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 56, concerning restrictions and derogations with regard to the sourcing of feed in the case of a designation of origin.

In addition, in order to take into account the specific character of certain products or areas, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 56, concerning restrictions and derogations with regard to the slaughtering of live animals or with regard to the sourcing of raw materials.

These restrictions and derogations shall, based on objective criteria, take into account quality or usage and recognised know-how or natural factors.