Giresun Quality Hazelnuts Under the Assurance of Fiskobirlik

Training and consultation meetings were held by the Hazelnut Agricultural Sales Cooperatives Union (FISKOBIRLIK) regarding the Giresun Tombul Hazelnut, Giresun Sivri Hazelnut and Giresun Kalinkara Hazelnut, which have been placed under protection through geographical indication registration with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.

At the meeting, attended by FISKOBIRLIK Chairman of the Board Lütfi BAYRAKTAR, Board Members and Huriye Özener, Chairwoman of the Board of the Traditional Products and Geographical Indications Association (GÜCISDER), the work carried out for the Giresun Tombul Hazelnut in particular, as well as the Giresun Sivri Hazelnut and Giresun Kalinkara Hazelnut (Giresun Karasi), was evaluated, along with assessments of the work carried out on value-added products made from hazelnuts. At the meeting, a road map was also drawn up for the inspection processes of these valuable products protected by geographical indication registration and for the work to be carried out in the future.

In addition, with the participation of the staff of the Cooperatives affiliated with FISKOBIRLIK, many topics relating to the geographical indication were addressed, such as the traceability and sustainability of the Geographically Indicated Giresun Quality Hazelnuts registered by FISKOBIRLIK, the functioning of the inspection process, and the use of holograms.

Making a statement following the meetings, FISKOBIRLIK Chairman of the Board Lütfi Bayraktar stated that Giresun Quality Hazelnuts have been placed under protection by FISKOBIRLIK. In his statement, Bayraktar said, ‘'There is nothing like the Giresun hazelnut anywhere in the world in every sense. As FISKOBIRLIK, we have placed the Giresun Quality Tombul, Sivri and Kara hazelnuts under protection by obtaining Geographical Indication Registration certificates as a result of our intensive and dedicated work. We are aware of the responsibility that falls on us at this point, and we always step up to the task. In the period ahead, we will continue to make every effort and to be the assurance of Giresun Quality Hazelnuts.''

Stating that the most important advantage of Geographical Indication registration is to prevent other products from being sold under the name of Giresun hazelnuts, FISKOBIRLIK Chairman of the Board Lütfi Bayraktar said, ‘'Our first priority is to protect the quality and brand value of the Giresun hazelnut. For this reason, companies wishing to sell ‘Giresun Quality Hazelnuts' on the market must first obtain a registration certificate from FISKOBIRLIK confirming that they may sell under this brand name. We are continuing our inspection activities without interruption against companies that sell under the name 'Giresun Quality Hazelnut' without a certificate. In this regard, serious penalties also apply to companies that sell without a Geographical Indication Registration Certificate. The only document to be obtained for the marketing of Giresun hazelnuts is the ‘Certificate of Right to Use the Geographically Indicated Product Name', and this certificate is issued solely by FISKOBIRLIK. Companies' applications are evaluated by the inspection authority, in which our stakeholders also take part, and a response is then given on behalf of FISKOBIRLIK. Our most important aim here is to protect the brand value of the Giresun hazelnut in domestic and international markets. Our growers and our companies have also gradually begun to reap the fruits of this work. In the years ahead, God willing, we will raise the brand value of Giresun Quality Hazelnuts to even better levels.''

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