Olive-oils PDO and PGI
The European Union has imposed quality recognition indications for certain product categories, including olive oil. These indications are the following: PDO = Protected Designation of Origin and PGI = Protected Geographical Indication. In order to be recognized as a PDO, products must be produced, processed and processed in a defined area that also has a recognized method – practice (know-how). For the PGI indication, the criteria are less strict and a clear relationship between the product, at least at one stage of the production, processing or transformation process, and the defined area is required. Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) products have an advantage in the promotion process in demanding markets, especially for Western countries. In this way, in addition to guaranteed quality, olive oil is combined with the “tradition” that characterizes many regions of Greece, in terms of the production of this specific product, and is an advantage for selective consumers. In the olive oil sector, the PDO and PGI indications have been officially recognized and registered under relevant EU regulations for 31 Greek olive oils from specific regions (19 PDO regions and 12 PGI).
[SEVITEL (Association of Greek Olive Oil Standardization Industries), https://sevitel.gr/to-typopoihmeno-elaiolado/pop-pge/]
PDO products: a) originate in the specific region, specific place or specific country, b) their quality or characteristics are essentially or exclusively due to the specific geographical environment that includes the inherent natural and human factors, and c) their production, processing and preparation take place in the demarcated geographical area.
PGI products: a) originate in the said region, specific place or specific country, b) their specific quality, reputation or other characteristics can be attributed to the said geographical origin, and c) their production, and/or processing, and/or preparation take place in the said demarcated geographical area.
[SEVITEL (Association of Greek Olive Oil Standardization Industries), https://sevitel.gr/to-typopoihmeno-elaiolado/pop-pge/]
In Crete, the PDO and PGI olive oils are:
Viannos Heraklion Crete (PDO), Peza Heraklion Crete (PDO), Archanes Heraklion Crete (PDO), Thrapsano Extra Virgin Olive Oil (PDO), Messara (PDO), North Mylopotamos Rethymno Crete (PDO), Rethymno Chania Crete (PDO), Kolymvari Chania Crete (PDO), Apokoronas Chania Crete (PDO), Selino Extra Virgin Olive Oil Crete (PDO), Sitia Lassithi Crete (PDO), Kritsa Lassithi (PDO).
[Ministry of Rural Development & Food, General Directorate of Food, Directorate of Quality Systems & Organic Agriculture, (2024). Department of P.O.P. – P.G.E. – E.P.I.P., PRODUCTS WITH PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN (P.O.P.) AND PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION (P.G.E.), https://www.minagric.gr/images/stories/docs/agrotis/POP-PGE/proionta_ana_perifereia130524.pdf]
After the registration of the name Kritsa in the Register of Protected Geographical Indications maintained by the European Union, the Kritsa Agricultural Cooperative was certified by ELGO – DIMITRA for the production, packaging and marketing of PGI Kritsa olive oil. An olive oil whose production is now carried out in a clearly demarcated area, and with specific practices applied to the cultivation, harvesting, processing of the olive fruit and the storage and packaging of the olive oil. The commitment to this goal has remained constant for about a century. Since the first producers – members of the Cooperative began to build a strong “brand-name” for Kritsa olive oil. An olive oil with a golden-green color and a fruity flavor that gradually acquired a special reputation that allowed it to gradually spread to the rest of Crete, Greece and international markets.
The PGI product is produced exclusively within the boundaries of the municipal district of Kritsa and the neighboring local communities of Mesa and Exo Lakkonia and Krousta, which belong to the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos. The municipal district of Kritsa, in addition to the homonymous town (Kritsa), also includes the following settlements: Ammoudara, Vathy, Theologos, Katharo, Kalyvos, Mardati, Roussa Limni and Tapes. The specificity of “Kritsa” olive oil is due both to the soil and climatic characteristics of the area and to the human factor. “Kritsa” olive oil is produced in a relatively small area, with more or less similar soil and climatic conditions, which results in the uniformity of the characteristics of the final product.
The area is characterized as dry-thermal, semi-mountainous, with high percentages of sunshine. The altitude is generally low, with the average altitude being approximately 200 meters. In addition, the “Kritsa” olive oil comes exclusively from the ‘Koroneiki’ variety, contributing more to the uniformity of the product. The climate of the area is characterized as mild Mediterranean, without major temperature changes. The average annual temperature is 17 οC, with average annual high and low temperatures of 23.2 οC and 10.7 οC respectively. The warmest months are July and August and the coldest are January and February. Rainfall averages close to 2000 mm per year, with 75% of this falling in the winter months (December, January, February). Sunshine is very high, due to the exposure of the area and the relief, exceeding 2900 hours per year.
[PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS Council Regulation (EC) No 1151/2012, NAME OF THE MEMBER STATE: GREECE, NAME: KRITSA, P.G.E., PRODUCT TYPE: Class 1.5: Oils, https://www.minagric.gr/images/stories/docs/agrotis/POP-PGE/prod_ladi_kritsa081217.pdf]
[Matzarakis, A. and Katsoulis V., (2004). Duration of sunshine hours in Greece. In the 7th Panhellenic (& International) Conference on Meteorology, Climatology and Atmospheric Physics. Nicosia, 28-30 September 2004, pp. 531-539.]
Satellite photo of the area and its location on the map of Crete
[PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS Council Regulation (EC) No 1151/2012, NAME OF MEMBER STATE: GREECE, NAME: KRITSA, PGI, TYPE OF PRODUCT: Class 1.5: Oils, https://www.minagric.gr/images/stories/docs/agrotis/POP-PGE/prod_ladi_kritsa081217.pdf]
The historical link of the area with the olive tree is demonstrated by at least two oil presses in the area of the ancient city of Lato, the ruins of which date back to the Doric period (5th and 4th centuries BC). Within the city, which is located approximately 3 kilometers from the village of Kritsa, there are findings for the storage of olive oil. In addition, scattered old oil mills in the wider area testify to the strong link between olive cultivation and the daily life of the inhabitants.
[PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS Regulation (EC) No. 1151/2012 of the Council, NAME OF THE MEMBER STATE: GREECE, NAME: KRITSA, PGI, TYPE OF PRODUCT: Class 1.5: Oils, https://www.minagric.gr/images/stories/docs/agrotis/POP-PGE/prod_ladi_kritsa081217.pdf]
Ancient oil press of the area around Kritsa, in the ancient city of Lato
[PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS Council Regulation (EC) No 1151/2012, NAME OF THE MEMBER STATE: GREECE, NAME: KRITSA, PGI, TYPE OF PRODUCT: Class 1.5: Oils, https://www.minagric.gr/images/stories/docs/agrotis/POP-PGE/prod_ladi_kritsa081217.pdf]
[The award-winning olive oil “KRITSA” conquers international markets, (2017), https://www.insider.gr/epiheiriseis/55199/kerdizei-tis-diethneis-agores-brabeymeno-elaiolado-kritsa]
The registration of the name “KRITSA” in the PDO-PGI Register as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) of the EU is a recognition of the value of Kritsa olive oil, which has been recognized for years internationally in commercial practice and has been awarded World Awards, including the first prize of the largest and most prestigious Mario Solinas competition organized by the International Olive Oil Council. However, the recognition of ‘PGI Kritsa’ alone cannot ensure the promotion and promotion of the olive oil of the Kritsa region with better prices for its producers. This is at least proven by the experience of the already recognized PGI and PDO of various regions of Crete, where the indications are not well-known to the local and the international public.
Moreover, just like the names of the PDO and PGI recognitions, as they state in their title (P.O.P. stands for Protected Designation of Origin and P.G.E. stands for Protected Geographical Indication), the main purpose of their existence is the “protection” of the names and not the promotion or promotion, which is understood to be the responsibility of the interested parties themselves. Protection can mean the imposition of sanctions by the Member States (and not by the EU) in cases where these names are used in EU member countries without the production procedures provided for in the File of their recognition having been followed. Protection outside the EU countries is limited and mainly concerns special agreements such as for the POD olive oil Kalamata etc. Many, although there are strong local reactions, argue that a single name is internationally known and promoted and every day with tourism it becomes better known. And this is the name CRETE. For this reason, SEDIK (Association of Olive-Growing Municipalities of Crete) has been trying for many years to recognize P.D.O. Crete. It is requested that Kritsa utilize the recognition of “PGI Kritsa” as an added value of the overall production practice that has been applied by its Cooperative so far.
[In the final phase, the recognition of olive oil “P.G.E. Kritsa” – However, for the increase in standardized exports, the basic “key” remains the P.D.O. Crete, https://sedik.gr/arxeio-elaioneon/αρχείο-ελαιονέων-2017/1286-sten-telike-phase-e-anagnorise-elaioladou-pge-kritsa]