On November 3, 2023, in the Official Journal of the European Union, the Commission's Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2452 of October 26, 2023, concerning the registration of a name in the Register of Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), "Salinate de Turda - PGI," was published.

As a result, "Salinate de Turda - PGI" joins the 12 Romanian products recognized and registered at the European level: Magiun de prune de Topoloveni (Protected Geographical Indication), Salam de Sibiu (Protected Geographical Indication), Novac afumat din Țara Bârsei (Protected Geographical Indication), Scrumbie afumată de Dunăre (Protected Geographical Indication), Telemea de Sibiu (Protected Geographical Indication), Cârnați de Pleșcoi (Protected Geographical Indication), Cașcaval de Săveni (Protected Geographical Indication), Salata cu icre de știucă de Tulcea (Protected Geographical Indication), Telemea de Ibănești (Protected Designation of Origin), Salată tradițională cu icre de crap (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed), Plăcintă dobrogeană (Protected Geographical Indication), and Pită de Pecica (Protected Geographical Indication).

Currently, Romania has two more products under review by the European Commission, aiming to acquire Protected Geographical Indication - "Batog deltaic de sturion" and "Babic de Buzău," and in the European opposition phase for obtaining Traditional Speciality Guaranteed - "Sardeluță marinată."

The product name "Salinate de Turda - PGI" has obtained protection under the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) quality system based on Regulation (EU) No. 1151/2012 regarding quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs.

The Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) highlights the connection between the specific geographical region and the product name when a certain quality, reputation, or other characteristic can be essentially attributed to its geographical origin. To qualify for this quality label, at least one of the stages of production, processing, or preparation must take place in the region.

"Salinate de Turda - PGI" is a smoked and dried meat product obtained through the wet salting process with natural brine (locally known as "mărătoare" or "murătoare") mixed with spices, sugars, and lactic cultures for 5-7 days. It is then smoked with hardwood (beech) and includes the following anatomical parts of the pork carcass: neck, loin, breast, and leg. This is followed by a maturation and drying period of 20-28 days.

"Salinate de Turda - PGI" is marketed under different names depending on the anatomical part of the pork carcass that represents the raw material, namely: neck, loin, breast, and leg of pork.

All the specific production stages for obtaining the product "Salinate de Turda - PGI" take place within the delimited geographical area, which includes the city of Turda and the communes of Mihai Viteazu, Tureni, Ploscoș, in Cluj County.

The production process of "Salinate de Turda - PGI" includes the following specific stages: preparation of raw materials/ingredients, slicing, boning, and selection of meat, wet salting with natural brine ("mărătoare") from the geographical area, seasoning, maturing for 5-7 days, smoking with hardwood (beech), and drying for 20-28 days.

The link between the "Salinate de Turda- PGI" meat products and the production region arises from the longstanding tradition of local residents, who have used the wet salting and smoking method to preserve meat during the winter months, a practice known since ancient times.

Regarding organoleptic characteristics, what distinguishes this product from similar products is that the natural methods of wet salting, seasoning, and controlled maturation (humidity and temperature) maintain the tenderness and succulence of the meat.

The quality and characteristics of the product "Salinate de Turda" result from natural and/or human factors in the region, which are supported by inscriptions and bibliographical references.

The application for registration to obtain PGI protection for the name "Salinate de Turda - PGI" was submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) by the applicant group, the ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF SALINATES DE TURDA (APST), from Cluj County (processor: CIA ABOLIV S.R.L. from Mihai Viteazu commune, Morii Street, No. 99A, Cluj County).

The applicant group has an important role, as conferred by Article 45 of Regulation No. 1151/2012, which requires them to contribute to ensuring the quality, reputation, and authenticity of the product "Salinate de Turda - PGI" on the market by monitoring the commercial use of the name and informing the competent authorities to ensure legal protection. The applicant group is also responsible for conducting information and promotion activities for the product among consumers.