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

2010/C 252/06

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

‘’(SHAANXI PING GUO)

EC No: CN-PDO-0005-0629-16.07.2007

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Name:

‘’ (Shaanxi ping guo)

2.   Member State or third country:

P. R. China

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff:

3.1.   Type of product:

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

Shaanxi ping guo grows in the Loess Plateau in the Weibei region, with high altitudes and plenty of sunshine and fertile soil. All these natural conditions contribute to its characteristics such as ‘bright colour for red varieties, beautiful for yellowish-green variety, thick cuticle, crisp flesh, appropriate sweet and sour taste, long storage life and convenient for transport’.

The sensory indexes of the five different varieties suitable for producing Shaanxi apples are as follows: the apple (five varieties) should grow adequately to fullness with clean peel, free of any peculiar odour or unusual moisture content from outside sources. It should reach the proper maturity fit for eating fresh or for storage. The mature fruit should show the distinctive colour and lustre. The ‘moderate configuration’ index should be ≥ 0,7.

The physiochemical indexes of the five varieties suitable for producing Shaanxi ping guo apples are as follows:

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:

—

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

Packaging, storage and transportation

The product is packaged by enterprises granted the Shaanxi ping guo GI mark, under the supervision of the Office of Place of Origin for the Protection of Geographical Indications; a quality traceability card is placed in each box so that the product can be traced for quality control purposes.

3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling:

3.7.1.   The packing mark on each individual consignment should be of uniform form and content.

3.7.2.   Besides the company’s registered trademark, every box should be clearly labelled on the outside with the special place of origin mark (label) to protect the product Shaanxi ping guo. The label should also indicate the variety, grade (specification), net weight, growing area and dealer or consignor. The wording should be clear and correct and the colour should be conspicuous. The details on the outside of the box should match the products inside and every product in the box should bear a special label/mark.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area:

The delimited protected area of Shaanxi ping guo is located at a latitude of 34° 38′-37° 02′ north and longitude of 105° 35′-110° 37′ east, in the centre of the Loess Plateau in north-eastern China. The terrain mainly consists of ravines and gullies with loose soil as the primary soil type. The climate is semi-humid to semi-arid.

The delimited protected production area for Shaanxi ping guo covers all the towns and villages in the 15 counties and regions in Shaanxi province, including Baota Region, Fu County, Yichuan, Luochuan, Huangling, Yintai District, Yaozhou District, Yijun, Fengxiang, Baishui, Heyang, Xunyi, Yongshou, Changwu and Chunhua along with parts of the towns and villages in another 14 ‘counties’ (cities or regions), i.e. Chencang District, Jintai District, Weibin District, Qishan, Fufeng, Longxian County, Qianyang, Pucheng, Chengcheng, Hancheng, Fuping, Liquan, Qianxian County and Binxian County.

5.   Link with the geographical area:

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area:

The Loess Plateau part of the Weibei region in Shaanxi spans (based on latitude) the warm zone, the warm temperate zone and the north subtropical zone. It lies just south of the Yellow River and just north of the Yangtze River. The area is located at high altitudes and has a wide range of diurnal temperatures; it is covered by a dusty soil layer rich in microelements such as K, Ca, Mn, Zn, Se, etc. The terrain mainly consists of ravines and gullies with loess as the primary type of soil. The climate is semi-humid to semi-arid.

5.2.   Specificity of the product:

5.2.1.   Brightly coloured

Colour is one of the most important indexes for the apple’s appearance and commercial value. The excellent colour of Shaanxi ping guo is largely due to its early and easy colouring. As a result, it is brightly coloured over a large area.

5.2.2.   Thick cuticular layer

The cuticular layer provides many of the nutrients and other substances that contribute to the health value of the apple. The thickness of the cuticular layer is reflected by the thick stratum, clean, unblemished surface and high pectin content of Shaanxi apples.

5.2.3.   Strong flavour

Flavour is one of the most important indexes for the apple’s intrinsic quality. The strong flavour of Shaanxi ping guo is due to its high sugar content, its crisp fruit flesh, its strong fragrance and its abundant nutrients.

5.2.4.   Tolerance for storage and transport

Suitability for storage and transportation is a very important factor for ensuring year-round sales, which can prolong the apple’s shelf life, make it convenient for international trade and add to its value. Shaanxi apple has a thick skin, numerous waxy substances in the flesh, compact fruit, a high level of solidness and a high content of dissolvable solids. All these features make the Shaanxi apple highly tolerant for storage and transportation.

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

The part of the Loess Plateau north of the Weihe River in Shaanxi is an area where ravines and gullies criss-cross, with a thick layer of fertile soil spreading across the vast hilltops and dry tablelands. The climate there is ideal for growing apple trees. The unique natural conditions and cultural heritage have given rise to the specific quality of Shaanxi ping guo.

5.3.1.   Natural conditions

5.3.1.1.   Soil

The thick soil layer that covers the apple-growing area of Shaanxi province is as deep as 80 to 200 metres. The soft loess, apart from containing many microelements (e.g. iron, calcium, etc.) that are good for human health, also contributes to the good air flow, moisture and fertility, creating conditions highly conducive to the development of the root system of the apple trees. It also guarantees the water and nutrients to meet the growth needs of the tree and fruit. As such, the soil in this region meets the basic conditions for the fruit quality and, hence, specificity of Shaanxi ping guo.

5.3.1.2.   Climate

The growing area for Shaanxi apples is 800 to 1 200 metres above sea level, with a luminous intensity of 3 500-50 000 cd and 2 200 to 2 400 hours of sunshine per year. From August to September, over 300 hours of sunlight are recorded. The high altitudes ensure sufficient sunshine for the fruit, making it brightly coloured with a thick layer of cuticular wax and added sugar, acid and vitamin C content. They also contribute to the greater hardiness of the apple.

The wide range of diurnal temperatures contributes to the relatively high level of nutrient content accumulation in the apple trees, giving the fruit a high sugar content and special flavour, which have made it popular.

The water needed for apple-growing comes from natural rainfall. The apple-growing area of Shaanxi Province has a moderate rainfall all year round, with annual rainfall of 560-750 mm. The air humidity is relatively low, which is unfavourable for propagation and growth of pests and insects, reducing the number of varieties and the risk of diseases and pests in the area.

5.3.2.   Human dimension

Popularisation and application of the four key techniques, namely ‘big reshaping, strong branching, skilful fertilisation and nuisance-free production’, have greatly increased the quality and the safety standards of Shaanxi ping guo.

Reference to publication of the specification:

EU-LINK with DOOR application

(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.