Control
Quality is one of the foundations of the Protected Designation of Origin, and to carry out a thorough and independent control, the Regulation Council is accredited as the Organization for Product Certification in accordance with European Standard UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17065/2012.
Therefore, for the examination of farms, milk, factories and cheeses under the parameters specified by the Regulations and the Quality System Documents, regular inspections are carried out and samples taken, which are analysed and subject to the evaluation of an independent Certification Committee, which will either accept or reject the material evaluated.
At the end of the control process, the Regulation Council will certify each of the cheeses under the denomination that are to be marketed, differentiating them from all others by an exclusive numbered label that will guarantee their origin, manufacturing process and final quality of the product for the consumer, thus ensuring that the consumer has an authentic “Torta del Casar”.
The Council
In order to protect the exceptional character of the “Torta del Casar” and guarantee its insuperable quality, the Junta (Autonomous Government) of Extremadura officially acknowledged the Protected Designation of Origin (D.O.P.) “Torta del Casar” in January 1999, establishing three months later the Regulation Council, the governing organisation, currently presided by Mr. Ángel Pacheco Conejero.
The Regulation Council is composed of nine members, four from the milk production sector, four from the dairy sector making the “Torta del Casar”, and one from the Autonomic Administration. To comply with its functions, the D.O.P. “Torta del Casar” has a set of Regulations, a document containing all aspects regarding producers, the product, internal operation, etc.
The principal functions of the Regulation Council of the Protected Designation of Origin “Torta del Casar” are:
- To defend the “Torta del Casar” trademark, registered in the Spanish Patents and Trademarks Office. Monitoring of the use of the Trademark both in origin and destination.
- To control the farms, milk, dairies and cheeses under the parameters specified in the Regulations and in the Quality Manual made in accordance with Quality Standard UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17065/2012, carrying out regular inspections and taking samples which are analysed and subject to the evaluation of an independent Certification Committee to ensure that the product reaches the consumers with all the guarantees regarding origin, manufacturing process and final quality.
- The promotion and dissemination of the “Torta del Casar” is the third responsibility of the Regulation Council, designing and implementing different communication, publicity and public relations activities to make “Torta del Casar” better known and enable consumers to distinguish between the authentic cheese and imitations, so they can demand and really enjoy what they have paid for.
Legislation
Junta de Extremadura (Autonomous Government of Extremadura)
ORDER OF JANUARY 11, 1999: Acknowledgment of the Designation of Origin “Torta del Casar”
ORDER OF OCTOBER 9, 2001: Approval of the Regulations of the Designation of Origin “Torta del Casar”.
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
ORDER/APA/1144/2002 of May 6: Ratification of the Regulations of the Designation of Origin “Torta del Casar”
European Commission
REGULATION (EC) 1491/2003 of August 25: Inscription of the Protected Designation of Origin “Torta del Casar” in the Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2196 of 24 November 2015 approving non-minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Torta del Casar (PDO))
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32015R2196&qid=1516208207987&rid=6