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AMA GENUSS REGION

Seal of Quality

AMA GOURMET REGION

  • Regional origin of the food

  • High product and processing quality

  • Climate protection through short transport routes

  • Fresh preparation

AMA GOURMET REGION quality seal: Meaning

The AMA GOURMET REGION seal of quality guarantees quality and clear origins for farmers' direct marketers, food manufacturers and catering businesses.

What makes the AMA GOURMET REGION seal of quality so special?

State-recognised

The AMA GOURMET REGION seal of quality is a state-recognised seal of quality. The award is based on the guidelines for the quality and origin assurance system recognised by the EU.

Regional origin

  • In order for a catering business to bear the AMA GOURMET REGION seal of quality, raw materials must come from regions specified by the business. These raw materials can be meat, milk and dairy products, eggs, potatoes, fruit and vegetables, fish or game.


  • Farmers' direct marketing businesses with the AMA GOURMET REGION seal of approval use raw materials from their own farm in the manufacture of their products.


  • Manufactories such as butchers, bakeries or confectioners carry the AMA GOURMET REGION seal of quality and process regional ingredients into food.


Participating businesses must be able to prove the origin of the products they use with invoices and delivery notes. These are regularly checked by external inspection bodies.

Quality

With the AMA GOURMET REGION award, a company undertakes to comply with defined quality criteria.

Control

Compliance with the prescribed guideline is monitored in several stages:


  • Self-monitoring in the form of a self-assessment checklist.


  • This must be carried out at least once a year for catering businesses and at least every two years for direct marketing businesses and manufacturers.


  • Incoming goods inspection for purchases of raw materials/ingredients with regard to the defined requirement.


  • Independent external inspection: Compliance with the quality and origin criteria of the AMA GOURMET REGION is carried out by external inspection bodies both once at the beginning of participation and subsequently on a risk-based basis (at least every three years for catering businesses and every four years for direct marketing businesses and manufactories).

Which business can be awarded the AMA GOURMET REGION seal of quality?

  • Farmer-owned direct marketing businesses

    If a farm direct marketing business participates, it must comply with the "Quality and Origin Guidelines for Farm Direct Marketers".


    It regulates a simple, clear and transparent quality system for farmers' direct marketing businesses that stands for high quality and regional origin.

  • Food manufactories

    The "Quality and Origin Guidelines for Food Manufactories" apply to food manufacturers (e.g. bakeries, butchers, confectioners).


    It regulates a simple, clear and transparent quality system for food manufacturers, which stands for high-quality, predominantly handmade food of regional origin.

  • Catering business

    If a catering business bears the AMA GOURMET REGION seal of quality, it undertakes to comply with the "Quality and Origin Guidelines for the Catering Industry".


    It regulates a simple, clear and transparent quality system that stands for fresh food preparation and regional origin of the raw materials.

Did you know, ...

... that around 2.000 direct marketers, 400 manufacturers and 1.400 catering businesses have been awarded the AMA GOURMET REGION seal of quality?

AMA GOURMET REGION: Criteria for being awarded the AMA GENUSS REGION seal of quality

Catering establishments

  • Fresh food preparation
  • Offering regional specialities (raw materials and/or dishes)
  • Preferential use of raw materials from quality programmes (e.g. QHS direct marketers or QHS manufactories)
  • No use of imitation foods
  • No use of eggs and egg products from caged hens
  • The general appearance of the business must correspond to that of a well-run business in terms of equipment, tableware and hygiene

Direct marketing farms

  • Regional origin and transparency in purchasing
  • Participation in the animal health service, animal friendliness or a recognised animal welfare measure
  • Transparency in animal husbandry systems
  • Use of quality feed: quality programmes such as pastus+
  • Staff with specialised training or practical experience
  • Ongoing further training (e.g. animal husbandry, plant protection)
  • Compliance with the requirements of the Austrian Food Codex



Food manufactories

  • Production by hand
  • Offer of specialities
  • No use of eggs and egg products from caged hens
  • Minimisation of the use of food additives
  • No use of imitation foodstuffs
  • Staff with specialised training
  • Compliance with the requirements of the Austrian Food Code