Designation: PDO - European Union

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) symbols were created by the European Union (EU) to protect the names and reputation of specific regional foods from misuse and imitation. The legislation for these seals was formed in 1992 and is enforced by the EU to ensure that cheeses such as Asiago can only be labeled as such if they come from the designated region.

This official labeling process has helped to eliminate unfair competition and protects consumers from misleading, non-genuine products which may be of inferior quality.

To qualify for a PDO seal, a product must be produced, processed and prepared in a given geographical area using recognized know-how.