4.2.2012

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 31/25

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Publication of an amendment 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 31/11

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

AMENDMENT APPLICATION

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

AMENDMENT APPLICATION ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 9

‘CARNE DE ÁVILA’

EC No: ES-PGI-0117-0093-13.06.2008

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1.   Heading in the product specification affected by the amendment:

—		Name of product
—		Description of product
—		Geographical area
—		Proof of origin
—		Method of production
—		Link
—		Labelling
—		National requirements
—		Other (to be specified)

2.   Type of amendment(s):

—		Amendment to single document or summary sheet
—		Amendment to specification of registered PDO or PGI for which neither the single document nor the summary sheet has been published
—		Amendment to specification that requires no amendment to the published single document (Article 9(3) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)
—		Temporary amendment to specification resulting from imposition of obligatory sanitary or phyto-sanitary measures by public authorities (Article 9(4) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

3.   Amendment(s):

3.1.   Description of product:

The description of the bovine breeds used has been supplemented to include breeding bulls of the Charolais and Limousin slaughter breeds, which may be used since they are the most commonly used in crosses with breeding cows of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed.

This addition is because they are customarily used in the protected area and is justified by the findings of studies carried out, which show that including animals resulting from a first cross with breeding cows of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed as a protected product maintains the quality of the meat obtained and improves that of the conformation of the carcase while maintaining the degree of fat cover.

The description of the product is based on measurable criteria, as concluded in the report La evaluación genética de animales de la raza Avileña-Negra Ibérica para caracteres de la canal (‘Genetic evaluation of animals of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed with regard to the carcase characteristics’) drawn up by the Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology), which comes under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Innovation.

The results obtained using four groups divided by gender and breed (males and females of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed, males and females resulting from the first cross between breeding cows of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed and males of the Charolais and Limousin breeds) showed that the conformation and the carcase yield were rather better with the first cross. The degree of fat cover is on average Type 3, is similar in all carcases and plays an important role in ensuring optimal maturing of the meat and meat quality.

The uniformity and quality of the final product sold to the consumer is guaranteed by the difference in carcase weight. In addition, the conformation characteristics are seen to be improved in animals from the first cross between breeding cows of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed and breeding bulls of the Charolais and Limousin breeds.

Also, the names of the types of animal, according to their age, are updated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 275/2007 on labelling.

3.2.   Proof of origin:

New traceability requirements are introduced:

—	individual identification of animals, using the official identification system and, in the case of animals of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed, also using the herd-book ear-tag,

—	certification of the product: methods used to certify the product and systems used to identify the carcases, cuts and portions and to ensure traceability,

—

the operators involved must keep holding registers recording lots of raw materials purchased for animal feed and animals purchased for the holding. They must also keep records of their customers, the quantity and origin of raw materials and products supplied, the destination of animals sold (for raising or slaughter), etc., and finally the correlation between consignments of animals for slaughter or rearing and the destination of carcases or groups of carcases and cuts.

3.3.   Geographical area:

This section is reworded to correct an error in the registered specification. The specification does not include the Province of Segovia, although it is included in Article 1 of the Order of 10 November 1993 to which this section refers. There is therefore clearly a drafting error.

3.4.   Method of production:

Although the method of production has not changed, this section is redrafted to reflect normal practices on holdings: extensive and/or transhumant holdings, care of the environment and animal welfare.

3.5.   Labelling:

The systems of identification used, the content of the labels and the data to be included thereon are all updated.

Marks have been replaced by labels, because this system of labels is currently the best way of identifying carcases and cuts and portions thereof, ensuring traceability and the complete identification of the protected product.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘CARNE DE ÁVILA’

EC No: ES-PGI-0117-0093-13.06.2008

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1.   Name:

‘Carne de Ávila’

2.   Member State or third country:

Spain

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff:

3.1.   Type of product:

Class 1.1 —

Fresh meat (and offal)

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

The meat protected by the PGI must come from animals of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed and animals resulting from the first cross between breeding cows of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed and breeding bulls of the integrated Charolais and Limousin breeds.

The animals fall into different categories according to their age:

calf: an animal intended for slaughter at a maximum age of 12 months that has remained with the dam for at least 5 months;

yearling: an animal weaned at a minimum age of 5 months intended for slaughter at an age of between 12 and 24 months;

young bull: an animal intended for slaughter at an age of between 24 and 48 months.

Carcases eligible for the PGI must have a conformation class on the European scale of between O and U + and a degree of fat cover of between 2 and 4.

Fat cover class

1

1 +

2 –

2

2 +

3 –

3

3 +

4 –

4

4 +

5 –

5

Conformation

E

U +

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

U

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

U –

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

R +

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

R

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

R –

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

O +

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

O

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

O –

P +

P

P –

Meat from these animals has a firm consistency and is slightly moist with a fine texture. It has a bright colour, between light and purplish red, with white to cream-coloured fat and is highly regarded because of its tenderness and the intensity and quality of its flavour.

‘Carne de Ávila’ must be matured for a minimum of four days.

3.3.   Raw materials (for processed products only):

—

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

Extensive and/or transhumant production system using grazing and forestry resources (browsing, acorns). Transhumance is an ancestral production system based on the exploitation of natural resources and involves moving livestock between different but complementary locations at different times of the year: mountain pastures in summer and autumn and holm and cork oak groves in winter and spring. An extensive system is used with a low livestock density, which averages between 0,2 and 0,4 LU/ha, in areas where this breed has traditionally grazed and which would otherwise be very difficult to rear. In times of scarcity, livestock is given supplements composed of cereals, protein crops and other raw materials, always of plant origin, together with the necessary minerals and vitamins.

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

The geographical area described in paragraph 4 is where the animals intended for slaughter are born, reared and fattened on the extensive holdings on which their dams are reared.

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

—

3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling:

Each carcase covered by the PGI has a set of labels to identify it and ensure traceability of the carcase, the cuts and the portions. This comprises:

1.	labels for the carcase bearing the information given below, except for the type of cut;

2.	labels for the cuts bearing the specified information and the type of cut (forequarter shank, rump steak, etc.);

3.	if the cut is despatched in portions, secondary labels are attached bearing the same information as the carcase labels;

4.	in addition to the obligatory details, ‘Carne de Ávila’ labels must contain the following: identification mark of the Regulatory Council, official identification mark, date of slaughter, carcase number, logo of the Regulatory Council, European PGI logo and barcode.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area:

The production area for the cattle of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed comprises the agricultural districts listed below (grouped by province and autonomous community):

Autonomous Community of Andalusia:   Huelva: Sierra.   Jaén: Sierra Morena.   Seville: Sierra Norte.

Autonomous Community of Aragon: Teruel: Serranía de Albarracín, Maestrazgo.

Autonomous Community of Castile-La Mancha:   Ciudad Real: Montes Norte, Campo Calatrava, Montes Sur, Pastos.   Toledo: Talavera, Torrijos, Sagra Toledo, La Jara, Montes de Nava Hermosa, Montes de los Yébenes.

Autonomous Community of Castile-León:   Ávila: all districts.   Burgos: Demanda.   León: La Montaña de Riaño.   Palencia: Guardo, Cervera.   Salamanca: all districts.   Segovia: all districts.   Soria: Pinares.   Valladolid: centre, south, south-east.   Zamora: Sayago.

Autonomous Community of Extremadura:   Cáceres: all districts.   Badajoz: Alburquerque, Mérida, Don Benito, La Puebla de Alcocer, Herrera del Duque, Badajoz, Almendralejo, Olivenza, Jerez de los Caballeros, Llerena.

Autonomous Community of La Rioja: all districts.

Autonomous Community of Madrid: Lozoya-Somosierra, Guadarrama, Metropolitan Area de Madrid, south-west.

Processing is carried out in the agricultural districts listed below (grouped by province and autonomous community):

Autonomous Community of Castile-León:   Ávila: all districts.   Salamanca: all districts.   Segovia: all districts.   Valladolid: centre, south, south-east.

Autonomous Community of Castile-La Mancha: Toledo: Talavera, Sagra Toledo.

Autonomous Community of Extremadura:   Cáceres: Cáceres, Trujillo, Brozas, Valencia de Alcántara, Plasencia, Hervás.   Badajoz: Mérida, Badajoz, Olivenza.

Autonomous Community of Madrid: Lozoya-Somosierra, Guadarrama, Metropolitan Area de Madrid, south-west.

5.   Link with the geographical area:

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area:

(a)   Relief

The mountain areas have a rugged terrain and a complex orography, with high valleys, narrow ravines, steep slopes and wide plateaux that sometimes open to areas that are highly exposed to blizzards. The pasture land is an extensive and gently rolling plain lying at an altitude of between 300 m and 1 200 m above sea level.

(b)   Climate

Widely varying climates, given the breed’s wide distribution and transhumance. The livestock grazes in the meadows, the valleys and the mountains. Summers in the mountains are cool and winters very cold with severe frosts. The pasturelands generally have very hot, dry summers and mild winters.

(c)   Flora

The rearing of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed is linked to the exploitation of pastureland on which grasses, crops, shrub and woodland predominate.

There is natural pasture and cultivated pasture, as well as areas of scrub. On the natural pastureland is holm oak, common oak, savin juniper and common juniper. There are usually few trees but extensive pasture. In the mixed pasture grow holm oak, common oak and grasses and the animals can exploit the resources provided by the trees (acorns and browsing) and stubble fields.

On the mountain pastures, pine groves predominate, which for part of the year are covered in snow, thus the need for transhumance.

5.2.   Specificity of the product:

The meat covered by the ‘Carne de Ávila’ PGI has the following characteristics:

Meat from these animals has a firm consistency and is slightly moist with a fine texture. It has a bright colour, between light and purplish red, white to cream-coloured fat and is highly regarded because of its tenderness and the intensity and quality of its flavour.

5.3.   Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for PGI):

Avileña-Negra Ibérica breeding cows belong to an indigenous bovine breed that has since ancient times been perfectly adapted to livestock farming in these geographical areas and that is becoming more numerous within the livestock population.

Initially used as draught animals, they came to be used for meat production after holdings were mechanised. Breeding bulls of other slaughter breeds were then introduced, the most widely used breeds being Charolais and Limousin.

This indigenous breed, so well adapted to the environment, exploits the area’s natural resources, such as the flora, pasture, forage, browsing and acorns. The varied diet enjoyed by the dams and the particular properties of the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed and its first crosses with breeds with a higher conformation produce a meat with unique characteristics. The meat is amongst the most highly regarded, because of its tenderness, the intensity and quality of its flavour and its bright colour, between light and purplish red. The characteristics of this meat are essentially the result of the geographical environment, the type of feed available, whose exploitation the breed’s perfect adaptation to the production model used in the geographical area makes possible, and the breed.

Reference to publication of the specification:

http://www.marm.es/es/alimentacion/temas/calidad-agroalimentaria/Pliego_de_Condiciones_IGP_Carne_de_%C3%81vila_tcm7-141852.pdf

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(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.

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