Authentic Neapolitan pizza is now protected in the EU by the geographical certification "STG" (or "TSG", traditional specialty guaranteed). The European Union, with Regulation 2022/2313 accepted the request sent by Italy to protect the name and methods of preparation of one of the main symbols of Made in Italy in the world.

With this decision, therefore, no one will be able to use the name "Pizza Napoletana" (or "Neapolitan Pizza") unless accompanied by the wording STG. Furthermore, in order to be able to write "pizza Napoletana Stg" on the packages and menus of restaurants and pizzerias, it will be necessary to respect the rules which establish which ingredients to use and the methods of preparation. 

New rules for the protection of the authentic Neapolitan pizza

To avoid imitations or improvised interpretations of Neapolitan Pizza, the EU has expressed its willingness to protect this typical specialty of the Italian culinary tradition, rewarding the certification only those who follow the original recipe. Among the characteristics of STG certification:

• the minimum leavening hours;
• hand spreading of the dough;
• the condiments and ingredients used;
• cooked in a wood oven at a temperature of 485 °C (905 °F);
• the border height of 1-2 cm, with the control of a third-party certification authority.

Furthermore, the EU Regulation has also set specific limits on the use of the fundamental ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP or traditional Mozzarella STG peeled tomatoes or fresh cherry tomatoes. It should be noted that each ingredient must be of Italian origin.

The Italian association Coldiretti, through a note, declared its agreement and satisfaction with the decision taken by the EU, seeing in this regulation an important goal for the protection and promotion of Made in Italy:

If the "Pizza Napoletana" does not have all these characteristics, it will constitute an offense on which the Italian Central Inspectorate for the protection of quality and the repression of frauds is already working to update the relative sanctioning provisions concerning the protection of geographical indications and denominations of origin of agricultural and food products.