A dispute concerning the designation of “Döner” as a protected traditional specialty has concluded between Turkey and Germany. The disagreement, which arose from a formal application submitted to the European Union, has been resolved with the withdrawal of the original proposal.
The International Doner Association (Udofed), based in Istanbul, initially petitioned the EU to register “Döner” as a “guaranteed traditional specialty”. The proposed recipes outlined within that application differed significantly from those commonly used in Germany, suggesting stringent production standards dictated from Turkey and potentially impacting existing practices across the EU.
However, a spokesperson for the European Commission’s agriculture department confirmed that the registration application was withdrawn on September 23, 2025, effectively ending the registration process.
The outcome has been welcomed by German doner producers. Erdogan Koc, spokesperson for the German Doner Producers Association, expressed satisfaction that the decision preserves the diversity of doner production in Germany and allows for continued innovation.
The issue previously generated public discussion, including statements from political figures. Former Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir, of the Green Party, publicly voiced support for the German interpretation of the dish, asserting that the preparation and consumption of doner in Germany should remain a matter of individual choice, free from external prescriptions. The resolution of the dispute is expected to allow for continued development and variety in the German doner landscape.