See PODCAST below

Speaking to OFM News, Dirk Trotsky from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture highlights the importance of this approval. He says that it means that the Rooibos industry in South Africa has been enabled to ‘stamp’ and keep the production and export of rooibos unique. 

“The decision by the EU creates the ideal platform for growing the rooibos industry,” says Trotsky.

Trotsky adds that the Western Cape Department of Agriculture has collaborated with the rooibos industry since the 1990s towards the prevention of the misuse of the name by other entities. 

”Product names registered as protected designations of origin have strong links to their origin since every production, processing, and preparation aspect must take place in that specific origin using recognised know-how. In contrast, a product protected as a protected geographical indication requires that at least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation takes place in the place of origin.”

“Rooibos is one of the most iconic products of the Western Cape, and its inclusion in the EU’s Geographical Indication Register will signal its unique quality to consumers, not only in Europe but all over the world,” asserts Trotsky.

He ends by saying that this registration will allow the South African industry to use the EU logo and that rooibos is a unique and exclusive product.

OFM News