The Maltese ġbejna made with sheep’s milk has been given the EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certification, making it the first local foodstuff to be awarded the prestigious recognition.
“It is a huge victory for Maltese herders,” says sheep and goat herders coop president Publius Falzon, who describes himself as “over the moon” with the news.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola broke the news with a Facebook post on Wednesday (today) morning, pointing out that the certification places the Maltese sheep ġbejna alongside Italy’s famous Parmigiano Reggiano and Greece’s popular feta cheese on a list of internationally recognised products.
“This not only means that Maltese and Gozitan producers will be able to promote the sheep ġbejna with tourists, but also that it will be the EU itself that will be promoting this Maltese foodstuff as an artisanal and regional product that is unique in the world.”
She thanked the activists and herders who worked to achieve the result: “This is how we can continue to protect our heritage and traditional. This is how we achieve success within the European Union.”
Speaking to WhosWho.mt, Mr Falzon expressed his gratitude to Dr Metsola for “doing us the honour of personally publicising the certification,” sharing his satisfaction that the 13-year long struggle to obtain the award has ended in success.
Asked what the certification will mean for Maltese herders, he explains that the PDO award “will open the doors of foreign markets” to the local product.
“It opens the doors of trade shows, where we can now say that we have the internationally recognised certification.”
The association has trade shows in Alicante, Spain and Japan coming up.
“The PDO can act like a passport, giving our products access to new countries. The EU recognition puts a Maltese product – for the first time – on the global food scene.”
Daniel Borg, PRO with the sheep and goat herders’ association, stresses the “very long, very difficult process” that led to the award.
“We were a few common shepherds with a dream. We applied, and with a lot of hard work and some luck, we managed.
“It’s simply incredible.”
The association worked alongside the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) – the local authority responsible for such certification – and the recently established Malta Food Agency – as it navigated the difficult process.
Justin Camilleri, Chief Business Development Officer at the Malta Food Agency, also shares his joy at the news, adding that the agency will now “continue to promote it both in our local markets and online.”
He also congratulated the sheep and goat herders’ association, crediting them for the hard work necessary to get a Maltese product, for the first time, the international certification that stands for quality.
