Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 15(4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Date: 2026-07-13
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Prešov region, Slovakia, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, mineral water, product designation, quality control of agricultural products








C_202603734EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/3734


13.7.2026






Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 15(4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council
(C/2026/3734)

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 three months from the date of this publication.
SINGLE DOCUMENT

Designations of origin and geographical indications of agricultural products


‘Sulinka’


EU No: PDO-SK-03399 – 10.1.2025
                  

1.   Name

‘Sulinka’
2.   Geographical indication type

PDO ☒ PGI ☐
3.   Country to which the defined geographical area belongs

Slovakia
4.   Description of the agricultural product

4.1.   Classification of the agricultural product in accordance with the Combined Nomenclature heading and code, as referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143

22 – BEVERAGES, SPIRITS AND VINEGAR

                  2201  – Waters, including natural or artificial mineral waters and aerated waters, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured; ice and snow

                  2201 10  – Mineral waters and aerated waters
4.2.   Description of the agricultural product to which the registered name applies

‘Sulinka’ is an alkaline sodium-carbonate water with increased levels of magnesium and lithium. It is a natural, cold, hypotonic, sodium-bicarbonate mineral water with an alkaline character. Its natural CO2 (carbon dioxide) content is as high as 4 g/l and takes the form of free CO2 dissolved in the water.
Total mineralisation: 5 869 mg/l







Cations




mg/l





Na+



800,4




Mg2+



263,2




Ca2+



240,8




Li+



1,991





Anions




mg/l





HCO3
–



4 394,7 




Cl–



53,0




NO3
–



< 0,5




NO2
–



< 0,01




The above values can vary (up to 15 % either way) depending on soil and climate conditions.
4.3.   Derogations on sourcing of feed (for products of animal origin designated by a protected designation of origin only) and restrictions on sourcing of raw materials (for processed products designated by a protected geographical indication only)

The mineral water emerges in the defined geographical area.
4.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

The mineral water is drawn from the depths of the earth by way of the MS-1 Johanus exploitation borehole, which was drilled for this purpose to a depth of 107,5 m. The artesian water has its origins in Eocene sandstone in the Flysch Belt. The mineral water is carbonated through saturation with natural carbon dioxide from under the ground.
Nowadays, the mineral water is obtained by way of the exploitation borehole mentioned above. It is then transported to the bottling plant via a mineral water pipeline in order to ensure that all hygiene conditions are met and all of the beneficial effects of ‘Sulinka’ mineral water are preserved.
4.5.   Specific rules concerning packaging, slicing, grating, etc. of the agricultural product the registered name refers to

The mineral water is bottled in hygienically pristine sales packaging by means of a technological process that excludes any contamination by foreign elements or substances, forming a closed loop between the water supply point and the point at which it is bottled for sale.
4.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

—
5.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The defined geographical area comprises the northern slopes of the Sliboň massif, which is made up of the Čergov and Strihovce formations of the Krynica Unit. The boundary of the defined area begins at the left-hand edge of the Malý Lipník–Sulín road and continues for 250 m along the road in a north-westerly direction. From there it continues to the watershed and runs parallel to the stream (at a distance of approximately 200 m therefrom) to the spot elevation at 687,5 m above sea level. It then continues in a south-easterly direction to the Sliboň spot elevation (789 m above sea level), where it turns in a north-easterly direction towards the spot elevation at 681,5 m above sea level. The eastern boundary runs northwards to the point where an unnamed stream passes through a culvert under the Malý Lipník–Sulín road. From there it follows the left edge of the road to meet the point with coordinates Y –293995,73, X –1166723,77.
6.   Link with the geographical area

The causal link is based on the soil and climate conditions in the defined geographical area.

Specificity of the geographical area

The Severný Spiš and Pieniny region is rich in mineral springs. The diversity and abundance of mineral springs in the defined geographical area are due to the latter’s particularly varied geology.
Given the mineralogical and petrographical composition of the rock environment, the basic process by which the chemical composition of natural water is formed is the dissolution of carbonates, gypsum or anhydrite in combination with ion-exchange processes. Its Palmer characteristics show that the chemical composition of the water is formed in dolomite rock and in the keuper layers of the Krížna Nappe. The higher concentrations of strontium are the result of the water coming into contact with gypsum keuper, where strontium is present in the form of celestine.
The source of ‘Sulinka’ mineral water is located in the municipality of Sulín at an altitude of 416,439 m above sea level. Its springs emerge from the Magura Flysch in the Čergov Unit immediately next to the River Poprad on its left bank, beneath the high, forest-covered Sliboň mountain.
The discharge area for the mineral springs is established on Magura Flysch rocks in the form of Eocene claystone and sandstone. The mineral water flows out thanks to a longitudinal rift that runs in a south-west to north-east direction, intersecting with a transverse north-south tectonic line in the Malý Sulín region.
The ‘Sulínska brázda’ [Sulín furrow] is a relatively low-lying flysch upland, with hydrogeological conditions that are conducive to the development of mineral waters. The surrounding areas are higher and have similar geology but different hydrological conditions. The lower elevation of the ‘Sulínska brázda’ allows the water to remain underground for longer and to absorb more minerals.

Specificity of the product

‘Sulinka’ is classified as a mineral water owing to its high mineral content, with overall mineral levels of between 5 100 mg/l and 7 600 mg/l. Ordinary table waters have mineral levels of less than 500 mg/l, while lightly mineralised waters have levels of up to 1 500 mg/l. ‘Sulinka’ is a naturally carbonated mineral water, which means that the carbon dioxide comes directly from the source. Unlike with other mineral waters where food-grade CO2 is injected into the water, natural CO2 is from its first impression more delicate on the tongue, and does not irritate the mucous membrane of the larynx. It has an alkaline character. Most ordinary mineral waters do not contain such high amounts of hydrogen carbonates and lithium.

Causal link

The defined geographical area lies in the north-eastern part of Slovakia, close to the River Poprad and surrounded by the Čergov and Ľubovnianska Vrchovina mountains. The area is known for its karst and volcanic rocks, which are rich in minerals. Rainwater flows through the layers of rock, becoming enriched with minerals during its long underground journey (over decades or even centuries). The limestone and dolomitic rocks give ‘Sulinka’ high levels of hydrogen carbonates. During filtration, magnesium and calcium are released from the subsoil, while lithium and sodium are also present in the region on account of historical volcanic processes.
There are also natural deposits of CO2, which naturally carbonate the water.
The area has a moderately cool climate, which slows down the evaporation of the water and maintains the springs’ high quality. The proximity of mountainous areas and forests protects the springs from pollution, while the River Poprad has an effect on the underground water system and the circulation of minerals. Historical geothermal influences have contributed to high water mineralisation. These conditions make ‘Sulinka’ extremely rich in minerals and give it an alkaline character.
For more than 170 years, ‘Sulinka’ mineral water has been rising from the Koruna spring located in the municipality of Sulín in the Stará Ľubovňa district in eastern Slovakia. All those years ago it was already being exported to Austria-Hungary, Transylvania, Dalmatia, the USA and Canada.
Bottling of the mineral water began in 1836. It was bottled in special bottles called hlavy [heads] which were produced in the glassworks in Malý Lipník and, in 1891, in the municipality of Veľký Sulín.
The water was bottled by five groups of workers. One group washed the bottles in the River Poprad while a second group carried them to the spring, where the two workers would fill the bottles with mineral water. A third group closed the bottles, a fourth sealed them with pitch and the last group affixed the labels. The bottles, once filled with mineral water and sealed, were placed into wooden crates for transport. Every Monday and Friday, carts would travel to Prešov with mineral water from Sulín, which would be stored at the railway station. From 1 January to mid September 1872, 20 260 crates of Sulín mineral water were transported to Prešov. Four guilders and fifty kreuzer was paid for each box. During that period the owners of the spring – the sons of Baroness Kornélia Paločaj – received 91 170 guilders. Once all costs had been deducted, their net profit was 50 000 guilders. The spring in Sulín was therefore a good source of income for the Paločaj family. In the 19th century, 500 000 bottles of this mineral water were filled annually.
Before the Second World War, the Sulín mineral spring was owned by Gejza Alapi Salamón. Despite inadequate road access and the wide choice of other mineral waters, the operation was profitable.
The spring is still in use today and the natural mineral water is bottled in its purest form, with no preservatives or added substances. Further testimony to the quality of the mineral water are the inclusion of the name ‘Sulinka’ in the register of designations of origin and geographical indications for products, which is kept by the Slovak Industrial Property Office, and the quality label awarded to it by the Slovak Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Reference to publication of the product specification


https://www.indprop.gov.sk/swift_data/source/pdf/specifikacie_op_oz/SULINKA.pdf



(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/2026/3734/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)