A total of nine fruits, vegetables, desserts, and nuts from Trkiye have been given geographical indications by the EU, while the number of applications by the country has reached 45. “Antakya Knefesi,” a cheese-filled dessert from southern Trkiye, became the latest Turkish addition to the EU’s list of protected geographical indications earlier this month. “Antakya Knefesi is one of the few desserts that contain cheese,” in Trkiye, the European Commission said in a statement on the crispy treat’s inclusion on May 13. “Giresun Tombul Findigi,” premium hazelnuts from northern Trkiye’s Black Sea region, and “Gaziantep Baklavasi,” a sweet pastry with nuts, are also listed, along with “Aydin Inciri,” or figs from the Aegean province of Aydin, and “Aydin Kestanesi,” chestnuts from the same area, according to data from the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TurkPatent) compiled by Anadolu. The other Turkish products on the list are “Malatya Kayisisi,” apricots from the eastern province of Malatya; “Milas Zeytinyagi,” olive oil from the Aegean town of Milas; “Bayramiç Beyazi,” nectarines from northwestern Bayramic area, “Tasköpr Sarimsagi,” garlic from the northwestern town of Taskopru. Trkiye seeks to further grow this list, with applications pending for dozens of products, from dishes and rose oil to fruit and spices. These are pastirma cured meat and sucuk fermented sausage from Afyonkarahisar province, as well as çiçek bamyasi (okra) from Amasya, Antep fistigi (pistachio), Araban sarimsagi (garlic), Ayas domatesi (tomato), Aydin memecik zeytini (olive), Aydin memecik zeytinyagi (olive oil), Bingöl bali (honey), Bursa kestane sekeri (candied chestnut), Bursa siyah inciri (black fig), Bursa seftalisi (peach), Çaglayancerit cevizi (walnut), Demirci hnnabi (jujube), Edremit Körfezi yesil çizik zeytini (green sliced-open olive), Edremit zeytingyagi (olive oil), Erzurum su böregi pastry, Ezine peyniri (cheese), Gaziantep menengiç kahvesi (coffee), Gemlik zeytini (olive), Hatay kaytaz böregi pastry, Hopa hamsili ekmegi (bread), Hyk çilegi (strawberry), Isparta glyagi (rose oil), Inegöl köftesi (meatball), Ipsala pirinci (rice), Kayseri mantisi (dumpling), Kayseri pastirmasi, Kayseri sucugu, Kirkagaç kavunu (melon), Kilis zeytinyagi (olive oil), Manisa mesir macunu (mesir paste), Manisa sultani çekirdeksiz zm (seedless grape), Maras çöregi pastry, Melli inciri (fig), Milas yagli zeytini (olive), Osmaniye yer fistigi (peanut), Rize çayi (tea), Safranbolu safrani (saffron), Silifke yogurdu (yogurt), Suruç nari (pomegranate), Tonya tereyagi (butter), Urla sakiz enginari (artichoke), and Maras tarhanasi, a dried crushed mixture of fermented yogurt and wheat flour usually served as a soup. The EU maintains a register for the names of agricultural products, foodstuffs, and drinks that enjoy protection across the bloc, featuring geographical indications, product qualities, and legal protection instruments. TurkPatent head Cemil Baspinar said that for the first time in its history, the patent and trademark office made a collective application for the registration of 10 geography-specific products at once, using its authority to apply directly to the EU. “We will rapidly increase the number of internationally registered geographical indications of our country,” he said.
Source: Anadolu Agency – English