Slovenia has managed to get EU special status for the Kranjska sausage as the European Commission announced on Wednesday it had approved its addition to the register of Protected Geographical Indications.
The popular sausage is the 22nd Slovenian product to be registered with the European Commission and the 11th to have protected geographical indication.
The label designates agricultural products or foodstuffs whose quality, reputation or other features are closely associated with a certain geographical area.
"Kranjska klobasa" is a semi-durable sausage made from minced pork meat and back fat, spiced with sea salt, garlic and pepper and mildly hot-smoked in beech wood.
Slovenia's attempt to protect the sausage has stirred disputes with Austria and Croatia. The latter got a transitional period of 15 years in which it will be able to use the name "kranjska klobasa" for its sausage.
An agreement has also been reached with Austria, whose variation of the sausage, called Käsekrainer, is different as it is made with small chunks of cheese.
Source: The Slovenia Times
