As a result of the global changes affecting agricultural production, but even more so appellations d'origine, practices are rapidly evolving in order to adapt to contemporary challenges: protection against climatic hazards, development of agro-ecological practices, reduction of phytosanitary inputs, consideration of animal welfare, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions...

As a result, innovations are appearing and production systems are evolving. Faced with this real innovative effervescence, we need to ensure that the identity of products with protected designations of origin is respected, particularly their link to the terroir, by allowing them to innovate while asserting the sign. It is therefore necessary to find the right balance between respect for the fundamentals and the possibility of innovation. The aim of this directive is to provide a framework for this.

The aims of the directive are therefore:

• To define a framework for identifying the relevance and scope of new practices in agri-food PDOs
• To guarantee respect for product identity
• In the case of the innovation assessment scheme (DEI), to enable products to claim the benefit of the PDO

This directive gives the ODGs concerned the expected framework to better respond to contemporary issues.