Definition: promotion of AOCs and IGPs

Origin: The products genuinely originate from the region whose name they bear.

Link to terroir and tradition: The characteristics ofthe products are influenced by this region and its traditions.

Production methods that respect the product: AOCs and PGIs have traditional production conditions that ensure that the terroir can influence the qualities of the product (production methods that threaten this link to the terroir are avoided, industrialisation is limited). A product must meet these three conditions in order to be protected by an AOC or IGP. These two labels thus guarantee the authenticity of the product and its quality linked to the terroir. The difference between AOC and IGP is explained below:

A product with an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) is entirely produced in its region of origin, from the production of its raw materials to its final manufacture. The terroir and the expertise of the people involved give an AOC its quality. For an AOC cheese, for example, the milk comes from the area, the cheese is made there and then matured there. It cannot be produced anywhere else. There are 16 products with AOC status (as of December 2006).

A product with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) comes from a defined area, but not all stages of its production necessarily take place in the region that gives it its name. Expertise guarantees its typical character, but its quality is less strongly linked to its terroir. For example, the meat in an IGP sausage may come from a farm outside the IGP area. There are 6 IGP products (as of December 2006).

Both AOC and IGP refer to products that have a traditional production area. There is a legal definition for both terms (Ordinance RS 910.12 of 28 May 1997 on the protection of designations of origin and geographical indications for agricultural products and processed agricultural products), as AOC and IGP are registered by the Federal Office for Agriculture in Bern (FOAG). AOC and IGP are serious and protected labels that offer consumers genuine guarantees:

Reliability: AOC and PGI are marks protected by Swiss law.

Origin: the origin and authenticity of the product are guaranteed.

Controls: production conditions are strictly controlled by an independent certification body (see below).

Typicality: the production methods preserve the typical characteristics of the product.

Taste and terroir: nature and human skill give each product a distinctive taste and terroir flavours.

Proximity: the products come from a Swiss region.

Quality: producers are committed to offering a flawless product.

The use of a Controlled Designation of Origin (AOC) or a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) is only possible if the product meets the requirements of the specifications. For these specifications to be credible, a neutral and independent certification body must verify that the production, processing and preparation conditions set out in the specifications are actually being met. This guarantees the traceability of the product and ensures that the AOC and PGI abbreviations cannot be used by products that are outside the control system.

Types of checks carried out:

Regular inspections at production sites to verify production conditions.

Physico-chemical analyses of products to check their composition.

Annual organoleptic evaluations (tastings) to verify the typical taste of the products from each production unit.

Accounting reviews to verify the proper management of businesses.

Inspections of production sites must be unannounced and take place at least every two years (minimum requirement of the Ordinance on the Control of PDOs and PGIs). In practice, these checks take place more frequently.

List of AOC products registered as at 31 December 2006:

L'Étivaz AOC (28 January 2000)

Rheintaler Ribelmais AOC (7 August 2000)

Tête de Moine, Bellelay cheese AOC (8 May 2001)

Gruyère AOC (6 July 2001)

Valais pear brandy AOC (21 December 2001)

Sbrinz AOC (24 April 2002)

Formaggio d'alpe ticinese AOC (31 May 2002)

Abricotine AOC (6 January 2003)

Vacherin Mont-d'Or AOC (7 May 2003)

Geneva cardoon AOC (7 October 2003)

Pain de seigle valaisan AOC (29 January 2004)

Berner Alpkäse AOC/Berner Hobelkäse AOC (26 March 2004)

Munder Safran AOC (2 July 2004)

Vacherin Fribourgeois AOC (22 December 2005)

Emmentaler (6 October 2006)

List of PGI products registered as at 31 December 2006:

Viande des Grisons PGI (29 September 2000)

Saucisse d'Ajoie PGI (¹ November 2002)

Valais dried meat PGI (23 January 2003)

Neuchâtel sausage/Saucisse neuchâteloise PGI (6 June 2003)

Saucisson vaudois PGI (29 September 2004)

Saucisse aux choux vaudoise PGI (29 September 2004)