Publication of an application for registration pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 8(1) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/92 on certificates of specific character

(2005/C 316/07)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Articles 8 and 9 of the abovementioned Regulation. Any objection to the application must be submitted to the competent authority in the Member State concerned within a time limit of five months from the date of this publication. Supporting arguments for publication are set out below, in particular under points 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4, and are considered to justify the application within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2082/92.

APPLICATION FOR THE REGISTRATION OF A CERTIFICATE OF SPECIFIC CHARACTER

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2082/92

‘BOERENKAAS’

EC number: NL/00023/25.06.2003

1.   Competent authority:

2.   Applicant group:

2.1.   Name: Bond van Boerderijzuivelbereiders

2.2.   Address:

2.3   Composition: manufacturers/processors (X) other ( )

The Bond van Boerderijzuivelbereiders represents the general interests of its members, i.e. dairy farmers and manufacturers of farm dairy products.

The members of the Bond van Boerderijzuivelbereiders (BBZ) are manufacturers of farm dairy products using milk from their own herd (cattle, goats or sheep) to make cheese and other dairy products. The BBZ has 420 members, of whom more than 350 make Boerenkaas.

3.   Type of product:

semi-hard or hard cheese made from raw milk

4.   Specification:

(summary of requirements under Article 6(2))

4.1.   Name: ‘Boerenkaas’ (only in Dutch)

4.2.   Special production or manufacturing method: Boerenkaas is a cheese made on the farm from raw milk from cattle, goats, sheep or buffalo. At least half of the milk must come from the farm's own herd. Milk may be bought in from no more than two other dairy farms, but the total quantity bought in may not be greater than the farmer's own production.

The raw material used may be:

The milk used must not have undergone heat treatment above 40 °C; the phosphatase activity must be compatible with that of the raw milk used.

The milk must be processed into cheese within 40 hours of milking.

Auxiliary materials and additives

Manufacturing process

The raw milk is curdled at a temperature of approximately 30 °C within 40 hours of milking.

A mixed strain culture of lactic acid bacteria brings about acidification.

After cutting, stirring and draining off part of the whey, the whey and curd mixture is washed once or twice with hot water, raising the temperature of the mixture to no more than 37 °C.

After processing, the curd is placed in cheese moulds.

Before or during pressing a casein mark is put on the cheese bearing the name Boerenkaas, possibly supplemented by the name of the type of milk.

After pressing and acidification over a number of hours, the cheese is soaked in a brine solution of 18 to 22 % common salt (sodium chloride).

The minimum ripening period on the farm is 13 days after the day on which processing began at a temperature of at least 12 °C.

To obtain its fully characteristic flavour, Boerenkaas is left to ripen further in the ripening room on the farm or on the cheese merchant's premises. The length of the ripening process varies from a few weeks to over a year.

4.3.   Traditional character: The name ‘Boerenkaas’ is specifically linked to a product traditionally made on the farm from raw milk obtained mainly from the farm's own herd.

Up to 1874 all milk was processed on the farm. After that, milk gradually began to be industrially processed. Milk used in cheese-making began to be pasteurised in the first few years of the twentieth century. Pasteurisation meant that the character of dairy-made cheese was lost. On the farm, the traditional method of processing raw milk continued.

As a result of enzymes naturally present in milk, i.e. milk lipase, and the presence of a bacteria flora that enters the milk during and after milking, the cheese made from this raw milk has more taste, described as fuller, stronger and tangier. For many consumers, this is what distinguishes the taste of Boerenkaas from ‘industrially-made’ cheese. The taste becomes stronger as ripening progresses.

In 1982 new rules were laid down by the Decree and Order on Cheese Products based on the Agricultural Quality Act, relating to cheese quality, the origin of the milk and the method of production. The special quality label guarantees that Boerenkaas is a farm product, is made from raw milk, is kept for only a short period and comes mainly from the farm's own herd.

This legislation also introduces the possibility of using milk from goats, sheep and buffalo in addition to cow's milk and making cheese from raw milk with a lower fat content.

The aforementioned illustrates the specific character of the raw materials used and of the method of production.

4.4.   Product description: Boerenkaas is a (semi-) hard cheese made from raw milk from cattle, goats, sheep or buffalo. The fat content of Boerenkaas varies depending on the fat content of the milk used.

The cheese may contain cumin or other seeds, herbs and/or spices.

The older the cheese becomes and the longer it ripens, the firmer and drier it becomes, thus producing hard cheese.

Examples of names of products are Goudse Boerenkaas, Goudse Boerenkaas met kruiden, Edammer Boerenkaas, Leidse Boerenkaas, Boerenkaas van geitenmelk and Boerenkaas van schapenmelk.

Summary of characteristic properties and composition of Boerenkaas

4.5.   Minimum requirements and inspection procedures to which specific character is subject: At present the rules on Boerenkaas are laid down in the Decree and Order on Cheese Products based on the Agricultural Quality Act relating to cheese quality, the origin of the milk and the method of production. The special quality label guarantees that Boerenkaas is a farm product, and is made from raw milk which is kept for only a short time and comes mainly from the farm's own herd.

The requirements of this dossier, as described in section 4.2 (special production or manufacturing method) and in the table in section 4.4 (characteristic properties and composition), apply to Boerenkaas with a certificate of specific character under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/92. These are laid down in the Agricultural Quality Order for dairy products and the Agricultural Quality Order for cheese.

Every six to eight weeks each farm is inspected to ensure that fresh raw milk (not more than 40 hours old) is used in cheese-making and check use of the casein mark. Once per year administrative checks are performed to verify from which farms the milk used comes. Checks for compliance with the composition requirements cover the fat content in dry matter, moisture content and salt content in dry matter. These parameters are checked six to eight times per year.

In addition to this, the inspection procedure is designed to check for compliance with the other characteristic properties of the various types of Boerenkaas given in the table in section 4.4. These checks on the characteristic properties are carried out visually once every six to eight weeks.

Inspection body: COKZ

5.   Application for reservation under Article 13(2):

The Bond van Boerderijzuivelbereiders is applying for protection of the name ‘Boerenkaas’ in accordance with Article 13(2)(a). Protection is applied for solely for ‘Boerenkaas’ written in Dutch.