Public consultation concerning the application for the protection of the product name “Ġbejna” as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)

Published 15th February 2019

It is hereby being notified that an application for the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) as defined by EU Regulation no. 1151 of 2012 on Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs was received by the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA). The relevant details of the dossier and further information is given below:

Applicant: Xirka Produtturi Nagħaġ u Moġħoż

for the following terms (in italics): ‘Ġbejna’; (plural = ‘Ġbejniet’) for PDO status in the Class 1.3. Cheeses

Brief description of the product to which the terms above apply:

The ‘Ġbejna’ is a fresh cheese produced with whole raw milk from sheep of the ‘Maltese’ breed and its crosses, and that are registered in the Maltese archipelago islands, including Malta, Gozo and Comino.

The ‘Ġbejna’ can be sold fresh (‘Ġbejna friska’), air-dried (‘Ġbejna niexfa’) or pickled and peppered (‘Ġbejna tal-bżar’).

The MCCAA is hereby publishing the said application for consultation. Any interested party may object to the application in writing by means of a formal letter addressed to the Director General, Technical Regulations Division, stating also the nature of their interest, within two months from the date of this notice. Any objections received after the end of the said period of two months will not be considered.

Further information can be obtained by contacting the MCCAA via email: [email protected]

Closing date: Monday 15 April 2019 (COB)

The Consultation documents including the ‘Single Document’ and full product specification can be found under Foodstuffs' page.