Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2006/C 148/05)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006. Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months from the date of this publication.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

Application for registration according to Article 5 and Article 17(2)

‘ŠTRAMBERSKÉ UŠI’

EC No: CZ/0378/18.10.2004

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

This summary has been drawn up for information only. For full details, interested parties are invited to consult the full version of the product specification obtainable from the national authorities indicated in section 1 or from the European Commission (1).

1.   Responsible department in the Member State:

2.   Group:

3.   Type of product:

Class 2.4 Bakery product

4.   Specification (summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1   Name: ‘Štramberské uši’

4.2   Description: A special bakery product made according to a historic recipe from fine-ground flour, granulated sugar, whole eggs, water, baking powder, spices (cinnamon, aniseed, cloves, and star anise) and honey or caramel. The dough is rolled or poured into a circular form (2 to 3mm thick, 9.5 to 12cm in diameter) and after baking is twisted into a cornet shape, which gives it the approximate appearance of a human ear. Taste and flavour is through the use of spices. It is unacceptable for the characteristic delicate flavour to be overcome by too much use of spices. It is not allowed to use any other chemical additives in the dough except of baking powder. Most frequently bags of 5 to 10 non-filled are sold or filled with various mixtures, either long-life or intended to be consumed immediately

4.3   Geographical area: This is the cadastral town of Štramberk and its immediate surroundings

4.4   Proof of origin: The traceability of each product is ensured. On every product the address, identification number and telephone number of the producer, the ingredients, the weight, the best before date, the product type and group are stated there.

In addition members of the Association use on the basis of licence agreements the registered trademarks, whose owner is the town of Štramberk — a member of the Association for the Protection of Producers of Štramberk Ears.

Control of specification is provided by locally relevant inspectorate of the State Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority

4.5   Method of production: The eggs are beaten with the sugar and then the flour, baking powder, water, spices and honey or caramel are gradually added. The dough is either poured onto a baking tray in a circular shape or is rolled out, cut into shape and placed on the tray. It is baked and twisted into a cornet shape while still hot.

When they are cool the Ears are fitted into each other and packed into transparent bags

4.6   Link: Legends about the origin of Štramberk Ears are linked to the Secret History of the Mongols, which was written 13 years after the death of the founder of the unified Mongol state — the great conqueror of the world, Genghis Khan. A detachment of Tatar troops surrounded Štramberk castle in 1241. Some of the citizens withdrew into the castle, while others sought cover on Kotouč Mountain. During the night before Ascension Day there was a great storm accompanied by torrential rain and a flash flood swept through the Tatar troops. Their camp was destroyed and those that survived hastily withdrew. However, at the site sacks of human ears that the Tatars had cut off their Christian prisoners were found. As thanks to God the residents made an annual pilgrimage on Ascension Day up Kotouč Mountain. As a reminder of those evil times Štramberk Ears are still baked in Štramberk today.

Štramberk Ears have been baked from time immemorial. In the past they were baked for the annual Ascension Day procession, while today they appear at festivals commemorating past events and at other occasions. The recipe has been passed down from generation to generation, and there is not a family in Štramberk that does not bake the Ears. This custom does not appear in any other district and there is no similar legend linked to any other district. In order to maintain the tradition and keep the original recipe, but also to maintain the top quality of the product, since 1991 the town of Štramberk has been the owner of the national trademark combined with the text ‘Štramberk Ears’ and the producers of the Ears from Štramberk thus mark their products. In 2000 the recipe was registered as a protected denomination of origin under No. 175, which also delineated the territory in which Štramberk Ears may be baked

4.7   Inspection body:

4.8   Labelling: The product is packed in transparent polypropylene bags. On the packaging inside a coloured field the name Štramberk Ears is always printed (national text trademark No. 227 965). Under the name there is a concise text about the origin of Štramberk Ears. Under this there is the address, identification number and telephone number of the producer, the ingredients, the weight, the best before date, the product type and group, all pursuant to Ministry of Agriculture Decree No. 324/1997 Coll. on Methods of Labelling Foodstuffs (…) and No. 333/1997 Coll. on Foodstuffs (…).

In the lower left corner of the packaging outside the coloured field is the national combined trademark No. 179 248 Štramberk Ears. The owner of both the trademarks is one member of the Association for the Protection of Producers of Štramberk Ears — the town of Štramberk. The other members of the Association use these trademarks on the basis of licence agreements registered in the trademark registry at the Industrial Property Office in Prague. Alongside the combined trademark No. 179 248 there is also the following text: This product is protected by trademarks No. 179 248 and 227 965 and Protected Denomination of Origin No. 175.

The size and type of the text, and the colour and overall final appearance of the markings are chosen by each producer in accordance with the above legal regulations.

4.9   National requirements: –

(1)  European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, Agricultural Product Quality Policy, B-1049 Brussels.