Like Geographical Indications, Protected Designations of Origin have gained increasing economic importance. A Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) is the name of a region, a specific place, or, in exceptional cases, a country, used to designate or identify a product that:
a) originates from that region, place, or country; and
b) whose quality or characteristics are essentially or exclusively due to the geographical environment, including both natural and human factors, with production, processing, and preparation taking place within the defined geographical area.
Examples include Port Wine and Serra da Estrela Cheese.