Regulated certification refers to that established by specific standards issued by institutions (such as European ones), by an individual country and sometimes at regional level.

European Quality Schemes

1. Geographical Indications

• Objectives/Aims of the SchemeWith the establishment of the Geographical Indications system, the quality policy of the European Union aimed at protecting the names of specific products to promote their unique characteristics related to geographical origin and traditional skills.
• What the certification certifiesThe PDO mark guarantees that every part of the production, processing and preparation process must take place in the specific region, while the PGI mark generally distinguishes those products for which at least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation must take place in the specified territory.

Geographical Indications are recognised as intellectual property rights and therefore legally protected against imitation and abuse within the EU and in third countries with which a specific protection agreement has been signed.

The certification process is conducted by a third-party body that certifies the conformity of the product to the rules written in a production specification.

Alongside PDOs and PGIs, the European Union has created the TSG seal, which emphasises traditional aspects, such as the way the product is obtained or its composition, without being linked to a specific geographical area.

• Contributions to sustainabilityalthough they are not commonly referred to as “sustainable certifications”, the certificates reserved for Geographical Indication products actually underpin examples of “ante-litteram” environmental, economic and social sustainability”, They are naturally suited, among other things, to the preservation of the precious natural resources of the territories from which they originate (since they cannot be relocated), to the fair distribution of value for all the operators in the supply chains concerned (often operating in inland or mountainous areas), to the impact on the wellbeing of employees and communities, and to cultural preservation by preserving the traditions and identity of the territories.
• Regulatory Sources: Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 11 April 2024 on geographical indications for wines, spirit drinks and agricultural products, as well as on traditional specialities guaranteed and optional quality terms for agricultural products, amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2019/787 and (EU) 2019/1753 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

 

2. Organic farming

• Objectives/Aims of the Schemeorganic farming is an agricultural method aimed at producing food with natural substances and processes. This means that it tends to have a limited environmental impact, as it encourages a: using energy and natural resources responsibly; conserving biodiversity; preserving regional ecological balances; improving soil fertility; maintaining water quality. In addition, organic farming standards favour the animal welfare and require farmers to meet their specific behavioural needs. The EU regulations on organic farming are designed to provide a clear framework for the production of organic products throughout the EU. The intention is meeting consumer demand for reliable organic products while creating a fair market for producers, distributors and retailers.
• What the certification certifies: the EU maintains a rigorous control and enforcement system to ensure that organic rules and regulations are properly respected(appoints a 'competent authority” in each member country, usually coinciding with a Ministry of Agriculture or a Ministry of Public Health, which in turn may delegate its role to one or more private control bodies and/or public control authorities). Since organic farming is part of a broader supply chain, which includes food processing, distribution and retailing, these are also subject to controls. Farmers, processors or traders must be audited by an accredited body or control authority before they can market their products as organic. Once verified and deemed compliant, they receive a certificate confirming compliance with EU requirements. Whether organic or not, farmers must also comply with a number of regulations to protect public health, animal and plant health, the environment and animal welfare. In addition, all farmers who receive a income support are required to comply with the statutory management requirements (SMRs) under cross-compliance legislation,which reflects compliance with EU food and environmental legislation. Finally, all food producers are required to comply with general food legislation, which includes labelling regulations. Specific products may also be subject to additional regulations, such as more extensive labelling requirements. These regulations are mandatory for organic producers, who must also comply with specific organic standards. The organic logo may only be used on products that have been certified as such by an authorised inspection body or agency. This means that the products have met strict conditions regarding production, transport and storage. The EU has also introduced the group certification whose objective is facilitate access to the organic market for small enterprises.
• Contributions to sustainabilityagriculture with limited environmental impact (environmental sustainability), value-added production with a growing market share (economic sustainability), ensuring healthy food for the consumer (social sustainability).
• Regulatory Sources: Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (as amended).

On the basis of Regulation (EU) 2018/848, the Commission adopted further derived legal acts (delegated and implementing).

With the new legislation coming into force on 1 January 2022, it has: strengthened the control system, which contributes to further strengthening consumer confidence in the EU organic system; laid down new rules for producers that make it easier for smaller farmers to convert to organic production; launched new rules on imported organic products to ensure that all organic products sold in the EU meet the same standards; and allowed a wider range of products to be marketed as organic.

National Quality Systems

These are certification schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, established by specific national regulations, aimed at guaranteeing quality and transparency for consumers and protecting producers. 

National quality schemes, established under Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, are quality schemes open to all producers in the European Union, recognised by the Member States as meeting the following criteria:

- specific product features;

- particular production methods or

- a quality of the final product that significantly exceeds consistent commercial standards in terms of public health, plant and animal health, animal welfare or environmental protection.

These schemes provide for binding production specifications, compliance with which is verified by public authorities or an independent control body. They are also transparent and ensure complete product traceability.

Several “SQNs” operate in Italy” (National Quality System) that focus on and certify specific aspects of the productions of one or more production chains, defining specific standards for quality, traceability and sustainability. 

Among the common features SQN schemes can therefore be counted:

• voluntarinessMembership of the schemes is voluntary on the part of companies;
• production specificationsEach scheme has a production specification that defines the rules for the production of the product;
• checkscertified products are subject to inspections by independent, third-party bodies authorised by the Ministry of Agriculture;
• seal of qualitycertified products may use a quality mark to indicate their compliance with the scheme.
• benefits for companiesCertified products have a higher value in the market, as they guarantee quality and sustainability, conveying a positive image of the product to consumers, increasing their confidence and demand. Some NQS schemes also allow companies to access public funding for the development of new products or the adoption of more sustainable practices.

Certification therefore allows operators in the agri-food supply chain to differentiate themselves from their competitors, thereby gaining greater competitiveness in the market.

Among the most widely adopted sustainability-oriented NQS schemes in Italy, including by companies operating in PDO-PGI control systems, are worth mentioning: SQNPI (National Quality System for Integrated Production), SQNBA (National Animal Welfare Quality System), SQNZ (National Quality System for Animal Husbandry).

1. SQNPI (National Quality System for Integrated Production)

• Objectives/Aims of the Scheme: «integrated production» refers to the agri-food production system that uses all means of production and defence of agricultural production from adversities, aimed at minimise the use of synthetic chemicals and rationalise fertilisation, in accordance with ecological, economic and toxicological principles. The SQNPI is designed to become a competitive tool, aimed at enhancing and differentiating products on the market. The ministerial hallmark “Sustainable Quality” is therefore able to ensure the consumer that products are grown using agronomic techniques that respect the environment and human health.

Via the membership, management and control arrangements in use for SQNPI, interested companies can apply for the’membership of the fruit and vegetable sustainability certification scheme or the wine sustainability certification scheme (established by special Masaf decrees).

• What the certification certifiesThe NQSNPI provides for a double level of control aimed at demonstrating the application of regional integrated production specifications at various stages of production: agricultural stage, processing, packaging and identification of the finished product by means of the “Sustainable Quality” label”. The control system is therefore developed on two levels: company self-control and control by CBs specifically authorised by Masaf.
• Contributions to sustainabilityThe SQNPI was created essentially to promote the reduction of the impact of agriculture on public health and the environment, but the continuous updating of the standard is oriented to embrace the principles of sustainability as related to social responsibility, the protection of biodiversity and combating climate change, contained in the Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs - of the UN 2030 agenda, or the Green deal and the EU's Farm to Fork strategy.
• Regulatory SourcesThe SQNPI was established by the Law No. 4 of 3 February 2011 - Provisions on the labelling and quality of food products.

The founding law was followed by implementing legislation including:

DM No. 4890 of 08 May 2014 - Implementation of Article 2(6) of Law No. 4 of 3 February 2011;

DM Head of Department No. 1347 of 28 April 2015 (SQNPI management), subsequently amended by the DM Head of Department No. 2889 of 30 June 2021;

Interministerial Decree to harmonise the contents of the National Quality System on Integrated Production (SQNPI) of the Ministry of Agriculture and the “VIVA” project (Sustainability in Viticulture in Italy) of the Ministry of Environment;

DM of 16 March 2022, No. 0124900 approving the specification of the certification system for the sustainability of the wine supply chain, established by Ministerial Decree No. 0288989 of 23 June 2021;

DM of 16 September 2021, No. 438987 establishing the certification system for the sustainability of the fruit and vegetable supply chain;

Last updated: Accession, Management and Control Standard with its Annex I and National Integrated Production Guidelines 2025;

Regional integrated pest management specifications 2025 .

 

2. SQNBA (National Animal Welfare Quality System)

• Objectives/Aims of the Schemethe SQNBA represents a single reference standard in voluntary animal welfare certification, which brought order to the various pre-existing certification protocols concerning the same field, also contributing to a clearer consumer information on animal welfare, farm biosecurity and veterinary medicine issues. SQNBA certification ties in with Ecoscheme 1 level 2, i.e. CAP payments that represent a form of indirect financing of the quality system. An operator who has not been SQNBA certified will not be able to receive these contributions.
• What the certification certifiesaccredited animal welfare certification verifies the conformity of the herds to the requirements of the SQNBA scheme, for the animal species, production orientation and production method of interest, and assesses the compliance with identification and traceability systems by operators in the supply chain. The actors involved in the accredited certification process are both the breeding farms both the companies that transformproducts of animal origin from certified farms. They are currently 5 the specifications approved by Masaf decree with which operators must comply in order to obtain certification: fattening pigs (over 50 kg) reared outdoors; dairy cattle in stalls; beef cattle in family farms; cattle reared on pasture or entirely on pasture. The macro-areas audited are four: well-being, biosafety, informed use of medicine and environmental protection, involving aspects of primary importance such as the combating the phenomena of antimicrobial resistance. Adherence to the standard, by breeders and processors, requires them to use production processes aimed at improving animal health conditions and ensuring higher quality products. The certifying parties must ensure at all stages of breeding, production, transfer, processing, marketing and storage that the requirements of the specification are maintained. Membership is voluntary and can also take place through a Food Operators Group. Among the requirements for membership of the SQNBA, primary production operators are required to adhere to the system ClassyFarm, an IT platform strongly desired by the Directorate General of Animal Health and Veterinary Drugs (DGSA) of the Ministry of Health and included in the national veterinary portal, containing a series of relevant data with the aim of categorising farms according to their risk for veterinary public health. Recently, Masaf decreed the start of applications for the breeders' scheme, The control plans for the specifications for cattle and free-range fattening pigs, the first two livestock categories covered by the SQNBA, have been defined. At the same time, the Ministry informed that the procedures for the recognition of certification bodies are being finalised.
• Contributions to sustainabilitythe SQNBA is a tool that enhances animal welfare and the economic sustainability of farms and supply chains. It also addresses issues of great interest to the consumer, such as the environmental sustainability of livestock production and the possibility of choosing food in a more targeted and conscious way through clear information on the label.
• Regulatory SourcesThe “National Quality System for Animal Welfare” was established pursuant to Article 224-bis of the Decree-Law No. 34 of 19 May 2020, and introduced by Conversion Law No. 77 of 17 July 2020.

The founding law was followed by implementing legislation including:

Interministerial Decree No. 341750 of 2 August 2022 - Discipline of the «National Quality System for Animal Welfare»;

Interministerial Decree No. 563467 of 24 October 2024 to amend Annexes 1 and 2 of the Ministerial Decree of 2 August 2022 and to approve the SQNBA specifications (cattle and free-range pigs).

3. SQNZ (National Quality System for Livestock)

• Objectives/Aims of the SchemeWith the SQNZ System, the Ministry of Agriculture has established a quality regime that certifies farms, agricultural products and foodstuffs of livestock origin, with the aim of: ensuring food quality, economic, social and environmental sustainability of production processes in the livestock sector; improve animal welfare and health conditions and reduce emissions into the environment. Products obtained with the application of a recognised production specification within the NQS and which comply with GAEC criteria (Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions), can be identified with the term «sustainably farmed product». Furthermore, the conformity of products to the SQNZ System may be emphasised in advertising and in the labelling of packaging (product name, SQNZ wording in extended or abbreviated form, the country of origin and breeding of the animals where not required by specific regulations). Lastly, the use of products obtained in conformity with the SQNZ, as “quality products”, may constitute a preferential title in the awarding of contracts for the supply of food products destined for collective catering.
• What the certification certifiesThe decree establishing the SQNZ provides that the Masaf recognises and authorises the production specifications belonging to the System, in compliance with EU and national regulations. The same Ministry also holds the list of specifications and producers belonging to the National Quality System for Livestock. Compliance with the process and/or product requirements contained in the product specification recognised by Masaf is verified by one or more control authorities/bodies on the basis of the control plan drawn up by the same authority/authority in accordance with the “model” control plan drawn up by the Ministry. The minimum requirements of an SQNZ production specification with which the operators concerned must comply, in addition to the name identifying the type of recognised product, are: requirements for feeding, which are higher and qualifying than the legal requirements, able to improve the characteristics of the product type also from the consumer's point of view; and/or requirements for animal husbandry conditions that enhance animal welfare, which are higher than what is required by the specific regulations of the sector in question. In addition to the above minimum requirements, SQNZ product specifications may provide for: requirements relating to environmental aspects; specific obligations under the regulations of the specific supply chain.
• Contributions to sustainability: a «sustainably farmed product» conforms to one standard based on principles of economic sustainability (added value for the producer), social (guaranteeing traceability and proper herd management for the consumer) and environmental (respect for good agronomic and environmental conditions), and demonstrates the commitment of farmers and processors to the transition to sustainable food systems.
• Regulatory SourcesThe “National Quality System for Livestock” was established by the Masaf Decree 16 December 2022 - Establishment of the National Livestock Quality System

Currently the recognised production specifications are:

• Veal and/or Scottona with cereals
• Piedmontese Fassone
• Egg + cereal quality
• Grazing Podolica cattle
• Veal with milk and cereals
• Raw cow's milk and derivatives
• Standard: Sustainable animal husbandry for beef production,

to which should be added the SQN “Sustainable Aquaculture” Production Specification” which defines the requirements that aquaculture enterprises that breed fish and bivalve molluscs must comply with in order to adhere to the National Quality Farming Scheme. The objective of this latter production regulation is to qualify aquaculture, improving the products from the point of view of quality and the production process from the point of view of sustainability and the welfare of the organisms reared.  

Applications for recognition submitted for further disciplines within the SQNZ (pending acceptance by Masaf) include:

• High Quality Buffalo Meat
• Valdostana meat
• Sustainable Breeding

The quality schemes described above can be complemented by those certifications, although of a voluntary nature, designed and implemented by other central government institutions, such as the Ministry of the Environment, which aim to assess the ecological footprint of products subjected to verification by a third-party inspection body responsible for issuing the relevant certificates.

Next, the descriptive elements of those quality schemes adopted at regional level and extended to different agri-food chains.

National certification schemes promoted by the Ministry of the Environment

1. Made Green in Italy

• Objectives/Aims of the SchemeThe voluntary national scheme for assessing and reporting on the environmental footprint of products, called “Made Green in Italy” is managed by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and is based on the PEF - Product Environmental Footprint, as defined by the European Commission in its own recommendation. Made Green in Italy“ aims to promote Italian products on the market with good/optimal environmental performance (guaranteed by a scientifically robust system) and aims with its logo to make products recognisable to consumers, so as to encourage more conscious choices.
• What the certification certifies: The MGI is applicable to all products (therefore also to agri-food products) which, according to existing laws, originate in Italy. This means that a product that is not 100% made in Italy and involves other countries in its processing can still join the scheme, if the last substantial, economically justified processing takes place in Italy. The first step to make the scheme actually applicable to products in the market is the existence of Product Category Rules (CPR), i.e. documents containing methodological indications that define mandatory and optional rules and requirements necessary to conduct environmental footprint studies for a specific product category. Once a CPR has been completed and approved proposed by entities (private or public) consisting of at least three companies representing the majority share of the sector of the specific product category for which the CPR is to be proposed, manufacturing companies can join the Scheme, complete a PEF study and, against the required documentation, obtain the “Made Green in Italy” logo” for their product. The environmental footprint assessment study involves the calculation of environmental indicator values for the three main impact categories identified by the relevant CPRs. This value is compared to the value of the benchmark defined within the CPRs themselves, i.e. a reference value obtained by aggregating the three main impact indicators through standardisation and weighting. The regulation provides for a classification of products into three performance classes: class A, products that perform better than the benchmark; class B, products with performance equal to or close to the benchmark; class C, products with worse performance than the benchmark. Products eligible for the “Made Green in Italy” logo are those with environmental performance equal to or better than the benchmark (class A and class B products). Class C products cannot obtain use of the logo. Class B products may obtain use of the logo but must include an improvement plan to be implemented within the three-year period of validity of the licence.
• Contributions to sustainability: calculating the environmental footprint of a product throughout its life cycle enables a company to assessing how to reduce the environmental impacts of that good or service, to enhance the market value of products with good environmental performance, to enable consumers to make more informed choices also thanks to the recognisability of the MGI logo.
• Regulatory Sources“Made Green in Italy” is established by Art. 21(1) of the Law No. 221/2015. With the Ministerial Decree No. 56/2018 The “Made Green in Italy” implementing regulation has come into force.

2. VIVA (programme for the sustainability of the Italian wine sector)

• Objectives/Aims of the Scheme: VIVA is a programme of the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security that has been promoting the sustainability of the Italian wine sector. Among its objectives: measure and improve the sustainability performance of the Italian wine supply chain through the analysis of specific indicators; provide user-friendly computerised calculation and monitoring tools for analysing these indicators; identify measures to improve sustainability performance at all stages of the production cycle; communicate in a clear, uniform and transparent manner and inform the final consumer through a digital label in which the results and improvements, in terms of sustainability, achieved by producers participating in the programme are reported.
• What the certification certifiesThe VIVA programme measures the sustainability performance of companies and products through the calculation of four indicators (Air, Water, Vineyard and Territory) identified as most representative of wine production. Technical specifications and calculation software have been developed for the analysis of each indicator to ensure the standardisation of the process and the comparison of impacts over time. The measurement of sustainability performance represents the concrete starting point for implementing effective continuous improvement actions for an increasingly sustainable wine-growing industry. Accredited third-party organisations that have demonstrated that they comply with the requirements of the VIVA Verification Specifications are entrusted with the certification of compliance of each indicator with the Technical Specifications of the programme.
• Contributions to sustainabilityFirstly, joining the programme increases the farm awareness of its impact on climate change, water resources, agricultural land and the wider territory, while providing the tools to reduce it over time. Measures to reduce greenhouse gases and water consumption, including energy efficiency and technological renovation, are able to contain not only the impact of the winery on the environment, but also production costs and wastage of resources. The dissemination of results and the credibility of the certification process also contribute to raising consumer awareness and help him make responsible choices. Finally, VIVA's training courses for sustainability practitioners contribute both to the transfer of know-how within the corporate fabric and to the creation of new “green” job opportunities”.
• Regulatory SourcesIn 2011, the Ministry of the Environment launched the pilot project V.I.V.A. -Valutazione dell'Impatto della Vitivinicoltura sull'Ambiente (Assessment of the Impact of Winegrowing on the Environment). After a pilot phase, which saw the participation of some large Italian wine-growing companies, concluded in 2014, a technical specifications, updated over the years, which constitutes the reference for all companies wishing to undertake the path of analysis and certification envisaged by the Programme. In September 2017, the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Tourism signed a inter-ministerial decree that started the work of harmonising and integrating the two sustainability systems: the VIVA programme - Sustainability in Viticulture in Italy and the National Quality System on Integrated Production (SQNPI) with the aim of achieve a single standard of sustainable management of the wine sector, measurable and accredited.

https://viticolturasostenibile.org/

Regional quality marks

In addition to the SQNPI (National Quality System for Integrated Production), a tool chosen by Masaf to reduce and harmonise regional and national regulations on integrated production, some regions have established the so-called Regional Quality Systems which presuppose the possibility of using a Regional Brand provided that they comply with the specific specifications drawn up by the Region, and that they pass the checks carried out by the certifying body.

The following are some of them:

• Agriqualità, a collective process trade mark registered by the Tuscany Region to identify and promote the agri-food productsmade with integrated farming techniques.
• QM Brand, brand of the Marche Region which guarantees quality (guaranteed by compliance with strict production specifications and independent controls), traceability (guaranteed for each stage and for all those involved in the production process), information (comprehensive by combining the information on the label with that available on the internet).
• QV brand, identifies agricultural products and foodstuffs obtained in accordance with the production specifications of the Veneto Region 12/2001. The mark is green for plant products, red for meat, blue for aquaculture products and blue for dairy products.
• Trentino Quality Mark, whose main task is to communicate and identify the quality of territorial agri-food products according to objective and selective criteria and, also, to specify their origin by linking the high quality standards deriving from the production specifications with the values expressed by the Trentino Territorial Brand that represents the entire “Trentino” system” made up of people, companies, local communities, territorial and environmental heritage, tradition and history.
• Brand quality products Apulia, covering foodstuffs of plant and animal origin, including fish products, floricultural products and traditional regional quality products not recognised as PDO or PGI, with process and product specificities and quality characteristics that exceed current marketing standards in terms of public health, plant and animal health, animal welfare or environmental protection or specific characteristics of production processes.
• Quality Controlled Mark, is a collective valuation mark registered by the Emilia-Romagna Region granted to farms that, respecting human health and the environment, decide to produce and breed in accordance with integrated production specifications.
• QS Mark, with which the Sicily Region aimed at: enhancing agricultural and food products with a high controlled quality standard and promoting their dissemination through voluntary adherence to specific production standards; ensuring compliance with these standards through a control system carried out by public authorities or independent control bodies; guaranteeing the consumer greater transparency regarding the product and all stages of the production process, providing product traceability and information on intrinsic quality characteristics.