Preliminary Study on Evaluation System for Designations of Origin or Geographical Indications

Either 'geographical indication' or 'designation of origin' is used to describe an agricultural product or a foodstuff originating in that region, specific place or country, the quality or characteristics of which are essentially or exclusively due to a particular geographical environment with its inherent natural and human factors. In this paper, a evaluation system of particular geographical environment is discussed by analyzing the correlation of the products of designations of origin or geographical indications and the specific physical environment, and isotope ratios are applied to the evaluation to provide evidence for cracking down on counterfeit production. By evaluating the origin environment, scientific decisions could be made in time to prevent environmental destruction for assuring the quality of the products originating in that region. Furthermore, the evaluation helps establishing the scientific data marker of native habitat relating to natural geological, geographical and geochemical character.