The recently approved regulation will promote the value of differentiated quality Castilian-Manchego products

24.04.2007 | 

The Law on Food and Agriculture Quality in Castilla-La Mancha, which was approved by parliament just barely a month ago, will be presented in detail before the world of wine at FENAVIN 2007, the trade fair that will take place from May 7th to the 10th at the Ciudad Real Trade Fair Pavilion.

Federico López Navarro, Director General for Food and Agriculture Markets of the Agriculture Council, will moderate the round table at which the new law will be presented. Apart from representatives from 'ASAJA Castilla-La Mancha' and from various Denomination of Origin Regulator Boards, Antonio Salinas, who is a Member of Parliament for the Socialist Party and Spokesman in the Agriculture Commission pertaining to the Regional Courts and a Certified Technical Agriculturist will also be amongst the participants. It was precisely Salinas who, prior to its approval, was in charge of defending the bill before the House.

There are numerous food and agriculture products known to all in the region of Castilla-La Mancha that may benefit from the new regulation: marzipan, saffron, honey, garlic, peppers, mushrooms, eggplants, oils, Manchego lamb, cheeses and wines. Apart from others that are even more susceptible to being covered by the Law on Food and Agriculture Quality. According to Antonio Salinas, "in this global world in which we now live one must be differentiated and one of the best ways of doing so is by creating what is known as 'differentiated quality brands', which define raw material, products and production processes so that nobody can copy or appropriate the name".

This is precisely what the Law on Food and Agriculture Quality does; it defines a quality brand for Castilla-La Mancha agricultural and livestock products, setting into motion the mechanism that regulates the framework of the management bodies, registries and corresponding control agencies. This new 'Collective Food and Agriculture Quality Brand' will be applicable to products that are already protected by other figures and that wish to have recourse to the law, apart from products that are still not protected, in such a manner that the name of 'Castilla-La Mancha' will insure their clear identification-differentiation in any corner of the globe.

For Salinas, "the law favors a strategic sector in the regional economy, although it will also protect the rights of the consumers, who will obtain additional guarantees thanks to a modern legislation that guarantees independence of the inspection and certification agencies, the same perfectly integrated in the European Regulations".

The text of the new law includes the definition of diverse protection figures that already existed (denominations of origin, protected geographic indications, guaranteed traditional specialties, quality wines produced in certain regions, wines of Vinos de la Tierra) and those corresponding to new creation, such as quality sparkling wines with geographical indications and spirit drinks with geographical indication.

Antonio Salinas is absolutely convinced that this law is very positive for the region, although "it must be correctly employed to favor promotion and commercialization of quality products that are produced in our regional community. The idea now is to put this into practice and get the new law underway. Entrepreneurs must be informed about the advantages that the different figures that are foreseen will provide, likewise being informed about the methods to be followed to obtain the corresponding accreditations".