Olive oil from Trás-os-Montes protected in Mercosur: Protected Designation of Origin gains market share in South America.

EU-Mercosur Agreement Guarantees Legal Protection for 36 Portuguese Products

Olive oil from Trás-os-Montes is among the 36 Portuguese products that will now have legal protection in Mercosur — the economic bloc that brings together Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. This is good news for olive growers in Trás-os-Montes.

What changes with the EU-Mercosur Agreement

The free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur profoundly alters how European food products are marketed in South America. From now on, 344 European geographical indications are legally protected against misuse.

In practice, this means that South American manufacturers cannot use names such as Champagne, Parma Ham, Feta, or Trás-os-Montes Olive Oil — even with terms like "type," "style," or "imitation."

According to the European Commission, only the producers themselves from the regions of origin can use these protected designations, preventing imitations and guaranteeing authenticity for the consumer.

Portuguese Products Protected: Among Cheeses, Wines, and Olive Oils

Portugal has managed to protect 36 designations, including:

Olive Oils 

• Moura Olive Oil

• Alentejo Interior Olive Oil

• Beira Interior Olive Oils (Beira Alta Olive Oil, Beira Baixa Olive Oil)

• Trás-os-Montes Olive Oil

• North Alentejo Olive Oils

• Ribatejo Olive Oils

Cheeses

• São Jorge Cheese (Azores)

• Serra da Estrela Cheese

• Beira Baixa Cheeses (Castelo Branco Cheese, Amarelo da Beira Baixa Cheese, Picante da Beira Baixa Cheese)

Wines

• Açores

• Alentejano 

• Alentejo 

• Algarve 

• Bairrada

• Beira Interior 

• Carcavelos 

• Dão 

• Douro 

• Duriense

• Lisbon 

• Madeira Wine

• Madeirense 

• Porto / Porto / Vinho do Porto / Porto / Portvin / Portwein / Portwijn / vin du Porto / vinho do Porto

• Palmela 

• Pico 

• Setúbal 

• Távora-Varosa 

• Tejo 

• Trás-os-Montes 

• Vinho Verde

Other

• Chouriça de Carne de Vinhais; Vinhais Sausage (Meat Products)

• Chouriço de Portalegre (Meat Products)

• Azores Honey (Honey)

• Aveiro Ovos Moles Pastry (Cakes)

• Rocha Pear from the West (Fruits)

• Presunto de Barrancos / Paleta de Barrancos (Meat Products)

  
  

Trás-os-Montes Olive Oil: A Value Under Protection

The inclusion of Trás-os-Montes Olive Oil on the Mercosur list represents an important recognition for a region where olive growing is ancient. With centuries-old olive groves, endemic varieties, and growing organic production, Trás-os-Montes olive oil has unique characteristics that fully justify international protection.

For local producers, this measure means:

• Protection against imitations in South American marketss

• Valuation of the Trás-os-Montes origin

• Opening of new markets with guaranteed authenticity

• International recognition of PDO quality

  
  

In a global market where traceability and authenticity are increasingly valued — as recently warned by the European Court of Auditors — having a legally protected name is a crucial competitive advantage.

The omissions that raise doubts

But not everything is cause for celebration. Barrosã PDO beef and Barroso PDO honey — two emblematic products of the North — were left out of the protection list, generating perplexity among producers.

Albano Álvares, President of the Boticas Agro-Rural Cooperative (CAPOLIB), does not hide his disbelief: "I would like to know how this list was made. Who selected the regions and products, what were the selection criteria? Why weren't Barrosã DOP Beef and Barroso DOP Honey included?"

He revealed that the combined turnover of these two DOP products exceeds 1.5 million euros and announced that he will question the Ministry of Agriculture about the selection criteria.

PDO and PGI: protection worth its weight in gold

Geographical Indications (PDO and PGI) are an intellectual property system created by the European Union to protect products with a proven link to specific territories.

Key Differences:

• PDO (Protected Designation of Origin): All stages of production, processing, and preparation occur within the designated region.

• PGI (Protected Geographical Indication): At least one significant stage of production occurs within the region.ão

  
  

In the case of Trás-os-Montes PDO olive oil, this means that the olives must be harvested in the region, pressed in local mills, and bottled according to strict standards—ensuring that each bottle is genuinely from Trás-os-Montes.

Learn more about the PDO seal here: PDO Seal

What this means for Trás-os-Montes

For a region like Trás-os-Montes, where olive oil is identity, heritage, and an economic engine, this international protection reinforces what has always been known locally: quality is not improvised; it is born from the territory.

Olive groves with centuries of history, knowledge passed down from generation to generation, schist soils that give the unique character of the olive oil, the hot summers and harsh winters that temper each olive—all this is now legally protected in a market of 260 million people.

It remains to be seen whether other PDO products from Trás-os-Montes—such as Barrosã Beef, Barroso Honey, Padrela Chestnuts, or Barroso Ham—will achieve the same recognition in future negotiations as the olive oil has already achieved.

Because when the product is authentic and the origin is verifiable, legal protection is not a favor—it is justice.

Note: This content was prepared based on news and information released by SAPO.

Keywords: PDO, Mercosur, Trás-os-Montes Olive Oil, geographical indications, PGI, international protection, EU-Mercosur agreement, protected Portuguese products, designation of origin