15.03.2023
ROMANIA STOLE THE PIE FROM US, THERE IS NO GOING BACK
The so-called "Dobrudzhanska banitsa" will be registered as a protected geographical product of Romania, not of Bulgaria, Digi 24 TV reports.
The steps for European recognition of this product started in 2017, and in May 2019 the dossier was sent to the European Commission in the electronic system "eAmbrosia". The application was published in the Official Journal of the EU in February 2021, with Bulgaria subsequently submitting a reasoned objection. In July 2021, the European Commission invites both parties to consultations, Digi 24 TV recalls the background to the dispute.
Geographical indications protect products against misuse or imitation of the registered name and guarantee the true origin of the product to customers. These rules ensure that all producers in the geographical area in question have collective rights to the product, provided that certain requirements are met, the EU explains on its official website.
After nearly two years of "resolute resistance" by its neighbors south of the Danube, Romania has won the right to a protected geographical indication of the "Dobrudzhanska banitsa", reports the Romanian television Digi 24. Now Romania will receive European recognition through the registration of the product with all the resulting rights for an unlimited period of time.
"Bulgaria's opposition is based on the common history of the Dobrudzha region, which also includes territory in Bulgaria, and our neighbors have been resolutely and persistently opposing it for almost two years," Ionuts Diakonyasa, adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture, told Agerpress. He specified that Bulgaria will be granted the right to use the name, but only locally, in the region south of Constanta County and without recognition as a protected geographical indication for a period of 10 years, although it initially requested 15 years. Bulgaria's neighbors will also not be able to export the product with a name translated into Romanian as "Dobrudzhanska banitsa", said the adviser at the Ministry of Agriculture.
To date, Romania has 10 products recognized under European quality schemes, of which nine are protected geographical products. These are plum majun from Topoloveni, salami from Sibiu, smoked Novak from Bursey, smoked Danube mackerel, sudjuci from Pleškoi, "Telemya" cheese from Sibiu, yellow cheese from Saveni, pike caviar salad from Tulča, traditional carp caviar salad. The cheese "Telemya from Ibanest" has a protected designation of origin.
At the same time, Romanian spirits are also registered at the European level, respectively in the category of fruit spirits and wine spirits.
At the level of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, specific actions aimed at registering the product "Wormwood", manufactured in the category of flavored drinks, in the European quality systems are being carried out. Seven other products submitted for registration are at an advanced stage, Digi 24 also informs.
