18.2.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 48/28

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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

2012/C 48/11

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months from the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘’(PINGGU DA TAO)

EC No: CN-PDO-0005-0628-16.07.2007

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Name:

‘’ (Pinggu Da Tao)

2.   Member State or Third Country:

China

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff:

3.1.   Type of product:

Class 1.6.

Fruit, vegetables and cereals fresh or processed

3.2.   Description of product to which the name in (1) applies:

This peach is known as an edible juicy fruit that belongs to a species of Prunus, the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It is grown in the shallow hills and rolling countryside of the Yanshan Mountains in the Pinggu District of Beijing, which are rich in sunlight and heat, and spread with sandy or loamy soils. The unique natural conditions give rise to the special qualities of ‘Pinggu Da Tao’, characterised by its ‘big fruit size, bright colour, plenty of juice, rich flavour, moderate saccharinity and a good acid and sweet balance’. ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ has 10 cultivated varieties, as shown in the following table. Qingfeng is the only medium-size variety in the table; a single Qingfeng fruit weighs ≥ 150 g; a single fruit of the other nine large-size varieties weighs ≥ 275 g.

The physico-chemical indexes of the 10 different varieties of ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ are set out below:

Variety	Index
	Soluble solids (20 °C), (%)	Total acid (measured by malic acid), (%)
Dajiubao	≥ 12,00	≤ 0,20
Qingfeng (Peking No 26)	≥ 11,50	≤ 0,42
Jingyan (Peking No 24)	≥ 12,00	≤ 0,20
Yanhong (Green-making No 9)	≥ 12,50	≤ 0,18
August Crispy (Peking No 33)	≥ 11,00	≤ 0,20
Yanfeng No 1	≥ 12,00	≤ 0,20
Luwangxian	≥ 11,50	≤ 0,28
Huayu	≥ 12,00	≤ 0,20
Big Red Peach	≥ 12,00	≤ 0,20
Century 21st	≥ 12,00	≤ 0,18

3.3.   Raw materials:

—

3.4.   Feed (for products of animal origin only):

—

3.5.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area:

The following must take place in the identified geographical area: orchard selection and planning, planting, soil, fertiliser and irrigation management, shaping and pruning, flower and fruit management, harvesting, post-harvest treatment and storage.

3.6.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc.:

Packing: the packing process is carried out only by companies who are authorised to use the ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ GI labels, under the supervision of competent quality inspection bodies.

1.   Packing materials: the outer packaging consists of corrugated cardboard boxes which should be firm and strong enough for structural use. They should keep the contents dry, free from mildew, worm, pollution and odour.

2.   Packing requirements: fruit in the packaging box are stored in an orderly way. The different layers are separated by cardboard inserts inside the box.

Shipping

During transportation, peach fruits should come in batches and be placed in an orderly manner so as to protect against pressure; the containers should be kept clean with a good air flow, and there should be no exposure to sunshine or rainfall; measures should also be taken to protect the fruit from frost or high temperatures.

Peach fruits should be handled carefully when unloaded; cold-chain transportation is recommended. The transportation vehicle should be kept clean, and free from toxic or hazardous materials and goods.

Storage

1.	Prior to storage, the fruit must be treated using a pre-cooling procedure, in which the temperature is set at 4 °C.

2.	Storage temperature is 0-3 °C.

3.	The relative humidity of the storage environment is set within a range of 85-90 %.

4.	If the storage house allows a controlled atmosphere (CA), the atmospheric conditions should be kept at 1 % O2 and 5 % CO2.

5.	The storage room should be odourless. The fruit should be kept away from toxic or hazardous materials and goods; no toxic or hazardous preservatives or materials are allowed.

3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling:

The packing marks for the same shipment shall be of a uniform format and content.

Apart from the company’s registered trademark, the name of the product with geographical indication protection in China — ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ — should also be printed on the fruit packaging and in a distinctly visible area on the exterior surface of the packing box, together with the special GI mark and quality traceability code. In addition, information such as the variety, grade (specification), and net weight, country of origin and producer of the product should also be printed on the fruit packaging. The wordings should be legible and not easy to remove. The markings on the outer package must conform to the actual product inside the box.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area:

The geographic area for ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ consists of 16 townships and villages currently under the administration of Pinggu District, Beijing; they are: Pinggu, Jinhaihu, Yukou, Machangying, Mafang, Donggaocun, Xiagezhuang, Shandongzhuang, Wangxinzhuang, Nandulehe, Zhengluoying, Dahuashan, Liujiadian, Daxingzhuang, Huangsongyu and Xiong’erzhai County.

5.   Link with the geographical area:

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area:

Pinggu District is situated at latitude 40° 02′-40° 22′ north and longitude 116° 55′-117° 24′ east. It is a small basin featuring shallow and rolling foothills on the southern slope of the Yanshan Mountains. It is surrounded by mountains on the east, south and north sides, leaving a plain valley in the centre. Green mountains spread across the county. The Ju and Ru rivers flow across the region.

The soil type is primarily sandy or loamy, soft and well-ventilated, and rich in potassium. The area has an independent water system which can provide water of superb quality. The local climate belongs to the warm temperate continental monsoon climate, characterised by wide differences of diurnal temperature and long hours of sunshine. The monthly temperature difference is large in spring, reaching about 6,8-8,7 °C, and in the autumn it is about 6,9-8,9 °C. The mean annual frost-free period is 191 days. The region enjoys abundant sunshine with a mean number of hours of annual sunshine time amounting to 2 555,3 hours, and the mean daily sunshine exposure rate is 58 %.

5.2.   Specificity of the product:

1.   Big fruit size: big fruit size is one of the most important characteristics of ‘Pinggu Da Tao’. The average weight of a single ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ fruit is 20 % more than the weight of a corresponding variety, because of the unique fruit tree varieties, climate and natural environment. A single fruit of the medium size variety weights ≥ 150 g and a single fruit of the large size variety weights ≥ 275 g.

2.   Bright colour: colour is one of the most important features of the peach’s appearance and commercial value. The skin of the ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ fruit is clean, with a bright colour and high degree of staining.

3.   Rich flavour and taste: ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ has a rich scent, a balanced sweet and sour flavour, delicate flesh and plenty of juice. The reasonable balance of content and the ratio between soluble solids and total acid gives the ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ its excellent sensory quality.

5.3.   Causal link between the geographical area and a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product:

The unique natural conditions of Pinggu — namely soil, water system, diurnal temperature difference, sunshine, and the highly standardised management level — contribute to the characteristics and the quality of the Pinggu peach. The distinctive natural conditions are demonstrated by the following features:

1.   Natural conditions

1.   Climate factor

The cultivated area of ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ is located in the warm southern zone of a piedmont. The cultivated area has adequate sunshine and there is a big difference in temperature between day and night, which is good for effective staining and accumulation of carbohydrates. The region enjoys an annual mean radiation of 5,103 joules per square metre, with a mean sunshine ratio of 58 %.

2.   Soil factor

The cultivated area of ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ is formed by the alluvial banks of the Ju and Ru rivers. The earth is composed of sandy soil and light loam. Good permeability of the soil satisfies the high oxygen consumption of peach tree root systems and keeps the root system in an active state. This ensures the sweetness and flavour of ‘Pinggu Da Tao’.

3.   Water factor

Pinggu is situated in a mountainous hydro-geological basin, possessing an independent underwater system with water of superb quality and abundant quantity. There is no trespassing on the river, so the surface water is pollution free. The trees are irrigated mainly by good quality underground water that reaches the level of Grade one drinking water, and is even close to that of natural mineral water. Through rational irrigation, water requirements are largely satisfied during germination period, the period of full bloom and fruit development, thus ensuring a good size, colour and output of fruit.

2.   Historic origins

There is a long history of peach cultivation in Pinggu. Records have been found dating back to as early as the Ming Dynasty. Liu Ai, the county magistrate of Pinggu in the Longqin period of the Ming Dynasty, wrote a poem entitled ‘The Ancient Eight Sceneries of Pinggu’, in which the Pinggu peach flower is highly praised as follows: ‘Half way to the hilltop, the snow remains unmelted throughout the year. The peach blossoms in March, however, are yet to form their delicate buds. When the sky is clear, look calmly into the horizon, the moon, bright like jade, is hovering under the clouds.’ Emperor Qianlong of the Qin Dynasty also wrote a poem describing the peach blossoms in Pinggu: ‘… when the willow waves like a scene of light smoke, and the peach showers in the rain …’.

3.   Human dimensions

There is a long history of peach cultivation in Pinggu. Records were found in works that date back to as early as in the Ming Dynasty. Following a long-term production practice, a whole set of planting management techniques for ‘Pinggu Da Tao’ were implemented, such as the adoption of a Y-shaped formation and natural open centre shaping (good for ventilation and light penetration). As regards fruit management, artificial flower and fruit thinning techniques, as well as fruit bagging techniques, are adopted to ensure an even fruit size, stable output and good staining.

Reference to publication of the specification:

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

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(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.

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