It means that food is made from ingredients sourced in a specific geographic region. There are strict quality-control measures in place to protect the brand of the food. It also makes sure the food is made as traditionally intended.
The history of the D.O.P designation can be traced back to 1963, when Italy enacted “Leggi No-3052” to protect its food heritage through the use of a special seal. By 1996, more than 200 food products were registered for protection under this seal. Fast-forward to 2006, Italy passed “Legge No118” which resulted in the creation of “Denominazione di Origine Protetta”.