Croatia secures EU PDO status for Istrian Sheep Cheese

Istrian Sheep Cheese has become Croatia's 52nd food product with protected status in the European Union, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Croatia said.

The cheese, known as Istarski ovčji sir/Istrski ovčji sir, has been granted Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), according to an entry published in the EU's Official Journal, CE Report quotes HINA.

The protection process was launched by Croatia's Association of Istrian Goat and Sheep Breeders and Slovenia's Association of Small Livestock Breeders. Each initiated national procedures in its own country before jointly submitting the PDO application to the European Commission once those processes were completed.

The product is a hard, full-fat cheese.

Croatia now has 52 products registered in the EU under PDO, Protected Geographical Indication or Traditional Speciality Guaranteed schemes.