EU Agri-food Quality Schemes and Potential Benefits for the Registration of PGIs and PDOs for Serbian Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs

The main objective of this policy paper is to examine different aspects of EU agri-food quality schemes, developed for products with specific characteristics resulting from a particular origin, special ingredients or farming and production methods. The purpose of this paper is to examine in depth different aspects of this European policy and identify potential benefits for Serbian agri-food producers in applying it. Special attention will therefore be dedicated to assessment of Serbian state of affairs in regards, as well as to the opportunities that are now more present, due to the advancement of Serbia’s negotiations with EU.

Since many economic findings show, the registration of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) usually results in the higher ability of producers to compete in the market, the paper will attempt to explore the opportunities and problems that the registration of regional and traditional products may bring to the Serbia’s local agrifood production system.