The guardians of the system: ODG, control bodies and INAO

Black olives from Nyons PDO
© Syndicat de l'Olive de Nyons et des Baronnies - Cyril Crespeau

Confidence in PDO is not based solely on the word of professionals; it is verified, documented and officially recognised:

  • The defence and management body (ODG) for each appellation brings together operators (producers and processors), ensures compliance with the specifications, monitors declared volumes, and is committed to promoting and defending the appellation.
  • An independent control body, accredited and authorised by the public authorities, verifies compliance with the specifications before any product is placed on the market: this involves documentary checks, on-site visits and laboratory analyses.
  • The INAO (National Institute for Origin and Quality), which operates under state supervision, validates the specifications, sets harvest dates and ensures the protection of the names. At European level, Regulation No. legally protects designations against any imitation or misuse.

At every stage, records, declarations and analyses ensure full traceability: from the orchard to the mill or canning factory, and from the batch to the point of sale.