CERSAA – Made in Quality is the new Certification Body of PDO Riviera Ligure EVO

The Italian Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Ministry issued a decree identifying the “Centro di Sperimentazione e Assistenza Agricola – Area Made in Quality” as the public accredited control authority for the next three years.

More than 1,200 Ligurian businesses are involved; news regarding the Control Plan were released on October 10^th during a meeting held at CeRSAA in Albenga.

The technical department of CERSAA – Made in Quality will certify PDO Riviera Ligure EVO, too – it is already in charge of the certification of PDO Genoese basil as well as of the GlobalG.A.P. “Fruit & Vegetables” and “Flower & Ornamentals” certifications.

This change at the same consolidates the skills and expertise of the chambers of commerce ecosystem (CeRSAA is an Azienda Speciale of the Camera di Commercio Riviere di Liguria, which once was in charge of the certification process) and stimulates simplification in terms of bureaucracy and management.

“I would like to thank the Ligurian Chambers of Commerce for the support they provided through the years – says Carlo Siffredi, the President of the PDO Riviera Ligure Protection Consortium – the professional skills of this new body will foster the path towards simplification and digitalisation. The strategy of the Consortium aims at the improvement and standardisation of the various control plans of Italian PDO EVOs through confrontation with the Ministry”.

The team of CERSAA – Made in Quality includes inspectors and technicians, as well as two Committees.

“As an administrative and techno-scientific division, Made in Quality will work on existing excellence to increase business satisfaction, states Antonio Fasolo, President of CeRSAA. Continuous improvement of performances, system efficiency, product quality and traceability prove pivotal in reinforcing the reputation of PDO Riviera Ligure. The purpose of Made in Quality is business transparency in terms of production, management, compliance with rules (from sustainability to workforce). These objectives mirror the public nature of the certification body and its commitment towards territorial valorisation. More certified product means more effective market penetration”.