Consorzio Pecorino Romano

The Consortium for the Protection of Pecorino Romano Cheese, established in 1979 according to the desires of a group of operators in the regions of Latium and Sardinia, on January 14, 1981 obtained from the Departments of Agriculture and Industry the assignment of supervising the manufacture and sale of Pecorino Romano Cheese. Since April 28, 2002 the Consortium has been in charge of the new supervision plan for PDO (Protected Denomination of Origin) from the Departments of Agricultural Policy and Forestry. The aims of the Consortium, as set out in the statute, include the protection and oversight of the manufacture and sale of Pecorino Romano Cheese, the protection and supervision of the name in Italy and abroad, the increase in use and quality improvement of the product in cooperation with regional, national and EU organs and institutions. The first president of the Consortium, from 1979 to 1981 was Rodolfo Ronconi, succeeded by his son Angelo from 1981 to 1983. Still another producer from the Latium region, Cesare Lopez, led the Consortium from 1983 to 1986. At that time, leadership made a decided move towards Sardinia. Antonello Loddo took over the presidency, running the Consortium from 1986 to 1992. From 1992 to 1996, the role was in the hands of an important Sardinian private producer, Serafino Pinna. Following his three-year term, Salvatore Meloni was elected and is now fulfilling his fifth term as president, after his first election in 1996.