A decision granting geographical indication protection to the food product known as Kalinovik stelja has been officially presented, the Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced.
At a ceremony in Kalinovik, the decision was presented to Branka Bozalo, president of the “Kalinovik Stelja” Association, by Slobodan Dojčinović, Deputy Director of the Agency, and Dragan Brenjo, Head of the Agency’s Department for Food Certification and Labelling, reports Srna.
Kalinovik stelja is a cured meat product made from an entire sheep carcass that is completely deboned, with the exception of the bones of the front legs and lower legs. The meat is then dry-salted exclusively with table salt, followed by cold smoking and drying.
Mountain Pastures Influence Quality
The production of Kalinovik stelja is based exclusively on fresh sheep meat from well-fed animals more than three years old that have been removed from breeding flocks for various reasons. Its quality is significantly influenced by the altitude and mountain pastures.
“The tradition of livestock farming — particularly sheep farming — in the Kalinovik area was documented as early as the Austro-Hungarian census of 1895. Sheep breeding and the production of stelja have remained unchanged over time, preserving their original, high quality,” the Agency said.
An altitude of more than 1,000 metres, combined with specific air circulation and low humidity, creates ideal conditions for the natural drying of the meat.
Why Geographical Indication Protection Matters
The Agency stated that geographical indication protection contributes to preserving traditional production methods, increasing the market recognition of local products and creating additional value for local producers and rural communities.
“Kalinovik stelja is an example of a product whose distinctive characteristics are inseparably linked to the Kalinovik area, its tradition and natural conditions,” the Agency added.
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