Black Slavonian pig meat becomes 46th Croatian product protected

The meat of the black Slavonian pig has become the 46th Croatian product with a protected designation of origin in the EU, Croatia’s Ministry of Agriculture confirmed.

The European Commission announced in the Official Journal of the European Union on December 12, 2023, that the meat of the black Slavonian pig has received the European protected designation of origin. 

This designation has been entered into the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications, securing its protection throughout the European Union. The EU label for protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications, found on the packaging, guarantees consumers the purchase of an authentic product.

The process of protecting the name “Meat of the black Slavonian pig” was initiated by the Agricultural Service Cooperative LETA from Našice, which submitted a request to the Ministry of Agriculture for the protection of the designation of origin under the name “Meat of the black Slavonian pig.”

The protection of the product “Meat of the black Slavonian pig” is based on the specific quality of the meat, resulting from the genetic foundation and the way the pigs are raised and fed, as well as their age at the time of slaughter.

The “Meat of the black Slavonian pig” has a distinctive pronounced aroma due to the profile of fatty acids, which is also a result of traditional feeding with feeds produced on their own farms. Additionally, due to the significant level of movement, increased activity, and well-blooded muscles, the “Meat of the black Slavonian pig” is characterised by a darker colour than the meat of conventionally fattened commercial pigs.

Black Slavonian pig is an autochthonous Croatian breed. In the 19th century, it was the most commonly farmed breed in Slavonia. During the 20th century, the number of individuals declined steadily, to the extent that it was declared an endangered species in the 1990s.

According to the official data, at one point, this number was reduced to only 50 animals.

One of the first professional breeders to start farming this neglected breed was the company Sin Ravnice, with one of the co-founders of the company being Croatian football international Domagoj Vida. Located in Cret Viljevski near Donji Miholjac, their Black Slavonian Eco Farm project has been nominated for prestigious awards. 

You can read more about the project here. 

Black Slavonian Eco Farm project – black Slavonian pig (Photo: Bosnic+Dorotic)

Croatia now has 46 agricultural and food products whose names are registered in the European Union as protected designations of origin or protected geographical indications. They are: 

„Meso crne slavonske svinje“, Krčki pršut, Ekstra djevičansko maslinovo ulje Cres, Neretvanska mandarina, Ogulinsko kiselo zelje / Ogulinski kiseli kupus, Baranjski kulen, Lički krumpir, Istarski pršut / Istrski pršut, Drniški pršut, Dalmatinski pršut, Poljički soparnik / Poljički zeljanik / Poljički uljenjak, Zagorski puran, Krčko maslinovo ulje, Korčulansko maslinovo ulje, Paška janjetina, Šoltansko maslinovo ulje, Varaždinsko zelje, Slavonski kulen / Slavonski kulin, Međimursko meso ‘z tiblice, Slavonski med, Lička janjetina, Istra, Paška sol, Zagorski mlinci, Paški sir, Bjelovarski kvargl, Brački varenik, Varaždinski klipič, Malostonska kamenica, Rudarska greblica, Dalmatinska pečenica, Dalmatinska panceta, Lički škripavac, Bračko maslinovo ulje, Zagorski bagremov med, Zagorski štrukli / Zagorski štruklji, Meso istarskog goveda – boškarina / Meso istrskega goveda – boškarina, Samoborska češnjovka / Samoborska češnofka, Lumblija, Goranski medun, Dalmatinska janjetina, Slavonska kobasica, Komiški rogač,  Novigradska dagnja, Varaždinsko bučino ulje and Meso turopoljske svinje.