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_202603733EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/3733


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/2026/3733)

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


‘Lipovská minerálna voda Salvator / Salvator’


EU No: PDO-SK-03401 – 13.1.2025
                  

1.   Names

‘Lipovská minerálna voda Salvator / Salvator’
2.   Geographical indication type

PDO ☒PGI ☐
3.   Country to which the 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

‘Lipovská minerálna voda Salvator / Salvator’ is a natural sparkling or semi-sparkling mineral water with high levels of mineralisation, calcium, magnesium, sodium and hydrogen carbonates. It is a salty, sulphurous, naturally carbonated spring water with a pronounced mineral flavour attributable to its high sodium and hydrogen-carbonate content, and has the following composition:







Cations




mg/l





Ca2+



469,00




Na+



242,00




Mg2+



173,00




K+



36,50




NH4
+



0,96





Anions




mg/l





SO4
2–



155,00




NO3
–



< 1,00




NO2
–



< 0,01




Cl–



106,00




HCO3
–



2 635,00 




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)

Mineral-water springs emerge in the geographical area concerned.
4.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

‘Lipovská minerálna voda Salvator / Salvator’ is pumped continuously into the production site through distribution pipes. It is treated to remove iron and sulphur compounds using authorised oxidation technology with ozone-enriched air. The water is then filtered, re-aerated with carbon dioxide and bottled.
4.5.   Specific rules concerning packaging, slicing, grating, etc. of the agricultural product the registered name refers to

‘Lipovská minerálna voda Salvator / Salvator’ 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 agricultural product the registered name refers to

—
5.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The area of natural mineral sources is located in the Prešov district in the cadastral territories of Lipovce, Šindliar and Lačnov, and in the district of Levoča in the cadastral territory of Vyšný Slavkov. In administrative terms it is part of the Prešov region in north-eastern Slovakia.
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 subsoil in the defined geographical area is rich in rocks such as sandstone, marlstone and claystone, which contain an abundance of minerals (calcium, sodium, magnesium and hydrogen carbonates). These rocks act as a filtration system that catches impurities while enriching the water with valuable minerals. Precipitation and underground currents help the water to infiltrate into deeper layers, passing through these rock structures and absorbing the minerals in the underground rock layers thanks to its slow flow rate.
The area is characterised by a temperate to fairly cold climate. The air is relatively humid during winter on account of snow and humidity from precipitation. During summer it varies between 60 % and 70 %. Average winter temperatures are around –10 °C, while summer temperatures can get up to 25 °C – although they stay lower at higher altitudes. Temperature conditions affect the speed of these geochemical processes.
The area has in the past been the site of volcanic activity, which has left behind underground deposits of carbon dioxide. The mineral water is therefore naturally aerated with carbon dioxide, which gives it a delicate effervescence and a specific taste. At the same time, the presence of carbon dioxide increases the solubility of minerals in the water, making it richer in minerals.
The mineral water is a water with carbon mineralisation, which is of meteoritic origin. The main mineralisation process involved in the formation of the mineral water’s chemical composition is carbonate dissolution, during which calcium, magnesium and hydrogen carbonates are released. The mineralisation processes are more intense deep underground, where carbon dioxide is released.
The area is characterised by increased air humidity, which favours the natural environment and supports the region’s rich flora and fauna. This has an impact on the quality and stability of the underground springs.

Specificity of the product

‘Lipovská minerálna voda Salvator / Salvator’ is a mineral water with total mineral levels exceeding 1 500 mg/l. It is rich in mineral salts and contains large amounts of calcium, magnesium, sodium and other minerals. It is naturally aerated with carbon dioxide, which gives it a delicate effervescence – unlike in the case of artificially added carbon dioxide.
Owing to its mineral composition and natural carbonation, ‘Lipovská minerálna voda Salvator / Salvator’ has a specific, delicate taste with no significant salinity but with a sulphurous aroma.

Causal link

The defined geographical area is rich in sedimentary rocks (in particular limestone and dolomite), which contain large amounts of calcium, sodium and magnesium. Climate conditions determine the flow and replenishment of groundwater, with precipitation contributing to the water supply and helping it to permeate deeper underground, where it absorbs minerals. The carbon dioxide in this area plays a key role in the process of enriching the water with minerals, which gives it a high mineral content.
Lipovce is located in an environment that is relatively untouched by human activity. This means that the springs in this area remain naturally clean. The area has a specific microclimate that supports the stability of the underground springs. Limited industrial activity and abundant forests help to keep the water unspoiled and rich in natural minerals, with no need for artificial additives.
The mineral water in Lipovce has long been well known. According to undocumented tradition, the water was used by monks who were said to be the owners or residents of a castle overlooking one of the peaks of the Branisko mountains. At the end of the first half of the 18th century, Matthias Bel first mentioned these springs in his manuscript describing the Šariš region.
In the first half of the 19th century, Lipovce became a major spa resort, drawing noble families from across the Prešov region. The spa therapies there included water-drinking treatments. Count Szakmáry christened these waters ‘Salvator’ [‘Saviour’] and began bottling the mineral water and marketing it as early as the beginning of the 19th century. ‘Lipovská minerálna voda Salvator / Salvator’ is one of the oldest bottled mineral waters in Slovakia. The importance of this spring is also underlined by the fact that it was granted designated protection zones by the Hungarian Government as early as 1880. The popularity of this exquisite mineral water has clearly increased and, thanks to many years of tradition and its optimal composition, is still popular and highly prized in Slovakia and on foreign markets.
Protection zones have been established throughout the natural mineral water’s defined geographical area, the purpose of which is to protect this area of mineral-water springs from any damage caused by economic, agricultural or other activities that may affect the water’s current condition, yield, exceptional chemical composition and pristine nature in order to preserve its qualitative and quantitative values and ensure that it continues to be used judiciously.
‘Lipovská minerálna voda Salvator / Salvator’ has also been protected under bilateral agreements: the Treaty of 19 January 1976 between the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the Swiss Confederation on the protection of indications of origin, designations of origin and other geographical indications, the Agreement of 18 May 1987 between the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the Government of the Portuguese Republic on the protection of indications of origin, designations of origin and other geographical and similar designations, and the Treaty of 20 January 1981 between the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the Republic of Austria on the protection of indications of origin, designations of origin and other designations of agricultural and industrial products referring to origin.
The name ‘Lipovská minerálna voda Salvator’ has been protected at national level since 22 December 1979.
Bottling of the mineral water has continued over the years right up to the present day, as demonstrated by references in the press (e.g. in Prešovske Noviny and the daily newspaper Smena), in the archives of Vychodoslovenské Žriedla [East Slovakia Springs], a national enterprise based in Prešov, and in presentations at various events and exhibitions.

Reference to publication of the product specification


https://www.indprop.gov.sk/swift_data/source/pdf/specifikacie_op_oz/Lipovska_mineralna_voda_Salvator_Salvator.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/2026/3733/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)