Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)

In the interests of the proper functioning of the internal market in the food sector, Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council on geographical indications for wine, spirits and agricultural products, as well as traditional specialities guaranteed, and on optional quality terms for agricultural products, amending Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013, (EU) 2019/787 and (EU) 2019/1753 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, provides economic operators and food producers with legal instruments that enable them to increase the market value of these products while protecting them against unfair practices. Any producer listed in the official EU register can use the registered name on their products, along with the words "traditional speciality guaranteed" and the appropriate logo.

Subject of registration of the TSG designation

The designation "Traditional Specialty Guaranteed" (TSG) may be used for products and foods defined by Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council on geographical indications for wine, spirits and agricultural products, as well as traditional specialities guaranteed, and on optional quality terms for agricultural products, amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2019/787 and (EU) 2019/1753 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 (hereinafter "Regulation (EU) 2024/1143").

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/26 of October 30, 2024, laying down rules for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2024/1143 as regards registrations, amendments, cancellations, enforcement, labeling, and notifications in relation to geographical indications and traditional specialties guaranteed, and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/34 as regards geographical indications in the wine sector and repealing Implementing Regulations (EU) No 668/2014 and (EU) 2021/1236.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/27 of October 30, 2024, supplementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2024/1143 on rules concerning the registration and protection of geographical indications, traditional specialities guaranteed and optional quality terms and repealing Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 665/2014 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the conditions of use of the optional quality term ‘mountain product’.

Act No. 452/2001 Coll., on the protection of designations of origin and geographical indications, as amended.

The list of protected names can be found in the eAmbrosia database on the European Commission website. This database contains information on the registration process, whether the names are registered, published or already registered.

According to the regulation, the term "traditional" means proven historical use of the name by producers in a given community for a period of time that allows for intergenerational transmission. Such use may include changes necessitated by evolving hygiene, safety, and other relevant practices. A name is eligible for registration as a traditional specialty guaranteed if the product corresponds to the result of a production, processing, or composition method that is traditional for the product in question, or is made from raw materials or ingredients that are traditionally used. A name may also be registered if the conditions are met whereby the name of the product is traditionally used or indicates a traditional character. However, if the objection procedure reveals that the name is used in another Member State or third country, the registration decision may stipulate that the name of the traditional speciality guaranteed shall be accompanied by the words "produced in accordance with tradition," followed by the name of the country or region concerned.

Application for registration of a TSG designation

Protected designations are recorded in the register. Only a producer group, which is an association of producers of the same product whose name is proposed for registration, regardless of its legal form, may apply for registration. If the conditions of Article 9(3) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 are met, an individual producer may also be considered an applicant.

Special rules apply to producer groups relating to geographical indications for spirit drinks. The requirements for an application for registration of a PGI are laid down in Regulation (EU) 2024/1143, Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 2025/2026, and also in Act No. 452/2001 Coll.

The registration procedure is initiated at the level of the Member State and concluded by a decision of the European Commission. Applications for registration, including the necessary requirements, are submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech republic, Těšnov 65/17, 110 00 Prague 1, Food Department, which will ensure that the application is reviewed for factual accuracy and allow authorized persons from the Czech Republic to comment on the application. It will then forward the application to the European Commission for a final decision. The Commission will initiate an assessment procedure, which, according to the legislation in force, should not exceed six months. If the Commission considers the application to be justified, it will publish it in the Official Journal of the European Union together with an abridged version of the product specification. Within three months of publication, objections to the registration may be lodged by other Member States and third countries. If the Commission receives no objections (or if the objections lodged are not admissible), it will enter the name in the "Register of Traditional Specialties Guaranteed."

Changes to the TSG specification

A group of producers of a product whose name is registered as a traditional speciality guaranteed may request approval of a change to the product specification. The request for change must include a description and justification of the change. The next steps depend on the type of changes proposed.

Cancellation of TSG registration

The Commission may, on its own initiative or at the request of a Member State, a third country or any natural or legal person with a legitimate interest, cancel the registration of a TSG. This may occur in cases where it is no longer possible to ensure compliance with the product specification requirements, or where no product has been marketed under the registered name for at least seven consecutive years.

Control of the use of PDO designations

Producers who use protected designations are subject to regular checks to verify compliance with the production conditions laid down in the specification. These checks are carried out by state authorities, i.e. the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority and the State Veterinary Administration. The costs of the checks are paid by the users of the protected designation.

Verification of compliance with specifications

Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 requires economic operators wishing to participate in activities covered by the specification of a product labeled as a traditional specialty guaranteed to notify the relevant control authorities.

The SZPI has published the relevant form on its website for food business operators.

Verification of compliance with the specifications prior to placing the product on the market shall be carried out by the control authorities designated by the Member State for products designated as TSG. The costs of this verification shall be borne by the economic operators concerned by these controls.

Protection of products labeled as traditional specialties guaranteed

Registered traditional specialties guaranteed are protected against any misuse, imitation, or use of names that evoke the protected designation, even if the protected name is translated, including in relation to products used as ingredients, as well as against any other practices that could mislead consumers.

Domains and obligations of providers in the online marketplace

Any information relating to the advertising, promotion, and sale of products that is contrary to the protection of geographical indications is considered illegal content under Article 3(h) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (Digital Services Regulation). This protection also applies to domain names.

Information for consumers

Products with protected names offer consumers a guarantee of quality and tradition. Before these names are entered in the register, the eligibility of the application for registration is subject to a detailed examination.

For agricultural products with a protected name, the protected name must be accompanied by the relevant Union symbol and the producer's identification in a single field of vision. For spirits, the producer's identification is mandatory, while the Union symbol is optional.

Registered PDO designations

The Czech Republic currently has the following designations registered:

Liptovská saláma/Liptovský salám, (Single document including specification)

Tradiční Lovecký salám/Tradičná Lovecká saláma, (Single document including specification)

Spišské párky, (Single document including specification)

Tradiční Špekáčky/Tradiční Špekáčky (Single document including specifications)

Pražská šunka (Single document including specifications)

Please note that the specifications available on this website may not correspond to the current version of the officially adopted text. It is always necessary to take into account the current wording of the legal regulation published in the Official Journal of the European Union.