21.8.1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 238/21

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

(1999/C 238/06) 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.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2081/92

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION: ARTICLE 5

PDO ( ) PGI (x)

National application No: IG/15/96

1. Responsible departement in the Member State:

Name: Ministère de l'agriculture et de la pêche — Direction générale de l'alimentation

Address: 251, rue de Vaugirard, F-75732 Paris Cedex 15

Tel.: (33 1) 49 55 58 82

Fax: (33 1) 49 55 59 48

2. Applicant group:

2.1. Name: Association interprofessionnelle du haricot tarbais

2.2. Address: Pépinière d'entreprises, Z.A. Bastillac-Sud, F-65000

2.3. Composition: producer/processor (x) other ( )

3. Type of product: Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers (Chapter VII of Annex II to the Treaty of Rome) Preparations of vegetables, fruit or other parts of plants (Chapter XX of Annex II to the Treaty of Rome).

4. Specification:

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1. Name: Haricot Tarbais (fresh — dried — processed)

4.2. Description:

The Haricot Tarbais bean may be sold:

— fresh, presented in pods containing 3 to 6 seeds and 15 to 20 cm in length, of a greeny-yellow colour which may become tinged with purple when ripe,

— dried, as matt white kidney-shaped or similarly shaped seeds, with a blunt hilum. These are 2 cm in size (± 0,5 cm) with between 12 % and 17 % moisture content,

— processed, either canned or quick-frozen, with at least 90 % beans in the processed product. C 238/22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21.8.1999

4.3. Geographical area:

List of cantons in this area: Hautes-Pyrénées (65)

— Argelès- — La -de-Neste — Saint-Laurent-de-Neste — Aureilban — Laloubère — Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre — Bagnères-de-Bigorre — Larmemezan — Séméac — Bordères-s/Échez — — Tarbes — — — Tournay — Castelnau-Magnoac — Mauléon-Barousse — Trie-sur-Baise — Castelnau-Rivière-Basse — — — Galan — Rabastens — Vic-Bigorre

Gers (32) — Marciac — Miélan — Plaisance — Masseube — Mirande — Riscle

Haute-Garonne (31) — Boulogne-sur-Gesse — Montréjeau

Pyrénées Atlantiques (64) — Lembeye — Nay — Pontacq — Montaner

4.4. Proof of origin: Products can be traced by batch: each batch corresponds to the product harvested by a producer on a particular plot. From harvest to processing and packing, each batch is identified and managed separately.

4.5. Methos of production: — beans are grown in the defined geographical area,

— seed from selected strains and deposited for registering in the official catalogue of species and varieties, — plants must be staked, either naturally (using maize) or artifically (with nets),

— beans are harvested entirely by hand, over a number of stages, — beans are dried in the pods before threshing, if necessary followed by additional drying of the seeds.

4.6. Link: The Haricot Tarbais has lush foliage, a staggered flowering period and a long growth cycle requiring specific soil and climatic conditions and a tailor-made method of cultivation:

— healthy, permeable soil, not too heavy, with good water retention and excess clay or organic matter, — harmonious balanced climate with mild temperatures in a limited range, a sufficient but not excessive amount of rainfall spread evenly over the year. After-season with little rain and a good amount of sunshine,

— tailor-made cultivation method with plants staked (net or maize) and thinned to give sufficient exposure to the sun and air. 21.8.1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 238/23

The geographical area has the specific plant and soil characteristics requiered.

The Haricot Tarbais product is thus unique. It is clearly distinguished from other beans in terms of its organoleptic qualities and its culinarly properties.

This traditional product, cultivated since the 16th century, is considered one of the south-west's culinary gems and enjoys national and even international renown.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name: QUALISUD

Address: BP 7, F-31321 Castanet-Tolosan

4.8. Labelling: Sales description: Haricot Tarbais. Labelled in accordance with national provisions.

4.9. National requirements: —

EC-No: G/FR/00080/99.02.05.

Date of receipt of the full application: 2 June 1999.