Following an objection by Slovenia, a new PDO application for Istrian olive oil will be submitted to the European Commission jointly by Slovenia and Croatia.
Slovenia has lodged a notice of opposition to the application for PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) for Istrian extra virgin olive oil submitted by Croatia to the European Commission.
Istrian extra virgin olive oil received PDO status at the national level in early 2015, after which an application for the same recognition at the EU level was submitted in July 2015. After being examined for “receivability,” the application was published in the European Commission’s Official Journal on March 23, 2016.
Following the date of publication, there was a three-month period during which objections could be raised. A notice of opposition was lodged by Slovenia one day before the end of this three-month deadline over the proposed appellation “Istarsko ekstra djevičansko maslinovo ulje” (Istrian extra virgin olive oil).
The proposed appellation may cause confusion, Slovenia argued, as both countries share the same geographical area. Olive oil from Slovenian Istria has had EU PDO status since February 2007 under the appellation “Ekstra deviško oljčno olje Slovenske Istre” (Extra virgin olive oil from Slovenian Istria).
Istria is a peninsula in the North Adriatic sea shared by three countries: Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. While 90% of the geographical peninsula is located in Croatia, a north-western strip is part of Slovenia, and a tiny area of its northern tip is located in Italy near the port city of Trieste.
In December 2016, working meetings were held in the Croatian capital of Zagreb between the Croatian ministry of agriculture and Slovenian counterparts to reach an agreement. As a result, the two countries will be submitting a joint application for PDO status of olive oil from Croatian and Slovenian Istria.
The proposal is that all olive oil produced on the entire Istrian peninsula will be marked with the appellation ISTRA (the Croatian and Slovenian name for Istria). Under the agreement, the production area has been extended to the Slovenian municipalities of Koper, Piran, Koper and Izola. This will also include Liburnia: a section of Istria’s north-western coast that falls under the political boundaries of the Primorsko-Goranska Region of Croatia.
The list of olive varieties has been extended to include Buga, Drobnica, Mata, Plominka, Storta and Maurino. Also, a new proposed logo has been created featuring stylized green and black olive-shaped circles with green drops. Under the proposal, olive producers from the region will be able to process their olives in any mill located in either the Croatian or Slovenian part of Istria.
Croatia and Slovenia already share a PDO for Istrian prosciutto — cured ham from Istria — registered in October 2015. The only other EU food product to have joint PDO status shared between two countries is Polish and Lithuanian honey, registered in 2012.
More articles on: Protected Designation of Origin, Croatia, Slovenia
Jan. 9, 2023
Šibenik Event Highlights Award-Winning Dalmatian Producers
The Dalmatian event includes panels on the state of the olive oil industry in Croatia, tastings, and educational sessions.
Sep. 6, 2022
Rainfall Will Dictate the Upcoming Harvest in Croatia
Rain or the lack thereof will decide how the olive growing season will go in Croatia, and whether oil prices will rise.
Apr. 6, 2023
Elementary Schoolers Helped Produce One of Croatia's Best Extra Virgin Olive Oils
OPG Uroda earned a Gold Award at the 2023 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition with help from local students.
May. 11, 2023
Producers in Small Croatian Village Celebrate Success While Calling for More Support
Farmers in coastal Dalmatia cited their success at the World Olive Oil Competition in their call for more investment in the sector.
Mar. 28, 2023
PDO and PGI Producers Celebrated at Ercole Olivario
Lazio, Sardinia and Sicily were the most awarded regions, with three prizes each, followed by Campania, Puglia and Tuscany, with one prize each.
Jul. 15, 2022
Olive Trees in Dalmatia Burn in Fire Caused by Traffic Accident
The fire burned 657 olive trees on the Dolina Maslina Estate. Fortunately, there were no fatalities but the driver was hospitalized.
Aug. 26, 2022
Croatian Olive Grower Innovates to Overcome Drought, Pests
From irrigating at night to covering developed fruit in kaolin clay, one Croatian producer is adapting to the country’s increasingly hot and dry summers.
Aug. 11, 2022
Experiment with North African Olive Varieties Bears Fruit in Croatia
One producer has found that his Chemlali and Moroccan Picholine trees are thriving in Dalmatia’s increasingly hot and dry climate.