Bulgaria patents its rose oil

Bulgarian rose oil is about to be patented by the European Union. Our country is now on the final stretch before sending the request for the protection, the Ministry of Agriculture informed on its webpage.

Objections to the application of the patent, prepared by the Bulgarian Rose Oil Association, may be submitted by September 14.

If there are no objections, the document will be submitted to Brussels and will await up to one year to get the European protection.

If approved, only the substances produced in Bulgaria from the rose-picking to the distillation of the oil can be called "Bulgarian rose oil". This will ensure quality and that no products manufactured in Turkey and China could be marketed under this name, producers say.

Bulgarian rose oil is made from the flower of the Rosa damascena and is not mixed with twigs, leaves or buds, the documents addressed to Brussels say. It should not contain mechanical impurities such as mud or stones. Processing of the flower should be done within 10-15 hours after harvesting by water distillation. The water for this purpose must be tested for quality by a regional health inspection. The flower has to be mixed with water in a ratio of 1:4 to 1:5, in order to obtain the maximum quality of rose oil.

Source: