The article marks an attempt at presenting basic information on traditional and regional foodstuffs in EU countries, chiefly Portugal. The authoress of the article describes the benefits derived by Portugal so far owing to its participation in the EU system of agricultural quality products basing on available publications which deal with this issue and research results. She analyses the economic and social significance of PDO, PGI and TSG products for rural areas and provides information on the number and structure of products, registered by country and category, that are currently on the European Commission's list of protected foodstuffs.