Brač olive oil is the 33rd Croatian food product with a protected name in the EU

"Brač olive oil" has been awarded the European protected designation of origin, making it the 33rd Croatian food product with a protected name in the EU, the Ministry of Agriculture reported. According to the statement, the European Commission announced in its Official Journal of the European Union on January 31st, 2022, that "Brač olive oil" has been awarded the European label of protection.

“Thus, the name of the product 'Brač olive oil' has been entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical origin and protected throughout the European Union. The EU label of a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical origin on the packaging guarantees the consumer the purchase of an authentic product,” pointed out the Ministry of Agriculture.

They note that the procedure for the protection of the name "Brač olive oil" began in August 2018, when the Supetar Agricultural Cooperative submitted a request to the Ministry of Agriculture to protect the designation of origin for the name "Brač olive oil".

"Brač olive oil" is extra virgin olive oil obtained directly from the olive fruit exclusively by mechanical means, where the indigenous olive variety "Oblica" must be represented by a minimum share of 80 percent.

It is characterized by a low content of free fatty acids and low peroxide count and a high content of total phenolic compounds with balanced bitterness and spiciness, fruitiness and aroma of fresh olives, leaves and grass. All the positive and specific characteristics of "Brač olive oil" are equally influenced by the olive variety, specific geological and climatic conditions and the skills of Brač olive growers in olive growing and fruit processing into olive oil, explained the Ministry.

The production of 'Brač olive oil' is allowed only on the island of Brač. As historically the most important agricultural crop for the island of Brač, olives have become synonymous with it, and Brač has become synonymous with its most important olive variety 'Oblica', called 'Bračka' in the world catalogue of olive varieties. The historical reputation of 'Brač olive oil' has been maintained to this day thanks to continuous production since the 16th century and continuous improvement of agro-technical procedures and technology of olive processing into oil, which throughout history and today has resulted in numerous awards for the quality of this oil", pointed out the Ministry of Agriculture.

Croatia now has 33 agricultural and food products whose names are registered in the European Union as a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical origin.

Source: HRT