„Gornooryahovski sudzhuk” (Flat Sausage from the region of Gorna Oryahovitsa) is the first Bulgarian geographical indication registered in the European Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications
On December 21st, 2011, the Bulgarian geographical indication “Gornooryahovski Sudzhuk” was entered in the European Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications. The registered geographical indication relates to meat products – more specifically to a compacted, non-perishable, raw, dried sausage, manufactured from natural gut filled with machine-minced beef, intended for direct consumption – which are closely connected with the geographical region included in the name of the product. At least one of the production stages shall be completed in the respective geographical region and the product shall be well-known on the market.
The initial application for registration at a national level was filed by the company Rahovets-2007 – Gorna Oryahovitsa on 06.03.2008. It contained 113 pages amongst which historical documents, photos and maps, kept mainly at the Museum of History of Gorna Oryahovitsa, as well as evidence of the history of the product, its continuous presence, relation to the city of Gorna Oryahovitsa, qualities and market reputation. According to historical data, Gornooryahovski Sudzhuk was produced more than two centuries ago, and it won its first medal at a fair in Paris in 1900.
Upon successful completion of the national registration procedure, on 09.12.2008, the case was referred to the European Commission for registration at a European level. The application was subject to publication in the Official Journal of the EU on 26.03.2010 and as of that date, the rest of the Member States and third parties were availed with a six month term to oppose the registration. Objections were raised only by Cyprus on the grounds that the name of Gornooryahovski sudzhuk resembles that of the famous sweet, made with lokum, called “sudzhu” – walnut kernels threaded together and dipped in lokum. Confusion on the part of consumers is hardly probable though, as one of the products is confectionery whereas the other is a meat product. On June 21st, 2011, Cyprus withdrew its objections.
As of January 11th, 2012, only three Bulgarian companies have the right to produce Gornooryahovski sudzhuk, from a total of 183 meat processing companies that have been delivering the product. The companies are members of the partnership RAHOVETS-2007, more specifically, ET STEFMARK – Stefan Markov, R.A. – 03 – Bobi OOD and Rodopa – Gorna Oryahovitsa-96 EOOD.
Six other famous Bulgarian meat products are currently awaiting recognition for the territory of Europe. Applications for registration as geographical indications have been filed also with regard to the jerked meat fillet “Elena”, meat roll “Trapezitsa”, meat neck “Trakiya” and “Panagyurska lukanka” (flat sausage from the region of Panagyurishte).
