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

2009/C 223/10

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 of the date of this publication.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘HOPFEN AUS DER HALLERTAU’

EC No: DE-PGI-005-0529-14.03.2006

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

This summary contains the main details of the product specification for information only.

1.   Responsible department in the Member State:

2.   Group:

3.   Type of product:

4.   Specification:

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

4.1.   Name:

‘Hopfen aus der Hallertau’

4.2.   Description:

Examples of bitter varieties cultivated in the Hallertau include:

Examples of aromatic varieties cultivated in the Hallertau include:

4.3.   Geographical area:

The entire geographical area covers the rural administrative districts of Eichstätt, Freising, Kehlheim, Landshut, Nürnberger Land and Pfaffenhofen.

4.4.   Proof of origin:

The existing certification procedure for each variety, crop year and growing region means that there is a self-contained, officially monitored system for tracking hops throughout the entire production cycle (from the hop-growers and processors through to the breweries). Every stage of processing and marketing is subject to an official certification procedure, which is also recorded by a supervisory body. When the hops have been harvested, all hop batches are analysed by a laboratory and once the official certification procedure is completed, they are passed on to companies which process them and trade in them.

4.5.   Method of production:

4.6.   Link with the geographical area:

The tradition of growing hops in the Hallertau region reaches back over 1 100 years, with the year 860 seeing the first official mention of the crop. Soil and climatic conditions in the Hallertau region are favourable for cultivating hops. The region’s geographical location — in tertiary hills with deep, loose soil combined with frost-free conditions from the end of April, an average temperature of 7,7 °C, moderate annual sunshine of 1 673 hours and ample annual precipitation of 816 mm — is a particularly important factor. Owing to its special climatic and soil conditions, the Hallertau region is held in particularly high regard by brewers throughout the world. The expertise which the hop-growers in the Hallertau region have accumulated over generations and the permanent, competent advice on offer play a very important part in the cultivation of ‘Hopfen aus der Hallertau’, around 70 % of which are exported to some 100 countries worldwide. ‘Hopfen aus der Hallertau’ enjoy an excellent reputation at home and abroad, and are now regarded by most brewers around the world as a high-quality product. The great attention and care taken in processing the hops is another contributing factor to the good reputation enjoyed by Hallertauer hops in the international brewing industry. Many buyers swear by the high quality of these products, which have become such a key ingredient in their production lines. Traditional hop festivals and fairs, such as the Wolnzacher Volksfest in August or the Mainburger Gallimarkt in early October, and the annual election of a Hop Queen give the cultivation area a unique charm.

4.7.   Inspection body:

4.8.   Labelling:

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