Bergamot of Reggio Calabria IGP process advances after court rejects appeals

The Regional Administrative Court (TAR) of Lazio has rejected all appeals regarding the Protected Geographical Indication (IGP) process for ‘Bergamot of Reggio Calabria’. This decision follows a previous ruling that dismissed a challenge by the Bergamot Essential Oil DOP Consortium.

The latest rejection concerns an appeal by Società Agricola Fratelli Foti, which sought to annul the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF) decision to transmit the IGP application to the European Commission. The court ruled that the production specifications comply with IGP regulations and that the Ministry acted legitimately.

With these legal hurdles cleared in the first instance, the process for the fresh citrus fruit to receive European recognition moves forward to the European Commission for final approval. Francesco Macrì, president of Copagri Calabria, welcomed the decision, noting that producers have waited over five years for this outcome.