Costa Rica's Queso Turrialba Moves Closer to EU Protected Designation of Origin Status

By IDEAS

Costa Rica has advanced a key step in securing formal European Union recognition for the Queso Turrialba designation of origin (DO), under the framework of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union. 

The corresponding notice was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on August 20, 2025, opening a two-month window during which any party could file objections to the recognition request. Upon conclusion of that period, no opposition was received. 

The absence of objections constitutes a substantive procedural milestone under EU geographical indication law, clearing the path toward formal registration.

The Queso Turrialba designation of origin was registered in Costa Rica in 2012, protecting a fresh cheese produced exclusively in the district of Santa Cruz and part of the district of Santa Teresita in the Turrialba region. Its production relies on methods developed over more than a century, combining traditional practices with incremental technological adaptations introduced over the years.

Made from cow’s milk, it is a soft, white cheese with a mild, slightly salty flavor and a semi-soft texture that can be sliced or crumbled. It is not aged, which gives it a fresh, clean taste and makes it a staple in everyday Costa Rican cuisine.

This cheese is highly versatile and commonly eaten fresh with bread or tortillas, or used in dishes like gallo pinto. It can also be fried or grilled because it holds its shape well when heated. With a long-standing tradition in the Turrialba region, it is considered one of Costa Rica’s most emblematic cheeses.

Geographical indications (GIs) and designations of origin are forms of intellectual property that link a product's identity, quality, or reputation to its specific geographic origin. The EU's framework for protecting these designations — established under Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs — is among the most developed in the world and is frequently referenced in bilateral trade agreements.

The request was filed under the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union, which entered into force for Costa Rica in October 2013. The AACUE includes provisions on intellectual property, among them mechanisms for the mutual recognition and protection of geographical indications and designations of origin from both parties.

The EU recognition of Queso Turrialba would provide protection against any form of imitation in a market whose consumers place significant value on the geographic traceability of food products.