In 1998 it was recognized as the first PGI certification in Italy on fresh bovine meat.
“Vitellone Bianco dell’Appennino Centrale” was the first quality mark for Italian fresh bovine meat approved by the European Union with the recognition of the PGI, Protected Geographical Indication. It was 1998 and a few years later, in 2003, it was born the Consortium for the Protection “Vitellone Bianco dell’Appennino Centrale IGP”, officially recognized by Mipaaf in 2004 and engaged in activities of supervision and protection of the PGI throughout all the chain, from breeding to slaughter and processing.
The certification “Vitellone Bianco dell’Appennino Centrale IGP” refers to meat, which must come only and exclusively from the breeds provided by the Production Regulations and typical of the Central Apennines – Chianina, Marchigiana and Romagnola – and from cattle between 12 and 24 months of age. Moreover, in order to certify the meat as “Vitellone Bianco dell’Appennino Centrale IGP”, all the requirements of the Production Regulations for breeding, slaughter and sale must be complied with. So the mark “Vitellone Bianco dell’Appennino Centrale IGP” becomes synonymous with quality and guarantees a meat that, thanks to genetic factors, natural systems of breeding and quality nutrition, has a low fat content (less than 3%) and cholesterol (less than 500 ppm) and a high protein value (greater than 20%).
Today the Consortium for the Protection “Vitellone Bianco dell’Appennino Centrale IGP” is composed of 3.204 breeders in 8 regions of central Italy (Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Lazio, Molise, Abruzzo and Campania); 77 slaughterhouses; 80 traders; 125 cutting plants and 1.072 butchers registered for inspection and distributed in Italy. Every day it carries out surveillance and protection of the PGI mark in collaboration with the Central Inspectorate for Quality Control and counts also on the contribution of consumers, who can report imitations and counterfeits through the Consortium’s website, www.vitellonebianco.it/invia-le-tue-segnalazioni.
On the same site, it’s possible check the traceability of the meat for sale and have the map of butchers and restaurants enrolled in the circuit “Ristorante Amico” of “Vitellone Bianco dell’Appennino Centrale IGP”.
