Geographical Indications in the European Union: Protected Romanian Products

In the contemporary European context, the protection of agricultural and food products through geographical indications (GIs) and quality schemes represents far more than a mere marketing strategy or promotional tool. These instruments constitute forms of collective intellectual property rights, recognized under European Union law, which confer exclusive rights to producers over the names associated with geographic origin and traditional production methods. Legal protection aims to prevent the improper use or imitation of products, including in online commerce and international trade, while enhancing product reputation and promoting the economic valorization of local resources.

The EU quality and protection system focuses on three principal types of geographical indications: Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), and Geographical Indication for Spirits (GI), supplemented by Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) products and optional designations for products from mountain areas or EU outermost regions. Romania currently has 13 products protected in the European Union, reflecting the diversity of its culinary heritage and the generational transmission of traditional practices.

The Legal Nature of Geographical Indications under European Law

Geographical indications are recognized as collective intellectual property rights, distinct from individual trademarks. They grant holders exclusive rights over protected names, allowing them to prevent unlawful or misleading use by third parties. From a doctrinal perspective, GIs are classified as non-patrimonial rights with significant economic value, comparable to collective or certification marks but with a communal dimension tied to the producer community of a given region.

The EU legal regime was reinforced by Regulation (EU) 2024/1143, which introduced a unified framework for all sectors—food, wine, and spirits—and simplified registration and protection procedures. This provides a comparative legal model similar to the French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) or the Italian Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP).

Classification of Quality Schemes and Legal Distinctions

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)

PDO represents the strictest form of protection, requiring that all stages of production, processing, and preparation occur within the delimited geographical area. This total connection with origin justifies the recognition of intellectual property rights. In comparative law, it aligns with the French AOC system, where the link between product and territory is absolute.

Example: Telemea de Ibănești—produced exclusively from cow’s milk sourced in Valea Gurghiului, with cows fed local forage and salted with natural brine from Orșova. PDO ensures authenticity and uniqueness, legally protecting the name within the EU and in countries with bilateral agreements.

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)

PGI emphasizes a significant connection between the product and its region, requiring that at least one essential stage of production take place within the territory. This allows more flexibility than PDO, acknowledging that some raw materials may originate outside the designated area.

Examples: Salam de Sibiu, Telemea de Sibiu, Cârnați de Pleşcoi, Magiun de prune Topoloveni. Each product combines local characteristics with traditional techniques, and PGI safeguards the collective rights of producers over the product name.

Geographical Indication for Spirits (GI)

GI applies to spirits and flavored wines, protecting the designation linked essentially to origin, even if the raw materials do not entirely come from the region. A classic European example is Irish Whiskey, distilled and matured in Ireland, with some ingredients sourced externally.

Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)

TSG protects traditional production methods or composition, without a mandatory territorial link. It prevents product falsification and preserves cultural identity.

Example: Traditional Pike Roe Spread, produced according to a traditional recipe, maintaining consistent appearance, texture, color, and taste across generations.

Objectives and Role of EU Quality Schemes

The quality schemes aim to:

Protect product names to prevent consumer confusion and misleading use.

Enhance local economies and strengthen product reputation in the market.

Preserve traditional techniques and ensure intergenerational transmission.

Promote sustainability, encouraging ecological, economic, and social practices within product specifications.

By recognizing GIs, consumers can trust the authenticity and quality of products, while producers gain a competitive advantage, including in international trade negotiations. Moreover, the EU system allows the protection of mountain products, products from outermost regions, and voluntary certification schemes, complementing official protection mechanisms with additional guarantees.

Protected Romanian Products in the EU

Telemea de Ibănești — PDO

Produced in Valea Gurghiului, this semi-soft cheese has a slightly salty taste, derived from cows fed on local forage and salted with natural brine. All production stages occur within the designated area, justifying PDO registration. Legal protection prevents imitation outside the area and ensures international recognition.

Telemea de Sibiu — PGI

Semi-hard sheep milk cheese, traditionally handmade in Sibiu County, with a minimum 21-day maturation. The product’s specificity derives from the flora of Transylvanian pastures and local artisanal practices. PGI protects the name and traditional production method.

Salam de Sibiu — PGI

Dry-cured pork sausage, smoked with hardwood, matured with wine and Penicillium cultures. PGI protects the unique combination of ingredients and traditional process, ensuring distinctiveness in the European market.

Cârnați de Pleşcoi — PGI

Sausages made from sheep and beef, seasoned with red pepper, garlic, and thyme. The traditional recipe dates back to the 13th century, providing renown and a unique taste. PGI legally recognizes the link between the product’s characteristics and its geographical origin.

Smoked Danube Mackerel — PGI

Wild fish captured during migration from the Black Sea, salted and cold-smoked following a traditional method. Organoleptic properties are directly linked to the natural habitat and the smoking process, justifying PGI protection.

Smoked Carp from Țara Bârsei — PGI

Carp fillets raised in ponds of Țara Bârsei, hot-smoked with beech sawdust. Specificity arises from climatic conditions, extended growth period, and traditional smoking methods. PGI protects both the name and traditional method.

Salinate de Turda — PGI

Smoked and dried pork, salted in natural brine with spices, matured 20–28 days. PGI recognizes the link between product characteristics and the geographic area.

Pita de Pecica — PGI

Leavened bakery product, with specific shape and variable weights, baked in traditional ovens. PGI protects the name and local baking method.

Plăcinta Dobrogeană — PGI

Pastry with thin dough sheets and cheese filling, rolled and arranged in a spiral form. PGI protection is justified by the direct link with Dobrogea and generationally transmitted techniques.

Magiun de prune Topoloveni — PGI

Plums cooked in double-walled cauldrons at controlled temperatures (max 68°C) for 12–14 hours. Documented recipe since 1914, without preservatives, supports PGI recognition.

Cașcaval de Săveni — PGI

Matured cheese from Botoșani, 60-day maturation, creamy consistency, slightly bitter taste, influenced by the diverse flora of local pastures. PGI protects organoleptic characteristics and geographic link.

Pike Roe Spread from Tulcea — PGI

Cream from fish roe and sunflower oil, produced in the Danube Delta. Connection to the natural environment and traditional processing methods justify PGI protection.

Traditional Carp Roe Spread — TSG

Produced from salted freshwater fish roe, sunflower oil, and lemon juice. TSG protects the traditional method without territorial constraints, ensuring authenticity and consistency across generations.

Additional Quality Schemes: Mountain Products, Outermost Regions, and Voluntary Certifications

Mountain products highlight quality from areas with challenging natural conditions, providing consumers with guaranteed specific characteristics.

Outermost region products (e.g., Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Azores, Madeira) use a specific logo indicating origin and production challenges.

Voluntary certification schemes complement protection, offering consumers additional information on quality, traditional methods, and sustainability.

The EU system of geographical indications constitutes a complex form of collective intellectual property, ensuring both legal protection of names and the economic, cultural, and social valorization of local products. The 13 Romanian protected products exemplify the value of culinary heritage and fully justify recognition as PDO, PGI, or TSG.

Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 consolidates protection, simplifies procedures, and extends legal guarantees to digital commerce and ingredients used in processed products. From a comparative perspective, the EU system serves as a reference model for the international protection of geographical names and culinary traditions, integrating intellectual property law, regional economic development, and cultural sustainability.

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