EC recognises 'Tarnovo Sudzhuk' as a food of traditional special character

The European Commission has approved the entry of 'Tarnovo Sudzhuk' in the register of foodstuffs with traditional special character (TSG). The name of a product that is registered as a TSG protects it from counterfeiting and misuse.

The product 'Tarnovo Sudzhuk' has been produced for more than 50 years by applying an original technology consisting in the appropriate sorting of the beef and the selection and dosage of natural spices, the shaping of the individual pieces into the form of a horseshoe, as well as a specific pressing and drying process, which achieves the unique flattened shape, the EC said.

In 1954, a large meat processing plant was built in Tarnovo, meeting all hygiene and technological requirements. For a long time, the plant was one of the country's leaders in terms of the quality of meat products and export activity. In this palnt, 'Tarnovo Sudzhuk' was originally produced.

The new name will be added to the list of 63 traditional specialities already protected.

With the inclusion of 'Tarnovo Sudzhuk' in the list, Bulgaria has ranked second in the European Union in terms of registered traditional specialities (TSG), the Ministry of Agriculture said.

This is the seventh Bulgarian product to carry a special European label on its packaging.

Together with 'Sudzhuk Tarnovski'/'Tarnovo Sudzhuk', there are now 10 national products registered in the European Register of TSG and the European Register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). The remaining products are:

• PGI Gornoorjahovski Sudzhuk
• PGI Bulgarian Rose Oil
• TSG 'Fillet Elena' (cured pork leg)
• 'Lukanka Panagyurska'
• "Rolle Trapezitsa"
• Kaizerovan Trakia neck
• "Beef Pastrami"
• 'Strandzha honeydew' Strandzhanski manov med / Manov med ot Strandzha PDO (smooth brown honey with a slightly bitter aftertaste)
• "Lukanka Troyanska"(semi-dry and pressed sausage).