Certifications and safety

Maintaining high-quality standards to ensure excellence in all products is a key commitment at 4 Madonne Caseificio dell’Emilia. Over the years, we have achieved and upheld certifications that comply with both national and international requirements.

Below, we list our current certifications:

DOP

The PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) label is a certification recognized across Europe featuring the highest quality Italian products linked to their specific territory and the traditional methods used in their production. These factors make the product stand out and call for protection against counterfeiting. Among Italian certifications, PDO is probably the most famous and definitely the most rigorous one. Its tight rules make sure that consumers get a top-notch product by ensuring complete traceability of raw materials and production processes, as well as food safety. PDO products are closely tied to their original land and can’t be made anywhere else, as their unique traits come from a mix of specific factors like climate, environment, and the know-how of local food masters

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), introduced in 1992 with EEC Regulation n. 2081/92, is reserved for agricultural and food products whose qualities and characteristics are closely linked to their place of origin, which often gives the product its name. According to Regulation EC 510/06, the name of the production area can even become the name of the product itself, highlighting the inseparable connection between the product and its natural and human environment.

The PDO label applies to all whole and portioned wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano produced at the facilities of 4 Madonne Caseificio dell’Emilia:

Registration No. 1240 – Certified plant in Lesignana, Modena (MO)
Registration No. 1086 – Certified plant in Serramazzoni (MO)
Registration No. 2566 – Certified plant in Medolla (MO)
Registration No. 1321 – Certified plant in Baggiovara, Modena (MO)
Registration No. 181 – Certified plant in Scandiano (RE)
Registration No. 453 – Certified plant in Correggio (RE)
Registration No. 3619 – Certified plant in Valsamoggia (BO)

HACCP

4 Madonne Caseificio dell’Emilia adopts a control system based on the principles of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) as required by current regulations. This self-monitoring plan governs the entire agri-food chain, ensuring compliance with the highest standards of safety and quality.

HACCP, regulated by Legislative Decree 193/07, is a hygiene and safety system that organizes and systematizes the self-monitoring of the production process. The aim is to ensure high levels of food safety, maintain the healthiness of products, and protect consumer health.

The HACCP system is based on seven fundamental principles:

Identifying and analysing hazards.
Identifying Critical Control Points.
Defining critical limits.
Developing monitoring procedures.
Planning corrective actions. Implementing verification procedures.
Establishing record-keeping procedures.

The HACCP system is implemented at all production plants of 4 Madonne Caseificio dell’Emilia:

Registration number 1240 – Certified plant in Lesignana di Modena (MO)
Registration number 1086 – Certified plant in Serramazzoni (MO)
Registration number 2566 – Certified plant in Medolla (MO)
Registration number 1321 – Certified plant in Baggiovara di Modena (MO)
Registration number 181 – Certified plant in Scandiano (RE)
Registration number 453 – Certified plant in Correggio (RE)
Registration number 3619 – Certified plant in Valsamoggia (BO)

BRC

The BRC (British Retail Consortium) is the Consortium that regulates the British Grocery Retail industry and represents major British retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and ASDA. It is a quality standard based on HACCP that certifies not only the product but also the working environment and control processes. For most retailers, both in the UK and abroad, compliance with BRC parameters is a crucial requirement to become suppliers.

The BRC Standard is structured into seven fundamental chapters:

Management commitment
HACCP
Food Safety and Quality Management System
Plant Standards
Product Control
Process Control
Personnel Management

Production and aging of Parmigiano Reggiano wheels:

Registration number 1240 – Certified plant in Lesignana di Modena (MO)
Registration number 2566 – Certified plant in Medolla (MO)

IFS

The IFS (International Food Standard) EN45011 is an international standard that assesses product and process compliance in terms of food safety and quality. Applied to the grocery retail sector in France, Germany, and Italy, this standard uses a shared evaluation method to qualify and select food product suppliers, ensuring they meet specific requirements for quality, safety, and compliance with food regulations.

Production and aging of Parmigiano Reggiano in whole wheels:

Registration number 1240 – Certified plant in Lesignana di Modena (MO)
Registration number 2566 – Certified plant in Medolla (MO)

MOUNTAIN PRODUCT

In 2013, with EU Regulation 1151/12, the designation Parmigiano Reggiano "Prodotto di Montagna" (Mountain Product) was introduced to identify food products originating from mountainous areas of the European Union.

Parmigiano Reggiano is the primary PDO product from the mountains, with over 110 mountain dairies and more than 1,200 farmers. To promote sustainable development in mountain areas and provide consumers with additional guarantees regarding the quality and origin of the cheese, the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium created the “Mountain Product – Consortium Territory Project.” To obtain this certification, the following requirements must be met:

The dairy and aging must take place for at least 12 months in a mountain area or within 30 km from its administrative border.
Quality selection at 20 months, with a "hammer" assessment by Consortium experts, accompanied by a sensory evaluation by the tasting group and a chemical composition analysis.
The dairy producer’s name must be indicated on the label.

Production and aging of Parmigiano Reggiano “Mountain Product” in whole wheels:

Registration number 1086 – Certified plant in Serramazzoni (MO)

ORGANIC

Organic Parmigiano Reggiano is a premium product, with every stage of production carefully monitored and certified to meet organic farming standards. From growing animal feed to the final aging of the cheese, all processes are traceable and follow strict regulations.

Animal feed must come from organic farming, with no pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Farm management also prioritizes animal welfare, with minimal use of veterinary drugs.

During production, dairies ensure clear physical and temporal separation from non-organic products to avoid contamination. All raw materials and processes are fully documented for complete traceability across the supply chain.

This commitment to detail and compliance guarantees a high-quality product that is both environmentally friendly and rooted in agricultural tradition, offering consumers a sustainable choice.

Production and aging of Organic Parmigiano Reggiano in whole wheels: