The “Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma” (Parma Ham Consortium) was set up in 1963; it is an association of producers using and safeguarding the traditional processing method.
Since then, the Consortium has been safeguarding the observance of the productive specification and it is involved in protection and enhancement activities of Parma Ham in Italy and all over the world.
This Organisation deals with the management and safeguard of the productive Specification lodged at the European Union for the recognition of Protected Designation of Origin ( P.D.O. ) of “Prosciutto di Parma” (Parma Ham).
Such a Specification states all the regulation regarding the production aspects: the used pig breeds, the breeding techniques, the requisites of the pigs destined to the processing, the raw material origin, the geographical production zone delimitation, the curing methods and duration, the quality characteristics of the finished product. All what indicated in the Specification is foreseen by Law 13/2/90 n° 26, Decree 15/2/1993 n° 253, by the productive prescriptions and
by Directives and operative regulations established by the competent Ministries and by the Consortium.
The management of the productive Specification includes, besides, the predisposition and the possible modification of the operative manuals used by the Parma Quality Institute dealing with the CERTIFICATION and the controls on Parma Ham.
The Consortium is in charge for protecting the “Parma Ham” designation and the relative brand (Ducal Crown) all over the world. The “Parma Ham” brand is now registered in about 90 Countries.
It safeguards the correct observance of law dispositions and regulations, at breeders, butchers, producers and traders’ of any level. Various inspectors can develop, on the whole national territory, any type of control, verification, inspection towards people producing, packaging, owing or selling ham, breeding plants, slaughterhouses and laboratories, shops of wholesale or retail sale, restaurants and licensed premises. The possible irregularities are prosecuted in administrative, civil or penal sphere regarding the nature of the irregularities.