Also analogous to what has been established for the PDO and PGI sector133, States are given the option of deciding that the “producer group” of a given TSG may also include – without assuming powers of control – other entities, active in the economic activities related to one of the stages of the supply chain of the TSG in question, provided that their presence is justified by the existence of a specific interest. By virtue of this economic link, the operators of the aforementioned activities (in other words, suppliers), as well as the representatives of their associations and those of the interprofessional organisations existing in the supply chain from which the producers of the same TSG, are drawn are also possibly involved in the “producer group”134. In contrast to the PDO and PGI sector, the tasks of a TSG “producer group” are more limited, consisting solely of these activities135. Firstly, to draw up the specification, a prodromal step prior to filing the application for recognition of the relevant TSG. Secondly, to promote its recognition by submitting the relevant application to the competent authorities (more on this later). Thirdly, to intervene – within the limits of one’s competence and economic capacity – when it is necessary to modify the specification or to improve the product or enhance it on the market by means of communication and image defence actions. Fourthly, “gérer les autocontrôles de ses membres” (thus the French text of the regulation, identical to the Spanish one, while the English one uses the expression “manage the own controls of its members”, close to the Italian one136). This competence is formulated in this way because it depends on how the legislator has conceived the controls on TSGs: in fact, it has been seen that those relating to compliance with the specifications envisage an initial verification by the producers themselves, to be carried out by means of selfcontrol methods. The supervisory power vested in the “producer group” of a PDO or PGI consists is formulated in a similar way: “apporter à ses membres un soutien concernant leurs systèmes d’autocontrôle à des fins de vérification et de garantie du respect du cahier des charges concerné” (the French version)137. Nevertheless, when a PDO or PGI 133 Reg. (EU) No 2024/1143, cited above, art. 32(1). 134 Reg. (EU) No 2024/1143, cited above, art. 55(2). 135 Reg. (EU) No 2024/1143, cited above, art. 55(3). 136 Reg. (EU) No 2024/1143, cited above, art. 55(3)(b). 137 Reg. (EU) No 2024/1143, cited above, art. 32(4)(a). 350 ERMENEGILDO MARIO APPIANO
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