On 8 th of November, 2017, in Prizren, farmers coming from the Sharri region have established the “Association of the Sharri Cheese Producers”.

The Kosovo Institute of Intellectual Property in cooperation with the French Embassy in Prishtina organized the workshop with the Sharri Cheese producers. The main aim of the workshop was to inform Sharri Cheese Producers from the Sharri Region on the roadmap towards establishing the Association of the Sharri Cheese Producers.

The Association of the Sharri Cheese producers shall be established as a non for profit association under the law on freedom of associations in Kosovo, under the Ministry of Public Administration.

Mr. Veli Hoti, the Director of the Kosovo Institute of Intellectual Property chaired the meeting and made a presentation on the upcoming activities which shall be organized, supported by the French Embassy. Mr. Hoti and Mr. Plorat Pervizaj, the Portfolio Manager of KsIIP, informed the participants on the roadmap towards establishing the Association, as well as the legal and financial obligations of the NGO.

Farmers present welcomed the initiative and thanked the French Embassy, especially the French Ambassador, Honorable Didier Chabert, for the financial support and KsIIP for the facilitating and organizing events.

It was confirmed by all participants that a lot of issues, such as: the book of requirements, product specifications, certification of the territory, design of the logo, etc, remain for the follow up and work on the upcoming events.

Having the charter of the Association of the Sharri Cheese producers being approved, the farmers present elected the Members of the Board of Directors of the Association of the Sharri Cheese Producers.

Board members proposed are as follow:
1. Berat Muja
2. Veli Halimi
3. Faton Xhabale
4. Beqir Dauti
5. Avdi Zekaj
6. Idriz Susaj
7. Krist Bogaj

The meeting was followed up by a lunch, thus, to celebrate the establishment of the Association and the election of the Board Members.

Members of the Kosovo Institute of Intellectual Property Institute took part as researchers and interpreters at a Study Visit on Geographical Indications in Kosovo organized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, Agency for Food and Veterinary, AgroParisTech, BioDivBalkan Project, and the French Embassy.

Our members, Dea Ismajli, Rita Paçarada, Erlinda Musliji and Dashnor Shala,  were led by the Director of the Institute Mr Veli Hoti and contributed to the French research group which was consisted of French Professors and Students.

The entire team worked on the Sharri Cheeser and other milk productions in order to draft the product specifications of Sharri Cheeser as a Designation of Origin in Kosovo.

This study visit was organized from 29th of February until 12th of March 2016.