Food Mead

Summary of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in Nordic countries

Feb 11, 2023

This article summarizes information about Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), and what kind of products are certified in Northern Europe (including the three Baltic countries), with a focus on Lithuania.

The Lithuanian honey mead “Stakrishkes” that we sell is also a traditional brand that has been registered as a national heritage site of Lithuania and has been certified as a protected geographical indication (PGI).

"Intellectual property rights" that protect product quality and reputation

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO/Protected Designation of Origin) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI/Protected Geographical Indication) indicate that the quality and evaluation of a product originate from its place of origin and are protected as one of the intellectual property rights within the EU. system.

Protected Denominations of Origin (PDO) have stricter standards than Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). It started in 1973 with the first certification of wines from France, Italy and Germany.

A similar system exists in Japan, with about 120 brands including Kobe beef and Yubari melon. About 20 brands of alcohol have been certified, including Kuma shochu (rice), Satsuma shochu (potato), Iki shochu (barley), Ryukyu Awamori, and Yamanashi wine.

Now let's delve into PDO and PGI, focusing on Lithuania and Northern Europe.

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)

Protected Designation of Origin

1,885 brands have been certified in all 27 EU member countries, and the logo is a red and yellow design.

A certification given to products with quality and characteristics that exclusively reflect the characteristics of the place of origin and geographical environment.

In many cases, the name of the certified land is used in the product name, and it must be produced in that region using raw materials obtained in that region.

Famous PDO foods include Camembert cheese (France), Gorgonzola (Italy) and Parma ham (Italy).

Bordeaux, Burgundy, Cognac, Champagne (France), Prosecco (Italy), Cava (Spain), Tokaj (Hungary), etc. are famous for alcohol.

Lithuania has only one PDO certification, which is for honey.

Rajaj region of Lithuania and Sejny region of Poland. In 2012, it was the first brand to receive PDO certification in a bilateral country, a rare case in which both regions straddling the border are covered.

There are only 13 PDO-certified brands in the entire Nordic region: 1 in Latvia, 0 in Estonia, 5 in Sweden, 1 in Denmark, 5 in Finland and 0 in Norway.

Lithuanian Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)

Country	Brand	Brand name (reading)	Product category	Certification year
Lithuania 🇱🇹 & Poland 🇵🇱	Seinų / Lazdijų krašto medus	Seinu / Rajyu Kurasht Medus	honey	2012

Nordic Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) stocks

Country	Brand	Product category	Certification year
Latvia 🇱🇻	Latvijas lielie pelēkie zirņi	beans	2015
Sweden 🇸🇪	Wrångebacksost	cheese	2022
Sweden 🇸🇪	Vanerlojrom	fish eggs	2021
Sweden 🇸🇪	Hånnlamb	meat	2016
Sweden 🇸🇪	Upplandskubb	bread	2014
Sweden 🇸🇪	Kalix Lojrom	fish eggs	2010
Denmark 🇩🇰	Dons	sparkling wine	2018
Finland 🇫🇮	Kitkan viisas	fish	2013
Finland 🇫🇮	Lapin Poron kylmäsavuliha	meat	2011
Finland 🇫🇮	Lapin Poron kuivaliha	meat	2010
Finland 🇫🇮	Lapin PoLapin Poron liharon liha	meat	2009
Finland 🇫🇮	Lapin Puikula	potatoes	1997

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)

Protected Geographical Indication

1,390 brands are certified in all 27 EU member countries, and the logo is a blue and yellow design.

It is a certification given to products related to a special region, and there are also cases where the name of the region is used for the product name. The major difference with PDO is that part of the production process is subject to certification outside the region.

Famous PDI products include Blood Orange (Italy), Bayonne Ham (France) and Balsamic Vinegar (Italy).

Lithuania has obtained PGI certification for the following seven brands. If you know mead, cheese, bread, beer, Shakotis and Lithuania well, you will be satisfied with the brands.

There are 31 PGI-certified brands across Northern Europe: 2 in Latvia, 1 in Estonia, 2 in Norway, 5 in Sweden, 12 in Denmark and 2 in Finland. In Denmark, which had the largest number of certification registrations, four brands each of wine and cheese were certified.

Lithuanian Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Stocks

Country	Brand	Brand name (reading)	Product category	Certification year
Lithuania 🇱🇹	Nijolės Šakočienės šakotis	Nyores Shakochenes Shakotis	baked goods	2022
Lithuania 🇱🇹	Kaimiškas Jovarų alus	Kaimishkas Yobal Ars	Beer	2019
Lithuania 🇱🇹	Dziugas	Jugas	cheese	2019
Lithuania 🇱🇹	Liliputas	Lilyptus	cheese	2015
Lithuania 🇱🇹	Daujėnų naminė duona	Dauyen Namine Duona	rye bread	2014
Lithuania 🇱🇹	Stakliskės	Stakrishkes	honey mead	2013
Lithuania 🇱🇹	Lietuviškas varškės sūris	Lietovishkas Balszkes Souris	cottage cheese	2013

Nordic Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Stocks

Country	Brand	Product category	Certification year
Latvia 🇱🇻	Rucavas baltais svies	butter	2018
Latvia 🇱🇻	Carnikavas nēģi	fish	2015
Estonia 🇪🇪	Sõir	cheese	2021
Norway 🇳🇴	Fenalår fra Norge	meat	2017
Norway 🇳🇴	Torrfisk fra Lofoten	fish	2014
Sweden 🇸🇪	Äkta Granna Polkagrisar	snack	2022
Sweden 🇸🇪	Värmländskt skrädmjöl	oat flour	2021
Sweden 🇸🇪	Bruna bönor från Öland	beans	2010
Sweden 🇸🇪	Skånsk spettkaka	baked goods	2000
Sweden 🇸🇪	Svecia	cheese	1997
Denmark 🇩🇰	Havarti	cheese	2019
Denmark 🇩🇰	Danbo	cheese	2017
Denmark 🇩🇰	Lammefjordskartofler	potatoes	2014
Denmark 🇩🇰	Vadehavs studio	meat	2012
Denmark 🇩🇰	Vadehavslam	meat	2012
Denmark 🇩🇰	Bornholm	wine	2011
Denmark 🇩🇰	Jylland	wine	2011
Denmark 🇩🇰	Fyn	wine	2011
Denmark 🇩🇰	Sjaelland	wine	2011
Denmark 🇩🇰	Lammefjords Gulerod	Carrot	1996
Denmark 🇩🇰	Esrom	cheese	1996
Denmark 🇩🇰	Danablu	cheese	1996
Finland 🇫🇮	Puruveden muikku	fish	2013
Finland 🇫🇮	Kainuun ronttonen	sweet pie	2008

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) certified mead mead

Among them, Lithuanian mead "Stakrishkes" applied for PGI in July 2010 and received certification in November 2013. PGI certification was approved after a review period of more than three years.

Furthermore, Stakrishkes is introduced in the book "Lithuanian Food Labeled With The Mark Of Quality" on PDO and PGI published in Lithuania.

Honey wine mead "Stakrishkes"

"Stakrishkes" is a honey liquor that appears in an old legend about the Grand Duke of the Principality of Lithuania. A transparent, amber-colored sake with 12% alcohol that takes about a year to brew.

After the honey and water are mixed and heated, the other ingredients are added, cooled, and the yeast is added to ferment. After that, it is filtered after maturing until the surface becomes transparent.

The alcohol content is only the amount produced by this fermentation and no alcohol is added. There is no added sugar, sweetener, coloring agent, flavoring agent, etc., and it is a liquor with characteristics derived from the original quality of honey.

This mead "Stakrishkes" is brewed in the Stakrishkes region of Lithuania according to traditional recipes handed down from ancient times, and continues to protect the trust of aged mead with a delicate aroma and taste over time.

Lithuanian mead "Stakrishkes" is registered as a special brand in Europe. Why not give it a try on your special day?