In Portugal is used, predominantly, beef and pork
In recent years the industry of sausages has submitted an appreciable increase, expressed in the high number of manufacturing establishments installed and in the range of existing products.
Within this sector the traditional Portuguese products are unique products that come from the region that gives them the name and have a strong link with that region, so that it is possible to demonstrate that the quality of the product is influenced by the animals, soil, vegetation, climate and technology manufacturing. In this context came the adoption of strategies for commercial exploitation of traditional products through the certification and consequent allocation of marks: Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG).
The certification process is an important step in protecting these products since it seeks to ensure the hygiene conditions with which they are produced, it respects the traditional methods of production ensuring the authenticity and origin of products.

Sausages and smoked meats
The products of meat transformation in Portugal present a variety of flavors, textures and shapes as a result from the diversity of raw materials, ingredients and manufacturing processes used.
The term ‘sausage factory’ is known world-wide and covers all products of meat transformation and sausages are included, as well as all the smoked meats, like leg of pork, shoulders of pork and others.