Germany had most fiercely opposed the Turkish application submitted under the EU’s ‘traditional speciality guaranteed’ (TSG) scheme in 2022.

If successful, it would have meant that any dish advertised as “doner” in the EU would have had to adhere to strict rules regarding its preparation and serving — covering everything from the types of meat and how they are marinated to the thickness of the cutlets.

The iconic German-style doner kebab, served in a pita bread and topped with the likes of garlic sauce, would not have qualified.

Despite months of talks aimed at reaching a compromise, the European Commission confirmed the Turkish application was withdrawn in late September, Euractiv reports.

The decision will be seen as a triumph for Germany, which argued that doner has become integral to its own culture since its introduction by Turkish migrants in the 1970s.