The local Balearic product now has a logo to differentiate it.

PalmThe Government presented this Thursday the manual for the use of the local product logo, with the aim of promoting it and distinguishing it from the rest. The document, which is now available on the Government website, lists the local product logos approved by the Executive with the consensus and approval of agricultural organizations, as well as their conditions for use. The use of the logos is voluntary and serves to indicate the origin or place of provenance of products, and can also be incorporated into labels.

At the presentation, the Regional Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Natural Environment, Joan Simonet, emphasized that with this initiative, the Regional Ministry is addressing a long-standing demand from the primary sector, which called for the identification of local products. "We have once again demonstrated our commitment to the sector and its demands, with the primary objective of ensuring the profitability of farms," he stated.

Regarding the labels, during the presentation, they explained that a generic logo is being established to identify all local products, and another logo to differentiate the use of local varieties and whether the product is 100% locally sourced. This second label includes three categories: the first, for products in which all ingredients are local and, in addition, come from local varieties or native breeds; the second, for products in which all ingredients are local; and the third, for products in which the main ingredient is local.

Likewise, each logo will identify the product's origin with the indication "Illes Balears" or the name of the island of origin. According to the details, the logo is an adaptation of what the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sports uses to promote the Balearic Islands as a tourist destination.

In this regard, Simonet emphasized that "this is a recognized brand that is directly associated with the Balearic Islands, and this will facilitate the connection of the product with its origin and its implementation in the market." With these distinctive features, the minister emphasized, consumers will be able to easily recognize local agri-food products, which "stand out for their unique characteristics and excellent quality."

For his part, the Director General of Agri-Food Quality and Local Products, Joan Llabrés, emphasized that with these logos and the user manual, producers now have an official mechanism to differentiate products originating in the Islands. "Consumers have information that verifies the origin of the product. Something that until now was not regulated," Llabrés celebrated.

Thus, the labels can now be used by operators who produce, process, distribute, or market products defined in the Agrarian Law as local products. Specifically, these include agricultural, fishing, and forestry producers; agri-food industry operators; food distribution operators; and retail trade operators. Also, tourist establishments, catering and collective catering establishments, and public or private entities, in actions aimed at promoting the production, distribution, marketing, or consumption of local products. Before using them, they must submit a prior notification and a declaration of responsibility to the Regional Ministry.

What is a local product?

It should be remembered that last year the Government defined by law What is a local product? Thus, agricultural products grown in the Balearic Islands, livestock products produced in the Archipelago, fishery or aquaculture products from the Islands, and other unprocessed foods produced in the community can receive this identification.

Also considered to be local products are foods produced and marketed under a protected designation of origin, a protected geographical indication, or a geographical indication of the Balearic Islands, as well as processed foods made in the Islands that have one of the aforementioned products as their main ingredient.

Likewise, forestry products (wood or non-wood) obtained from forest lands in the Archipelago, as well as non-food products that meet any of the above conditions, are considered local products.