9.6.2001EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 166/29 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 (2001/C 166/08) 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 points 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: EL 02/00-5 1. Responsible department in Member State Name: Õðïıæªåßïı ˆåøæªßÆò. ˜/íóç —`— ˜åíäæ/Œçò. ÔìÞìÆ ˚çðåıôØŒþí (Ministry for Agriculture, Direc- torate for Production and Exploitation of Orchard and Horticultural Crops) Address: `÷Ææíþí 2 (Akharnon 2), GR-101 76 `ŁÞíÆ (Athens) Tel. (30-1) 2124212 Fax (30-1) 5233866. 2. Applicant group 2.1. Name: ‚íøóç `ªæïôØŒþí ÓıíåôÆØæØóìþí (¯.`.Ó.) ˝ïìïý ˜æÜìÆò (Union of Agricultural Cooper- atives of the Prefecture of Drama) 2.2. Address: ˆæÆíØŒïý 9, GR-661 00 ˜æÜìÆ (Granikou 9, GR-661 00 Drama) Tel.: (30-521) 25538, (30-521) 22233 Fax: (30-521) 25427 2.3. Composition: Producer with 10 000 members, of whom 1 500 are potato growers in the Kato Nevrokopi basin. Some of the latter also pack and market potatoes. 3. Type of product: Potatoes for fresh consumption (1.6) 4. Specification: (Summary of requirements under Article 4(2)) 4.1. Name: —ÆôÜôÆ ˚Üôø ˝åıæïŒïðßïı (Patata Kato Nevrokopiou). 4.2. Description: Kato Nevrokopi potatoes are the edible tuber of the plant Solanum tuberosum and are consumed by man without prior processing. They can be industrially processed into various products such as dried potato, crisps, purØes etc. C 166/30EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9.6.2001 4.3. Geographical area: This comprises the farmed areas of the municipalities of Kato Nevrokopi, Kato Vrontos, Perithori, Dasoto, Lefkogia, Khrisokefalos, Okhiro, Vathitopos and Katafitos, amounting to 8 500 ha. Potatoes are grown every year on 2 000 to 2 500 ha. The area is a plateau of altitude 550-600 m, entirely surrounded by the Orvilos, Vrontous and Falakro mountain ranges. 4.4. Proof of origin 4.4.1. Historical background: Potatoes were first grown in the Kato Nevrokopi basin in the mid-1920s. By the beginning of the 1930s, 400 ha of unirrigated potatoes were being grown mainly for the Prefectures of Drama and Kavala. Cultivation was by hand with the help of animals and yields were low, around 5 tonnes/ha. In the mid-1960s, following anti-flood embankment of the Nevrokopi and Vathitopos torrents and introduction of new varieties, potato production expanded while that of tobacco, until then the main crop in the area, was gradually abandoned. Yields reached 10 tonnes/ha. In the 1970s irrigation of the potato crop began and by the end of the decade conversion to this was complete. At the same time trialling commenced (and continues) of hundreds of the new varieties. The crop area is now roughly 2 500 ha. Improved modern techniques are used at all production and handling stages and with the cooperation and assistance of agronomists of the Prefectural Administration, cooperative organisation and research estab- lishments, improvement is continuous. 4.4.2. Proof that the product comes form the specified area: Analyses effected at intervals by private individuals, agencies, industrialists, etc. show that Kato Nevrokopi potatoes as a rule display superior quality characteristics, notably in dry matter content (the chief analytical indicator for quality determination), which with a range of 18,4 % to 25,9 % is several points higher than the average for other areas. There are also high levels of carbohydrates and sugars by comparison with potatoes from other areas. As far as guaranteeing the production process for the PGI potatoes at each stage is concerned, the Agriculture Ministry has enacted and applies to PDO and PGI products national provisions guaranteeing security of the production process (from harvesting to packaging), thus excluding the possibility of admixture of potatoes from other areas. The decisions of the Minister for Agriculture in question are: 403510/25.8.94, 421194/15.11.94, 403512/25.8.94, 444278/22.12.93 and 403513/25.8.94. 4.5. Method of production Potato production technique Preparation. The cultivation period is in the summer only. Work begins in the previous year with planning, procurement of the agricultural supplies (chiefly potato seed) and preparation of the ground. The previous crop is usually a winter cereal but often maize, beans, etc. If no crop rotation was practised, obviously the previous crop was summer potatoes. If the previous crop was a cereal, summer or autumn ploughing is carried out to retain moisture from the winter rains, keep weeds and wireworm populations down and maintain and improve soil texture. Potato seeds. The main varieties grown are Spunta, Agria and Liseta. All are irrigated. Much of the seed used is self-produced and kept in the stores that all growers have. During the first 10 days of March, the seed, both self-produced and imported certified, is put into frames for pre-germination. 9.6.2001EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 166/31 Planting begins in the first 10 days of April (summer potatoes) and lasts for 20 to 30 days depending on weather conditions. Sometimes the seed potatoes are cut one or two days before planting, sometimes not. Planting is in lines on ridges and is done using semi-automatic machines mounted on hydraulic tractors that are fed by two workers sitting on the machine. Placing is 75 cm between rows and 30-50 cm on the row. The planting depth is 5-15 cm. Planting density is therefore 1,5 to 3 tonnes/ha. Cultivation. The normal spring work is one ploughing and one pass with a rotary cultivator, when the ground is fed. Often however on account of rain and pressure of time for early planting more than one ploughing or even the use of another cultivator is required. The aim is always to get a fine-textured soil. Fertilisation, weedkilling. Before the final rotary cultivator pass, fertiliser is applied and at the same time the nematocide and possibly some weedkiller is incorporated. Fertiliser and pesticide application is in line with the requirements of each field, advice being given by the agronomists of the Agricultural Development Directorate and the cooperative organisations. The usual fertiliser is 20 units nitrogen, 15 units phosphorus and 25 units potassium. Shortly before germination a suitable weedkiller is sprayed (5 to 20 May). Irrigation. Spray irrigation begins, depending on how much rain has fallen, when the plants reach 15-20 cm in height. As mid-July passes temperature and aridity gradually increase and during this period spraying is more frequent (about once a week) and more water is used each time. Fighting pests and diseases. During the same period two or more sprayings are made, mainly against downy mildew and Colorado beetle and also against any other pests or diseases that have appeared. Defoliation. At the end of July the tubers are normally mature. Defoliation is often effected, using diquat, to prevent any downy mildew problems for the tubers in the ground and to fight weeds, which have already begun to appear. If defoliation is not effected the foliage has wilted by the end of August. Harvesting. By the beginning of September the tuber skins have fully formed and harvesting can proceed without problem. Frequently, if the trade demands, cropping begins, with direct supply from the field to the market. Normally however, it begins a little later in the middle of September, when temperatures have fallen somewhat in the area (usually after rain). The soil loosens with the rain and the tubers can easily be harvested without damage. If it does not rain in the first 10 days of September a light spraying is made and immediately followed by harvesting. The growers ensure that it is completed by the end of October, since temperatures subsequently fall greatly, which in combination with the autumn rain makes further cropping very difficult or impossible. Conservation. Some 20-40 % of production goes directly for consumption through the trade and the rest is kept in the growers’ stores in excellent condition without artificial cooling or even use of anti-germination preparations and is gradually disposed of for consumption through the winter and up to the end of April. 4.6. Link: Kato Nevorkopi potatoes are known throughout Greece and renowned for their flavour and quality. Their superior quality is due in the first place to the area’s soil and climate and in the second to the long experience of the growers and the technical support of the agronomists. The potato, given its botanical origin on the Andean plateaux, requires high sunlight, a temperature that is not high (optimum 30 °C) during the day and cool at night (14-18 °C) and light soils. The weather and soil conditions prevailing on the Kato Nevropkopi plateau meet these needs almost totally. C 166/32EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9.6.2001 The Kato Nevrokopi area is a temperate zone continental plateau 600 metres above sea level and 60 km from the sea and is surrounded by forested mountain ranges. This mean that the winter is long and severe, while summer is cooler than in lowland areas with day temperatures of 28-32 °C and night of 12-16 °C.