The new Quality Regulation that entered into force on 3rd of January is aimed at achieving a simplified regime for several quality schemes by putting them under one single legal instrument. According to the Commission, it creates a more robust framework for the protection and promotion of quality agricultural products.

The new Quality Regulation that entered into force on 3rd of January is aimed at guaranteeing quality to consumers and a fair price for farmers. This new regulation is based on the proposal tabled by the Commission in 2010 and, according to the Commission, it encourages the diversification of agricultural production, protect product names from misuse and imitation and help consumers providing information on product characteristics and farming attributes. In February 2011, the European Union reached 1000th quality food name registered.

The key elements of the new regulation include more coherence and clarity to the EU quality schemes, a reinforcement of the existing scheme for protected designations of origin and geographical indications (PDOs and PGIs); overhauling the traditional specialities guaranteed scheme (TSGs), and laying down a new framework for the development of optional quality terms to provide consumers with further information, it creates and protects the optional quality term "mountain product".

In addition, the Commission is asked to provide a report on local farming and direct sales no later than 12 months after the entry into force of the new Regulation. The Commission stressed that the regulation achieves a simplified regime for several quality schemes by putting them under one single legal instrument.