The Romanian authorities want to get European protection for several local products, including the smoked fish from Tara Barsei (novac afumat din Tara Barsei), the Saveni cheese (cascavalul de Saveni) and the Plescoi sausages (carnatii de Plescoi).

The European Commission is currently analyzing the documentation submitted by the Romanian authorities for the registration of the smoked fish from Tara Barsei as a product with protected geographical indication (PGI) in the EU, according to a report Agriculture Minister Achim Irimescu presented to the Government.

Moreover, the Agriculture Ministry will also analyze the documentation for the Saveni cheese and the Plescoi sausages, and will then send it to the European Commission.

According to Irimescu, 14 other Romanian products have been identified as being suitable for getting European protection. For the coming period, the Agriculture Minister has set out an action calendar at a national level, which includes information, counseling, and debates for getting European recognition for local products.

The European registry of protected products includes more than 1,300 products. Romania only has 3 products on this list, namely the Sibiu Salami - which got the protected geographical indication (PGI) in the EU in February this year, the Ibanesti Cheese - protected designation of origin (PDO) since March this year, and the Topoloveni Plum Jam - protected geographical indication since 2011.

Romania also wants to register the well-known kurtoskalacs as a traditional Romanian product with European protection.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Carnati de Plescoi on Facebook)