C 319/8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 6.11.1999
Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin
(1999/C 319/06) 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 through 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: IG/11/95
1. Responsible department in the Member State: Name: Ministère de l'agriculture et de la pêche Direction des politiques économique et inter- nationale Address: 175, rue de Vaugirard F-75015 Paris Tel: (33-1) 49 55 58 82 Fax: (33-1) 49 55 59 48
2. Applicant group: 2.1. Name: Gie. Ovins du Limousin 2.2. Address: 32, avenue du Général-Leclerc F-87065 Limoges Cedex 2.3. Composition: producers and processors (x) other ( )
3. Type of product: Meat and edible meat offals on the list provided for in Article 38 of the Treaty
4. Specification: (summary of requirements under Article 4(2)) 4.1. Name: Agneau du Limousin 4.2. Description: Fresh lamb carcasses, bone-in or boneless cuts or consumer units 4.3. Geographical area: Agneau du Limousin is born, reared and slaughtered in the Limousin region which is made up of the departments of Corrèze, Creuse and Haute-Vienne In order to take account of the traditional areas from which the slaughterers collect the lambs and in which they have long provided technical back-up assistance for sheepfarmers, the area of birth and rearing is extended beyond the administrative limits to include the following bordering areas: department of Vienne: cantons of L'Isle-Jourdain, Montmorillon, La Trimouille, Saint-Savin. department of Indre: districts of Chateauroux, Le Blanc, La Chatre. department of Cher: cantons of Lignières, Le Chatelet, Chateaumeillant, Chateauneuf-sur-Cher, Saint-Amand-Montrond, Saulzais-le-Potier, Dun-sur-Auron, Charenton-du-Cher. department of Allier: cantons of Huriel, Domérat, Marcillat-en-Combraille, Cérilly, Hérisson, Montluçon. department of Puy-de-Dôme: cantons of Pionsat, Saint-Gervais-d'Auvergne, Pontaumur, Herment, Bourg-Lastic, Tauves. department of Cantal: cantons of Champs-sur-Tarentaine, Saignes, Mauriac, Pleaux, Laroquebrou. department of Lot: cantons of Sousceyrac, Bretenoux, Vayrac, Martel, Souillac. 6.11.1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 319/9
department of Dordogne: cantons of Salignac-Eyvigues, Terrasson-la-Villedieu, Hautefort, Excideuil, Lanouaille, Jumilhac-le-Grand, Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière, Nontron, Bussière-Badil departement of Charente: cantons of Montembeuf, Chabanais, Confolens Sud. Within these limits, from the point of view of sheepfarming, this area possesses special common features: grass feeding (grazing or preserved hay) with varying quantities of feed supplements for the lambs according to the season and weather conditions. These features distinguish the region from mountain areas (prolonged stay in sheep pens) and from regions on the Atlantic plain (predominantly grass feeding). 4.4. Proof of origin: The lambs are born, reared and slaughtered in the geographical area. Each one is allocated a unique identifying number up to the time of slaughter. Where they are marketed as carcasses this number remains with them until they reach the butcher's shop. If further processing takes places (into cuts or consumer units), a batch number is assigned at the time of cutting and sale. 4.5. Method of production: The specification lays down: the production requirements: the lambs must be born and reared in the geographical area and fed on their mother's milk up to the time of weaning at not less than 60 days old, and then on grass and concentrates if necessary. Growth promoters must not be administered and care must be taken during transportation; the processing requirements: precautions must be taken during slaughter; carcasses must be sorted according to conformation, fat cover, colour and appearance of the fat. 4.6. Link: Sheepfarming has been carried on traditionally in this geographical area on account of the extensive grassland and rough grazing available which work to the advantage of this type of farming. The earliest written accounts of the repute of sheepfarming date from the seventeenth century. With encouragement from the intendants of Limousin, especially Turgot, the sheep popu- lation increased in quality and numbers up to the late nineteenth century: the rough grazing and woodlands were cleared to make meadowland. The quality and price of sheepmeat rose as a result. Sheep numbers subsequently declined up to the second world war, then rose again, retaining outdoor management systems. Sheepfarming in the area now enjoys a high reputation: Limousin lambs that comply with the specification fetch around FRF 4 per kilo carcass weight more than those produced elsewhere. Lambs have been slaughtered and their carcasses exported from the Limousin region for a very long time. Slaughterhouses, frequently specialising in lamb, have acquired a degree of know-how that is widely recognised in professional circles. By providing technical advice they are able to guide producers towards the type of lamb that is traditional in Limousin, from which they are able to ensure the best returns through their methods of slaughter and choice of marketing channels. According to a study made by Sopexa in January 1988 covering 152 distributors in France, the name Agneau du Limousin was recognised spontaneously by 12 % of heads of supermarket chains and medium-sized retail businesses and, with some assistance, by 68 %, and by 59 % of small-scale butchers. A survey of 435 people conducted in Limoges and the surrounding area showed that 45 % of those questioned were familiar with Agneau du Limousin. Among those who had sampled it, the survey showed that 93 % found it very good (50 %) or good (43 %). 4.7. Inspection body: SGS-ICS, 191, avenue Aristide Briand, F-94237 Cachan Cedex. Certification body complying with standard EN 45-011. 4.8. Labelling: The labelling on the lamb must bear the name and address of the certifying body (see 4.7). The indication of geographical origin is: Agneau du Limousin. 4.9. National requirements: Not applicable
EC-No: G/FR/00064/98.02.27. Date of receipt of the full application: 20 September 1999.