Canard à foie gras du Sud-Ouest

Canard à foie gras du Sud-Ouest (also Foie gras du Sud-Ouest, South-West foie gras duck) is an EU protected geographical indication (PGI), registered in 2000, for foie gras, magret, confit and other products from mulard and Muscovy ducks reared and fattened in south-west France. In June 2026 a goose counterpart joined it: Foie gras d'oie du Sud-Ouest.

Look at the colour of the fat: here maize decides it. White maize gives off-white fat, yellow maize gives yellow, and the specification ties this directly to the area. During fattening at least 95 % of the feed's dry matter is maize from the south-west.

Only male Muscovy or mulard ducks qualify. Ducklings arrive within a day of hatching, and from day 43 they must have an outdoor run on grass, stubble or woodland; from then on the feed is at least 70 % cereals and pulses, including at least 15 % maize. Fattening starts no earlier than day 81 for a mulard (day 82 for a Muscovy), lasts at least 10 days and 20 meals, and slaughter comes no earlier than day 91 or 92. Raw liver weighs at least 350 g, magret at least 300 g.

The name was registered by Commission Regulation (EC) 1338/2000 of 26 June 2000, and the specification was updated in 2015. The application came from PALSO, an association based in Bordeaux. The area covers Dordogne, Landes, Gers, Lot and other départements, plus Corrèze and parts of Haute-Vienne and Aude. Labels may add Chalosse, Gascogne, Gers, Landes, Périgord or Quercy.

The goose name took a longer road. National decrees came in April 2024, French transitional protection has applied since 30 April 2024, and EU registration followed with Regulation (EU) 2026/1268 of 4 June 2026. The geese are grey Anser anser: broad back, dark grey head and wings, white belly. Fattening starts from day 91 and lasts at least 12 days; raw liver weighs at least 500 g. Each year 120,000–150,000 geese are reared and 40–60 t of foie gras made.

Standard foie gras has no origin rules: its ducks are reared for under 90 days and the liver may weigh 300–800 g. Label Rouge LA 19/02 asks for at least 102 days, whole-grain maize and a 400–700 g liver, but does not tie the product to the south-west.

Look for «IGP Canard à foie gras du Sud-Ouest» on the pack. In winter the region holds «marchés au gras», markets for foie gras and duck products. How to pick a jar and how entier differs from bloc is on the Foie gras page; legs cooked in fat are on Confit.

Why this matters to you: the PGI mark guarantees more than a region; the duck lived at least 91 days, with an outdoor run and maize from the same area.