Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2), point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs
Date: 2025-02-26
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Türkiye, consumer information, designation of origin, essential oil, floriculture, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products




C_202501382EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2025/1382


26.2.2025






Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2), point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs
(C/2025/1382)

Following this publication, the authorities of a Member State or of a third country, or a natural or legal person having a legitimate interest and established or resident in a third country, may lodge, in accordance with Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) an opposition with the Commission within 3 months from the date of this publication.
The product specification complying with Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 is found in the Union register of geographical indications.
SINGLE DOCUMENT

’Isparta Gülyağı'


EU No: PDO-TR-02884 — 5.1.2023
                  


PDO (x) PGI ( )

1.   Name(s) (of PDO or PGI)

’'Isparta Gülyağı''
2.   Member State or Third Country

Türkiye
3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

Class 2.10. Essential oils
3.2.   Combined nomenclature code







—



                        3301  – Essential oils (terpeneless or not)

                        3301 29  – Other

                        3301 29 42  – Of rose




3.3.   Description of the product to which the name in (1) applies


                  ‘Isparta Gülyağı’ is an essential oil obtained from flowers of the Rosa damascena Mill. species. ‘Isparta Gülyağı’ has light yellow-yellow-green colour.

                  ‘Isparta Gülyağı’ is seen in a yellowish-greenish color due to the presence of azulene (azulene comes from parts of the flower outside the petals). However, after a while, azulene chemically breaks down, and the green color is replaced by a light-yellow color. The density of the ‘Isparta Gülyağı’ is 0,844 - 0,868, the refractive index is 1,452 - 1,463, the optical rotation is –3,3 ° / –5,9 °, the melting point is 16,5 - 22,5 °C (partially below 20 °C, completely below 16 °C), the acid value is 1,0 - 3,8 mg KOH/g, the ester value is 8,4 - 17,3 mg KOH/g. The portion that solidifies at a low temperature, called stearoptenes (with very little contribution to the fragrance), makes up 12,0 - 23,0 % of the rose oil (Table 1).

Table 1


Some Key Physical Properties of ‘Isparta Gülyağı’







Physical Properties


Values




Color


Light Yellow-Greenish Yellow




Density (25 °C)


0,844  - 0,868 




Refractive Index (nD25)


1,452  - 1,463 




Optical Rotation (25 °C)


–3,3  - –5,9 




Melting Point (°C)


21,0  - 25,0 




Freezing-Solidification Point (°C)


16,5  - 22,5 




Acid Value (mg KOH/g)


1,0  - 3,8 




Ester Value (mg KOH/g)


8,4  - 17,3 




Amount of Stearoptenes (%)


12,0  – 23,0 




Total Alcohol (%)


68,2  – 83,1 




According to GC/FID (Gas Chromatography/Flame Ionization Detection) and GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) analyzes of ‘Isparta Gülyağı’, the most significant aroma components of rose oil are 70 - 85 % monoterpenic alcohols (such as citronellol, geraniol, nerol, and linalool) and 15 - 30 % paraffins and stearoptenes (including nonadecane, nonadecene, eicosane, heneicosane, and tricosane). Additionally, there are components like β-damasenon, β-damasen, and β-ionone in ‘Isparta Gülyağı’ that contribute significantly to the characteristic scent formation, although their quantities are too low to be determined by GC analysis. These volatile oil components are primarily classified into three major groups based on their synthesis pathways: phenylpropanoids, fatty acid derivatives, and terpenoids. Monoterpene alcohols, such as citronellol (30,0 - 54,6 %), geraniol (7,8 - 24,5 %), nerol (4,6 - 10,2 %), linalool (1,1 - 3,1 %), and ethyl alcohol (0,2 - 2,0 %), are the primary constituents of ‘Isparta Gülyağı’.
In addition, ‘Isparta Gülyağı’ also contains significant quantities of materials from various chemical groups, including hydrocarbons (such as nonadecane, heneicosane, heptadecane, eicosane, tricosane, and octadecane), sesquiterpenes (like humulene and murolene), oxides and ethers (such as methyl eugenol), esters and aldehydes (like geranyl acetate and geranial), and phenols (such as eugenol). The typical aroma components present in ‘Isparta Gülyağı’ are shown in the Table 2.

Table 2


The characteristic aroma components of ‘Isparta Gülyağı’








‘Isparta Gülyağı’ Components


Molecular formula


Content (%)




Ethyl alcohol


C2H6O


0,2  - 0,9 




2-phenyletyl alcohol


C8H10O


0,51  - 3,0 




Nerol


C10H18O


4,6  - 10,2 




Citronellol


C10H20O


30,41  - 54,6 




Geraniol


C10H18O


7,8  - 23,5 




Linalool


C10H18O


1,1  - 3,1 




Citronellol acetate


C12H22O2



1,3  - 1,9 




Caryophyllene


C15H24



0,7  - 1,6 




Eugenol


C10H12O2



0,0  - 0,8 




Geranyl acetate


C12H20O2



1,5  - 2,2 




Methyl eugenol


C11H14O2



0,8  - 2,0 




Farnesol


C15H26O


0,2  - 1,6 




Heptadecane


C17H36



0,8  - 1,6 




Eicosane


C20H42



0,5  - 0,7 




Nonadecane


C19H40



7,2  - 12,0 




Heneicosane


C21H44



1,8  - 4,1 




Tricosane


C23H46



0,5  - 1,03 




3.4.   Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

Isparta rose is grown in the province of Isparta, which is located in the part of the Mediterranean region called the ‘Lake Region’ and covers the altitude range of 800-1 600, and in a small part of the provinces of Burdur, Afyonkarahisar and Denizli. According to Turkish Statistical Institute (2023) records, rose cultivation is carried out in an area of 4 100 hectares in this region and an average of 17 000 tons of rose flowers are produced every year. The flowering season begins on May 5-10 in low altitude regions. In parallel with the increase in altitude, flowering is delayed and continues until July 1 in the highest altitude places. While 82 % of the production areas are located within the borders of Isparta province, 10 % are located in Burdur province, 6 % are in Afyonkarahisar province and 2 % are in Denizli province. In this respect, Isparta province is the Lakes region and the Isparta rose production region of our country. While a large part of the rose flower produced is used in the production of rose oil, the remaining parts are used in the production of rose concrete and rose absolute. A very small part of it is used in the production of food products such as jam, Turkish delight and sherbet. While an average of 15 000 tons of rose flowers are produced in Isparta province, 2 000 tons of flowers are obtained from other rose producing areas. While an average of 1,5 tons of rose oil is produced every year in the Lakes region, 1,25 tons of this production is made in Isparta province. There are a total of 34 rose oil factories in the Lakes region, and 32 of them continue their activities within the borders of Isparta. Almost all of the ‘Isparta Gülyağı’ produced is exported every year for many countries such as France, USA, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Belgium, England, Netherlands and Saudi Arabia for use in cosmetics, perfumery, food, health and tobacco industries.
3.5.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

—
3.6.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

—
3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

The packages used when the product is released for consumption must be marked with the ‘Isparta Gülyağı’ PDO logo which is available for all producers who respect the rules referred in the specification.






















4.   Concise definition of the geographical area
Isparta province, Burdur province Center and Ağlasun districts, Afyonkarahisar province Dazkırı, Dinar and Başmakçı districts, Denizli province of Türkiye.
5.   Link with the geographical area
The application for registration of the designation of origin ‘Isparta Gülyağı’ is based solely on the specific quality and characteristics of the product, which result from the natural and human factors present in the geographical area.

Natural Factors

In the Lakes Region, where Isparta rose production is made in Turkey, the highest rose production (80 %) is made in Isparta province. The rest of the production area is in Burdur, Afyonkarahisar and Denizli provinces. Production areas in these provinces are close to Isparta province. The main reason for this is that the climate characteristics of Isparta province are suitable for rose cultivation. Isparta rose likes climates that require a temperate climate, with open, airy, well-lit soils, no drought, frost in spring, but dew during the flowering period. Because dew falling on the flowers increases the oil content and quality of the flowers (Agaoglu et al., 2000). In the region where Isparta rose is grown, the flowering time at lower altitudes (800-1 000 m) starts an average of 15 days earlier than at higher altitudes (1 400-1 600 m) (Baydar and Kazaz, 2003). It has been confirmed by scientific studies that the climate characteristics of Isparta increase the essential oil content and yield of roses and the quality of the rose oil. During the flowering season, the highest essential oil content and quality in flowers is in flowers collected in the middle of the flowering period (Ağaoğlu et al., 2000; Aycı et al., 2005) and the highest essential oil content and quality in the early morning (06:00 and 10:00) (Baydar et al., 2013; Erbaş and Baydar, 2016). The essential oil content and quality of flowers change during the bud-blooming period (Önder et al., 2022) or even at different harvest times from morning to evening in flowers that have reached harvest maturity (Baydar et al., 2013). Isparta rose plant prefers light sandy, loamy, deep, well-drained soils with plenty of organic matter.
The climate of Isparta is hot and dry in summers and cold and rainy in winters. However, the summer months are not as hot as Western and Southern Anatolia, and the winter months are not as harsh as Central Anatolia. It has a transitional climate character in terms of precipitation and the average annual precipitation is 500-600 mm. During the flowering period (May-June), the average daily sunshine duration is 8,5-10,5 hours, the average monthly temperature is 15-20 °C, the average monthly precipitation is 45-30 kg/m2 and the average monthly air relative humidity is between 50-60 %. These conditions allow the balanced composition of volatile substances and hydrocarbons in ‘Isparta Gülyağı’, providing a lasting scent and efficient product production.
Cool, rainy days extend the flowering season. Seasonal temperatures and rainfall regime affect the flowering date and duration. The oil content in roses at the beginning of the flowering period is higher than in roses at the end of the flowering period. The most suitable average day/night temperatures during the flowering period of the oil rose are 5-10 °C/15-20 °C, and the oil content decreases as night temperatures decrease towards 5 °C or daytime temperatures rise above 20 °C.

Historical and Human Factors

Isparta province is known as ‘Turkey's Rose Valley’ due to its tradition of rose cultivation since 1888 (from the time of the Ottoman Empire). May, which is the rose harvest season in Isparta, is celebrated every year as the Rose Festival. Rose cultivation in Isparta province started in 1888 with personal efforts. The first person to grow roses in terms of agricultural production in Isparta was Mufti İsmail Hakkı Efendi, and in 1892, İsmail Efendi became the first person to successfully obtain rose oil in stills in Isparta. In 1894, he increased the rose production area to 30 decares. Four years after he started growing these roses, he managed to produce 200 miskal of rose oil. Later, this geographical region of Turkey became an important center for oil rose production. Due to his personal efforts, İsmail Efendi received the 3rd Degree State Order award from the then Minister of Agriculture, Selim Mehleme Pasha. İsmail Efendi passed away in 1915. However, with the rose gardens continuing to increase, rose oil production, which was 120 kg in 1912 (during the Ottoman Empire), rose to 150 kg in 1927 (during the Republic of Turkey). In 1935, the first Rose Oil Factory was opened by the order of President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Gülbirlik, which is now the largest Rose Cooperative in the region, was founded in 1954. With the opening of private rose oil factories in the following years, 34 rose oil factories are currently operating. Producers in the region have gained extensive experience in Isparta rose cultivation, harvest and distillation over the years.
In this region, rose flowers are collected by hand every year in May and June in the cool hours of the morning (06:00-10:00). As the temperature increases, the essential oils in rose flowers evaporate and oil loss occurs. At harvest, fully opened flowers are collected. Obtaining ‘Isparta Gülyağı’ from Isparta rose requires knowledge and traditional experience. Only experienced producers can distill roses in copper distiller using the water distillation method without losing essential oil or changing its quality. In the alembic system or industrial rose oil production system, the temperature program of the boiler during the distillation period is according to the person's experience. If low heat energy is produced, a small amount of essential oil is produced. If too high heat energy is produced, the rose petals will deform quickly, and the oil quality will deteriorate.

Reference to publication of the specification

Official e-Bulletin of Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, No 49 of 15.03.2019, page 32.


(1)  Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, as well as traditional specialities guaranteed and 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 (OJ L, 2024/1143, 23.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1143/oj).


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/1382/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)