The Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma and its producers redefine the strategy to relaunch the sector focusing on four pillars: total neutrality of controls, task force of experts dedicated to certification, change and strengthening of controls, revision of production Specifications. Four strategic choices that the Board of Directors of the Consortium decided on 4 July with the purpose of improving the identity and quality of Prosciutto di Parma PDO to protect the product itself and consumers.

After twenty years of cooperation with Istituto Parma Qualità (IPQ), the Consortium turns page and entrusts CSQA Certificazioni with the certification and control system of the Prosciutto di Parma PDO. CSQA is a leading body in the sector with proven experience and professionalism that can ensure total neutrality and impartiality putting an end to the critical issues recently emerged within the certification system and the possible conflict of interest.  The wide and unquestionable competence of the new body – both in the PDO and PGI area, and in volunteer certifications – will further stimulate the sector to define strategies to strengthen the designation also through the development of initiatives on the most topical subjects: environment, animal welfare and sustainability.

In this transitional period, IPQ will continue carrying out its control and certification function under the supervision of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food, Forestry and Tourism Policies. CSQA – through a dedicated task force of experts – will immediately start the activities for the definition of the new control plan awaiting the official authorisation from the Central Inspectorate for the protection of quality and fraud prevention in agrifood products (ICQRF) of the Ministry.

After a preparatory work of several months, the Consortium has formally started the procedure to change the Specifications that includes consultations with the entire production chain in the coming days.   Changes will involve all the links of the production chain starting from the characteristics of the raw material – i.e. genetics, pig weight and feeding, animal welfare, weight and characteristics of fresh haunches – down to the finished product with the processing method, ham weight and maturation, sales method, pre-sliced product, etc.

But there is more.  With the aim of further strengthening the fraud prevention system and guaranteeing a safer product to consumers, the new Specifications will also contain specific elements for product traceability and trackability along the entire production chain.

Neutrality, more effective controls, product distinctiveness and increased guarantees for consumers: these are the pillars on which the plan for relaunching Prosciutto di Parma PDO rests to look at the future with optimism and tangible actions to continue supporting the entire Italian pig breeding chain and offering 50,000 jobs.

Vittorio Capanna, Director of the Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma

It is the first strong renovation signal that starts from one of the most important areas for a PDO, i.e. the control system, with the aim of offering increased transparency and full guarantees to consumers assuring them of the quality they expect from Prosciutto di Parma. We have chosen an independent body that can ensure an organizational structure that is founded on the culture of product certification and on consolidated principles of impartiality and neutrality.

Pietro Bonato, CSQA Certificazioni

CSQA takes on an important challenge providing all the professionalism and competence of an independent third body that for 30 years has focused on the certification of the Italian high quality agri-food sector as a driver for the development of businesses and areas worldwide.  Our goal is doing things in the best way, dedicating a task force that deals with the topic in an exclusive and timely manner.