Image Source : Malta Farms
Malta’s traditional sheep cheese, the ġbejna tan-nagħaġ, is currently under consideration for special status as ‘Protected Designation of Origin’ by the European Commission.
The application for safeguarding the heritage of the cheese rounds was submitted approximately two years ago and has now advanced to the final stage of approval.
Other EU member states have a three-month period to review the application and raise any objections to recognizing the cheese as a national heritage deserving of protection.
A representative from Xirka Produtturi Nagħaġ u Mogħoż, the association representing local sheep and goat herders, expressed great enthusiasm about this development, commenting, “It took us 13 years of battling to get here.”
The application outlines stringent criteria for ġbejna tan-nagħaġ production, encompassing aspects such as the size and weight of the cheese, the sheep’s diet, and packaging methods.
If approved, ġbejna tan-nagħaġ would be Malta’s inaugural protected food heritage product, earning the esteemed PDO label. This designation identifies products produced, processed, and prepared in a specific geographical area, safeguarding them from mass-produced imitations and ensuring quality standards.
Moreover, the spokesperson highlighted the anticipated benefits, stating, “The PDO status would allow smaller genuine producers to access an open market.”
Looking to the future, there are plans to advocate for the protection of ġbejna tal-mogħoż (goat cheese) as Malta’s subsequent heritage product. Initially, the application included both variants, but it was controversially revised before submission to focus solely on sheep cheese.
This decision means that products such as cheese made from cows’ milk, ġbejna tal-baqar, and those produced with additives, modern drying and curing methods, and powdered milk, will not be protected.
The agricultural NGO, the Maya Foundation, had objected to this change, expressing concern that it may harm the product in the long term.
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