IGP Colline Pescaresi cancelled: what importers and distributors must do

Key data

Products marketed under the Protected Geographical Indication Colline Pescaresi have lost their legal protection throughout the European Union since 19 March 2026. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/615 cancels the registration of this designation in the European register of designations of origin and geographical indications, which obliges producers, importers and distributors to act immediately regarding their labelling and commercial communications.

For any company that imports, distributes or markets these products in any EU Member State, the situation is clear: continuing to use the Colline Pescaresi designation as a protected PGI no longer has any legal basis.

What does this regulation establish?

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/615 orders the cancellation of the registration of the IGP Colline Pescaresi in the European register of designations of origin and geographical indications. This register is the system that grants legal protection at Community level to agri-food products linked to a specific geographical origin.

The direct consequences of this cancellation are:

• Products that used the IGP Colline Pescaresi lose the associated legal protection throughout the territory of the European Union.
• Labelling and commercial communications that reference this PGI must be adapted.
• The Colline Pescaresi designation is no longer reserved exclusively for producers who complied with the PGI product specification.

According to the regulation itself, the cancellation may have two possible origins:

• Voluntary request by the holders of the designation themselves.
• Failure to meet the regulatory requirements required to keep the registration active in the EU.

The regulation does not specify which of the two causes has motivated this particular cancellation.

Economic and operational impact

The cancellation of a PGI has direct operational and commercial consequences for all companies in the value chain. The main impacts are:

• Re-labelling costs: All products in stock or in transit bearing the IGP Colline Pescaresi mention must be reviewed. Incorrect labelling may lead to commercial claims or problems during customs and market controls.
• Loss of differential value: The PGI is a sales argument and a premium positioning element. Its disappearance eliminates that competitive differential for the affected products.
• Review of commercial contracts: Distribution or import contracts that make explicit reference to the IGP Colline Pescaresi may require review or renegotiation.
• Commercial communications: Catalogues, websites, marketing materials and product sheets must be updated to remove any reference to the protected designation.

The impact primarily affects the Italian agri-food sector, but has direct implications for European importers and distributors who were marketing these products.

Who is affected?

• Italian producers who marketed their products under the IGP Colline Pescaresi and must adapt their production, labelling and commercial strategy.
• European importers who brought products bearing this designation and marketed them in the EU internal market.
• Distributors and wholesalers who have in stock products labelled with the IGP Colline Pescaresi.
• Retailers and sales platforms that offer these products in their physical or digital catalogues.
• Legal and foreign trade advisors who manage operations related to these products.

Practical example

An importer who has in their warehouse batches of olive oil or wine labelled with the IGP Colline Pescaresi mention faces the following situation from 19 March 2026:

• The product in stock bears a protection mention that no longer has legal validity in the EU.
• If they attempt to market it with that labelling, they may face claims from customers or problems during market inspections.
• They must assess whether it is possible to re-label existing stock or whether they need to negotiate with the Italian supplier for the return or replacement of the product.
• Any new order placed with the Italian producer must arrive without the IGP Colline Pescaresi mention on the labelling.

Furthermore, if the distribution contract with the Italian supplier included clauses linked to the product's PGI status, those clauses must be reviewed with legal advice.

What should companies do now?

1. Audit current stock: Identify all products in warehouse, in transit or at point of sale that bear the IGP Colline Pescaresi mention on their labelling.
2. Stop new orders with incorrect labelling: Inform the supplier that new shipments must not include the IGP Colline Pescaresi mention as a protected designation.
3. Review distribution and import contracts: Identify clauses that make explicit reference to the PGI and assess whether they require modification or renegotiation.
4. Update commercial materials: Catalogues, product sheets, websites and any marketing support that mentions the IGP Colline Pescaresi must be corrected.
5. Consult a specialised legal advisor: If there is significant affected stock or contracts in force, it is advisable to assess the available legal options with a specialist in agri-food law or foreign trade.
6. Inform the commercial network: Distributors, agents and customers must be informed of the change to prevent them from continuing to promote the product with a designation that no longer has protection.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202600615