Protected designation of origin in EU olive oils: Rethinking quality differentiation, regulatory frameworks and future challenges.

Olive oil remains an emblematic product of the European agri-food system, increasingly shaped by consumers for authenticity, geographical origin, and sustainability. This has reinforced the relevance of European Union (EU) quality schemes, particularly Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs). However, despite scientific and technological advances in olive oil production, many PDO olive oil specifications have remained largely static, raising concerns about current relevance. This study critically evaluates EU PDO extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) by integrated meta-analysis with bibliometric and regulatory assessment. Trends in scientific output, the temporal and geographical evolution of PDO registrations, and discrepancies between PDO specification limits and EU regulatory thresholds are systematically examined. The results reveal a marked increase in research activity over the past decade, primarily driven by Mediterranean producing countries, particularly Italy and Spain, with a recent shift towards sustainability and consumer-oriented studies. Currently, 115 PDO olive oils are registered in the EU, most (79%) were established before 2010, indicating limited recent registration evolution. Prediction intervals from the meta-analysis show that reported PDO EVOOs consistently outperform existing specification limits, suggesting that current thresholds may no longer capture the actual production performance and consumer needs. This misalignment highlights a critical gap between regulatory frameworks and production realities. Updating PDO specifications in line with contemporary evidence could strengthen their role as dynamic quality indicators, enhance product differentiation, and better support innovation and sustainability transitions within the olive oil sector.