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7.9.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 295/5 V (Announcements) OTHER ACTS EUROPEAN COMMISSION Publication of an application for approval of amendments, which are not minor, to a product specification pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (2020/C 295/05) This publication confers the right to oppose the amendment application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within three months from the date of this publication. APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF NON-MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE PRODUCT SPECIFICATION FOR A PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN OR PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION Application for approval of amendments in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 ‘MUNSTER’ / ‘MUNSTER-GÉROMÉ’ EU No: PDO-FR-0125-AM03 – 7.8.2019 PDO (X) PGI ( ) 1. Applicant group and legitimate interest Name: Syndicat Interprofessionnel du Fromage Munster ou Munster-Géromé [Interprofessional Union for Munster or Munster-Géromé Cheese] Address: 1, place de la Gare – BP 40007 – 68 001 Colmar Cedex, France Tel. +33 389202089 / Fax +33 389202120 E-mail: [email protected] Composition: The group is made up of milk producers, farmer producers, processors and maturers of ‘Munster’ or ‘Munster-Géromé’. It therefore has a legitimate right to propose the amendments. 2. Member State or Third Country France 3. Heading in the product specification affected by the amendment(s) Name of product Description of product Geographical area Proof of origin (1) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1. C 295/6 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 7.9.2020 Method of production Link Labelling Contact details of the inspection body and the applicant group, national requirements. 4. Type of amendment(s) Amendments to the product specification of a registered PDO or PGI not to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 Amendments to the product specification of a registered PDO or PGI for which a Single Document (or equivalent) has not been published and which cannot be qualified as minor within the meaning of the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 5. Amendment(s) 5.1. Name of product The words ‘Petit Munster’ and ‘Petit Munster-Géromé’ have been deleted. The designation covers different formats of cheese that have the same characteristics and the ‘small’ category is no longer deemed to be relevant. 5.2. Description of product The sentence: ‘Munster is a soft cheese […]’ has been replaced by the sentence: ‘“Munster” or “Munster-Géromé” is a soft washed rind cheese made from cow’s milk.’ A more precise description of the product’s appearance has been provided, indicating that ‘Munster’ or ‘Munster- Géromé’ has a ‘washed rind’ linked to the development of Brevibacterium linens, which is typical in ‘washed rind’ cheeses. This sentence has also been added in the single document to replace the sentence ‘Soft cow's milk cheese with [...] washed crust’ from the summary. The following sentences have been added: ‘Its fat content must be at least 20 grams per 100 grams of cheese. Its dry matter content must be at least 44 grams per 100 grams of cheese.’ The fat content is expressed in grams per 100 grams of cheese. Similarly, the dry matter content is expressed in grams of dry matter per 100 g of cheese. This sentence has also been added to the single document to replace the words ‘minimum fat content 45 %’ in the summary. The paragraph: ‘cylindrical in form, 13 to 19 centimetres in diameter, from 2,4 to 8 centimetres thick and weighing a minimum of 450 grams. There is also a “Petit-Munster” or “Petit-Munster-Géromé” designation of origin for smaller format cheeses which are 7 to 12 centimetres in diameter, 2 to 6 centimetres thick and weighing at least 120 grams.’ is replaced by the following paragraph: ‘The cheese comes in the form of a thick or flat cylinder in three format categories: Inner diameter of the cheese Format category Maximum cheese thickness Cheese weight mould 7,5 cm to 8 cm 4 cm 120 g to 170 g 1: from 120 to 340 g 10 cm to 11 cm 4 cm 200 g to 280 g 11 to 12 cm 4 cm 280 to 340 g 14 cm to 16 cm 4 cm 450 g to 600 g 2: 450 to 1 000 g 16,5 cm to 19 cm 4 cm 700 g to 1 000 g 3: from 1 000 to 1 750 g 16,5 cm to 19 cm 7 cm 1 000 g to 1 750 g’ 7.9.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 295/7 The product is described as a ‘thick or flat cylinder’ in reference to the two thicknesses available, replacing the former wording ‘cylindrical in form’, which was vague. With a view to making the checks more objective, the diameter of cheese will now be understood to mean the inner dimensions of the cheese mould. The checks on the diameter of the cheeses were sometimes inaccurate due to the cheese being slightly misshapen. For the same reason, a maximum limit will be provided for the cheese thickness. Cheeses can sink if left to mature for a long time, in which case the measurement would no longer make sense. The weight will also be expressed as a range and not just as a minimum value. This paragraph has also been added to the single document, replacing the words ‘cylindrical in form, 13 to 19 centimetres in diameter, from 2,4 to 8 centimetres thick and weighing a minimum of 450 grams; the smaller version is 7 to 12 centimetres in diameter and weighs 120 grams.’ The following paragraph has been added: ‘The rind is thin and slightly smeared, ranging in colour from ivory orange to reddish orange, essentially due to the red cultures (i.e. Brevibacterium linens). The paste is ivory to pale beige in colour and can include a limited number of holes. By the end of the minimum maturing period, a core will have formed in the paste. How mature this core is will depend on the maturity and thickness of the cheese. The aroma is pungent and smells slightly of ammonia. In the mouth, the paste is slightly salty, with a fine, soft and melty texture. The taste is sweet with lactic, plant-based (hay, ripe fruit, nuts), woody and even slightly yeasty tones. The paste of “Munster” or “Munster-Géromé” can contain caraway seeds (Carum carvi L.). If so, it will have the same characteristics as “Munster” or “Munster-Géromé” with the additional caraway taste.’ These product descriptors (appearance of the rind and paste, microbiological criteria, organoleptic criteria) have been added to provide a more accurate description. Reference has also been made to the fact that the paste of ‘Munster’ or ‘Munster-Géromé’ can contain caraway seeds. This practice based on local customs aims to enhance the aroma of the paste. These paragraphs have also been added to the single document to replace the words ‘orange-coloured’ describing the rind in the summary. 5.3. Geographical area Under the heading on the ‘geographical area’: The list of municipalities in the geographical area is added in order to facilitate checks. This list covers all the municipalities in the geographical area where all stages of production (milk production, cheese-making and maturing) may be carried out. The references to the date of the official geographical code in force and to the plans submitted to the local authorities have been added to ensure that the list is accurate and unambiguous. This list has also been added to point 4 of the single document. 5.4. Proof of origin The declaration requirements applying to producers have been added. These amendments are linked to changes in national rules and legislation. They include: — identification of the producers for authorisation recognising their ability to meet the requirements of the specification, — the necessary declarations for understanding and monitoring production (quantities made, bulk sales to maturers, bulk purchases by maturers, quantities deemed to be substandard, quantities placed on the market), — obligations as regards record-keeping and documents to enable traceability, for milk producers, collectors, cheese- makers and maturers, — Finally, a paragraph has been added on the check to be carried out on the characteristics of products to be marketed as a designation of origin. ‘“Munster” or “Munster-Géromé” cheeses are the object of random sampling. The samples undergo visual, tactile, organoleptic and analytical tests. Packaged cheeses are selected for organoleptic and analytical tests at the operator’s premises as soon as they complete the minimum maturing period.’ C 295/8 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 7.9.2020 5.5. Method of production Milk production Paragraphs on livestock and feed have been added to the specification to ensure that the traditional practices are recorded. The following paragraph has been added: ‘Definitions: — Dairy cows, lactating or dry, are female bovine animals of dairy breeds that have calved at least once. — Heifers are animals between the ages of weaning and first calving. — The dairy herd in this specification is understood to mean all of the dairy cows and dairy heifers on the holding. — Basic ration: all fodder intended to cover the animals’ needs, not including feed-concentrates. — Total ration: All fodder included in the basic ration, plus feed-concentrates.’ These definitions make the following provisions clearer and ensure that checks are objective.