European Commission grants IGP status to Capocollo di Martina Franca

The European Commission has officially approved the registration of ‘Capocollo di Martina Franca’ in the Union register of protected geographical indications. This recognition follows more than twenty years of efforts by local producers, butchers, and institutions to certify the unique characteristics of the cured meat.

The protected geographical area encompasses three municipalities in the Valle d’Itria region of Puglia: Martina Franca, Locorotondo, and Cisternino. The certification confirms that the product’s qualities are inextricably linked to its specific territory and traditional local production techniques.

During the process, Italian authorities noted that certain companies, Comalbest s. r. l. and Industria Alimentare Apulia s. r. l., had previously marketed products under this name for over five years but were found to be non-compliant with production specifications, specifically regarding their location outside the delimited geographical zone.