The nationally protected plant has received European Union protected status under the name Szőregi Rózsatő (Szőreg Rose). The Szőreg Rose is also acknowledged abroad; the majority of the 4-5 million plants cultivated each year are exported.
The Szőreg Rose, which has enjoyed nationally protected status since 2004, is cultivated on some 120 hectared in five settlements within the Tisza-Maros axis: in Szeged-Szőreg, and also in Deszk, Tiszsziget, Újszentvár and Kübekháza. Hungary applied to the EU asking that the Szőreg Rose receive protected geographical status eight years ago, and the Commission included the plant in the protected geographical indications registry just a few days ago. (The concept of geographically protected status indicates the strict connection between a product and its place of production.)
One of the advantages of the registry is that it affords protection against fraudulent use of the name, since the product may only be produced within the territory determined in the product description, and only in accordance with the criteria recorded therein. The other advantage is related to the use of the EU symbol, which makes Hungarian products easily recognisable as being included among the highest quality products available within Europe. The presence of the symbol makes it apparent to all European consumers that the unique nature of the product stems from its geographical origin, affording it greater trust and respect.
From the day of registration, the labels of all products distributed under the name Szőreg Rose must include the expression "Protected geographical indication" or the relative EU symbol, in accordance with the product description.
In view of this latest registration the European Union registry now includes thirteen Hungarian geographical product indications, which in addition to the Szőreg Rose are Szeged (winter) salami, Budapest winter salami, Csabai sausage and Csabai thick sausage, Gyulai sausage and Gyulai paired sausage, as well as Hajdusági horseradish, Makói (red) onions, Gönci apricots, Szegedi paprika powder, Hungarian grey cattle beef, Alföldi camomile flowers and Kalocsai paprika powder.
(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)