The European Union has approved the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) “Aceites de Jaén” for the Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) from the province.
This recognition had been requested by the Jaén Olive Oil Producers Federation, which was informed of this decision by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Sustainable Development of the Andalusian Government on December 6, following the approval by the European Union of “Aceites de Jaén” as a new Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). This represents a new guarantee of quality for the Extra Virgin Olive Oils from this province, the main producer in Spain, covering a total of 97 municipalities, which constitute the entire province.
The main olive variety used in the production of Jaén oils is Picual, a native variety that represents more than 90% of the olive-growing area in this geographical zone, along with other less widespread local varieties such as Manzanilla de Jaén, Royal from Cazorla, and Carrasqueño from Alcaudete, as well as non-native varieties such as Arbequina, Hojiblanca, and Picudo.
According to the approved specifications, the chemical and organoleptic characteristics of these oils are established, recognizing that Jaén EVOO has a high oleic acid content and low linoleic and palmitic acids, as well as a high content of natural antioxidants, mainly phenolic compounds, which provide distinctive sensory characteristics, as evidenced by its bitter and pungent attributes.
To ensure that the product protected by “Aceites de Jaén” originates from the area specified by the quality label and meets the required standards, producing, bottling, and marketing companies must have a traceability system covering the process from raw material reception to dispatch of the final product.
The news has been received with great satisfaction by various olive oil stakeholders in Jaén, as it represents the achievement of a historical aspiration for the province. This PGI is a tool that allows the differentiation of oils from the province and improves commercialization, serving as a certification that products bearing the PGI label are included in the list of agri-food products of origin, quality, and certified standards, protected under European Union regulations. This is particularly relevant as consumers increasingly demand transparency about the products they purchase or consume, highlighting the need for protection schemes that recognize and certify origin and beneficial properties.
Quality designations aim to protect agri-food products with additional quality attributes derived from compliance with standards beyond the mandatory commercial or standard quality requirements, ensuring the authenticity of the products and truthful labeling through a control system that inspires market confidence. In total, there are 65 quality schemes in Andalusia.
“Designation of origin” refers to indications about the geographical origin or provenance of a product. According to the Paris Convention that regulates them, these indications receive the same protection as a trademark, and the level of protection depends on the national legislation of each country.
Protected designations of origin are mainly used for food products with a specific geographical origin, in this case, the province of Jaén, and that possess qualities or a reputation attributable to that place of origin. Under European Union regulations, these indications are protected if the product’s link to its geographic environment gives it characteristics that differentiate it from equivalent products. With this protection, the product benefits from the good reputation of the region, and vice versa.
Among the different levels of protection recognized in the EU is the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) “Aceites de Jaén” for EVOOs from the province, identifying them as products originating from this specific location, possessing certain qualities, reputation, and other characteristics essentially attributable to their geographical origin in all production, processing, and preparation phases, which must take place within the defined area—in this case, the 97 municipalities of Jaén province. The Federation of Jaén Olive Oil Producers will seek to certify their products with this distinction in the 2020/2021 campaign, although not all Extra Virgin Olive Oils can be certified as PGI “Aceite de Jaén,” since certification is based on proven quality, and oils from olives harvested after December 31 of each year cannot be certified under this PGI.
The process to obtain this certification took nearly a decade and corrects the anomaly of Jaén not being recognized in the minds of Spanish and international consumers as a producer of certified top-quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil, not just the most important production region in the world. The next step will be the establishment of the PGI Regulatory Council, similar to the three recognized Designations of Origin in the province: Sierra Mágina, Sierra de Segura, and Sierra de Cazorla.
