A delegation from the European Parliament’s agriculture and rural development committee, led by chair Veronika Vrecionová, visited a PDO Parmigiano Reggiano dairy in Reggio Emilia last week. The mission, promoted by MEPs Stefano Bonaccini and Dario Nardella, aimed to highlight the challenges and opportunities facing the sector and to strengthen dialogue between Brussels and producers.
Nicola Bertinelli (pictured, together with Vrecionová), President of the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO Consortium, welcomed the group and called for full implementation of the 2024 reform of geographical indications, which reinforced the powers of Consortia. He said the European Commission’s forthcoming GI Action Plan, due in 2026, should accelerate the process.
Trade issues dominated discussions, particularly the transatlantic tariff dispute. US duties on Italian cheese remain at 15 percent, prompting the Consortium to emphasize the importance of bilateral free trade agreements in protecting geographical indications. Positive results were noted from deals with Japan, Mexico, and Mercosur, while producers pressed for a swift resumption of negotiations with Australia.
The delegation also heard calls for a more balanced vision of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy that avoids polarization on environmental rules and nutritional labelling, such as the Nutriscore system. Parmigiano Reggiano was presented as a model of sustainable agriculture, combining quality, tradition, and strong regional ties.
The supply chain of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO involves more than 2,100 farmers, 291 dairies, and 50,000 workers. In 2024, output exceeded 4mn wheels, generating €1.77bn at production and €3.2bn at retail. Exports account for almost half of total sales, underscoring the cheese’s role as a global ambassador of Italian food excellence.
L’articolo MEPs Tour Parmigiano Reggiano PDO proviene da Italianfood.net.