'Babic de Buzau' (which is a spicy, raw-dried, pressed salami) has been granted Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status following its registration in the Official Journal of the European Union, a release of the 'Babicul de Buzau' Association announced on Thursday.

'Buzau is a land of harmonious contrasts: from the sandy soils of its floodplain terraces, where hot peppers acquire their unmistakable heat, to the oak forests of the Sub-Carpathians, which provide their noble wood for the slow, aromatic smoking of babic. It is a place where history and legend intertwine naturally - from old tales of noblemen hosting emperors to the skilled hands of local artisans who, generation after generation, have perfected the art of making this product, turning it into a true emblem of the region. The essence of 'Babic de Buzau' lies in the patience and craftsmanship of local producers, who transform simple ingredients into an incomparable delicacy through meticulous techniques passed down from one generation to the next,' the Association said.

According to President of the Association for the Promotion of Babicul de Buzau Ana Maria Mircea, the certification belongs to the entire community that has kept 'Babic de Buzau' tradition alive and to all the producers who have passed down this recipe from generation to generation.

'We wanted to show that a traditional Romanian product can meet the most demanding European standards and become an authentic ambassador for Romania. (...) Within the Association for the Promotion of Babicul de Buzau, we have succeeded in building a community which gathers producers, experts, institutions and supporters of local traditions around a common goal: protecting and promoting the region's gastronomic identity. We view this European recognition as a responsibility to continue promoting local heritage, including through cultural and publishing projects dedicated to the history and stories behind 'Babic de Buzau' and other products representative of the area,' the Association's president underscored.

The 'Babicul de Buzau' Association brings together several local producers who were involved in securing PGI certification for the product.

In 2023, a number of food industry producers announced that they would submit documentation to the European Commission to register 'Babic de Buzau' as a product with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. According to the Directorate for Agriculture, there is currently only one product in Buzau county that benefits from protected designation and geographical indication status, namely 'Plescoi Sausages', produced in the village of Plescoi in the commune of Berca.

According to the European Commission regulations, the registration as a geographical indication provides broad protection for registered names, functioning as an intellectual property right for products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation linked to that origin. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Cristian Anghelache; EN - writing by: Rodica State)