C 201/4 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 27.6.98

Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin

(98/C 201/03)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of the abovementioned Regulation. Any objection to this application must be submitted via the competent authority in the Member State concerned within a time limit of six months from the date of this publication. The arguments for publication are set out below, in particular under 4.6, and are considered to justify the application within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

REGULATION (EEC) No 2081/92

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION: ARTICLE 5

PDO (x)ÚÚPGI (Ú)

National application No: —

1. Responsible department in the Member State:

Name: Institut national des appellations d’origine (National Institute for Designations of Origin) Address:Ù138, Champs-^lys~es — F-75008 Paris Tel: (33-1) 53Ø89Ø80Ø00 Fax: (33-1) 42Ø25Ø57Ø97

2. Applicant group:

2.1.ÙName: Vall~e des Baux Olive Tree Inter-Trade Association

2.2.ÙAddress:ÙMairie de Maussane-les-Alpilles — F-13520 Maussane-les-Alpilles

2.3.ÙComposition: producer/processor (x)ÚÚother (Ú)

3. Type of product: Class 1-6 — Fruits — Olives

4. Specification

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2)):

4.1. Name: Olives noires de la Vall~e des Baux de Provence.

4.2. Description: Olives noires de la Vall~e des Baux de Provence belong exclusively to the Grossane variety. They are short and fat, with a wide truncated base and have a plentiful and tasty flesh.

4.3. Geographical area: The production area for certified designation of origin olives noires de la Vall~e des Baux de Provence is situated in the following municipalities of the Bouches-du-Rhøne department: Arles, Aureille, les Baux de Provence, Eygalires, Eyguires, Fontvieille, Lamanon, Maussane-les-Alpilles, Mouries, Le Paradou, Saint- Martin de Crau, Orgon, Saint-Etienne du Grs, Saint-R~my de Provence, Senas and Tarascon. 27.6.98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 201/5

4.4. Proof of origin: The olive sector has always played a dominant role in the Vall~e des Baux de Provence. In 1786 Abb~ Couture pointed to the characteristic diversity of olive varieties in the valley. This diversity has made the valley one of the richest areas in terms of olive preparations. Olives noires de la Vall~e des Baux de Provence belong to Grossane, a variety found only in the Vall~e des Baux de Provence. Often referred to as Christmas olives because they reach the table-olive market late (in December), olives noires de la Vall~e des Baux de Provence have long constituted an additional source of income for farmers during the less active winter season.

4.5. Method of production: The olives must be grown in designated groves situated in the geographical area concerned and must belong to the Grossane variety. They must be graded and sorted prior to their preparation, and the only forms of presentation allowed are the following: pricked olives in fine salt (the freshly picked olives are pricked and sprinkled with fine salt) and olives in brine (the olives — pricked or otherwise — are immersed in brine with a density, after stabilisation, of 1Ø045 to 1Ø060. The olives are kept in the brine for up to three months).

4.6. Link: The Vall~e des Baux de Provence geographical area extends as far as the Canal des Alpilles to the north and the Canal de Craponne to the south. It has distinctive geological and climatic characteristics. This geographical environment, with its chalky soil, Mediterranean climate, the presence of ancient, well-established varieties in the region, cultivation methods born from experience and the work of the farmers make the Vall~e des Baux de Provence a highly suitable area for olive production.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name:ÙINAO, 138, Champs-^lys~es, F-75008 Paris; Name:ÙDGCCRF, 59, boulevard V. Auriol, F-75703 Paris Cedex 13.

4.8. Labelling: The labelling of olives qualifying for the olives noires de la Vall~e des Baux de Provence certified designation of origin must include the words ‘Olives noires de la Vall~e des Baux de Provence’ and ‘Appellation d’origine contrøl~e’ or ‘AOC’. If the labelling includes a reference to a holding or brand other than as part of the address, the designation must be repeated between ‘Appellation’ and ‘Contrøl~e’. The words must be included in the same visual range on the label. They must be printed in clear, legible and indelible characters that are sufficiently large to stand out from the back- ground on which they are printed and from the other written information or drawings.

4.9. National requirements: Decree of 27 August 1997.

EC No: G/FR/00052/97/10/23. Date of receipt of the full application: 23.10.1997.