Here is a brief explanation of what PAT certified labels mean in Italy. It’s probably a good idea to read what a DOP certified and IGP certified product is so you can compare!
“Prodotti Alimentari Tradizionali”, abbreviated to PAT, is the Italian version of the pan European PGI or IGP scheme of quality certification for traditional food products.
The reason behind this certification is that many typical Italian food products aren’t able to qualify for DOP or IGP certification because the quantity/size grown is insignificant. Therefore, each Italian region has compiled a list of food products that have been made using traditional methods in a specific geographical area for at least 25 years and they all fall under the category of PAT.
There are over 1,000 traditional food products in the official list, 386 in Lazio alone.
