ISSN 1725-2423

doi:10.3000/17252423.C_2010.265.eng

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 265

European flag  

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 53
30 September 2010


Notice No

Contents

page

 

II   Information

 

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

 

European Commission

2010/C 265/01

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU — Cases where the Commission raises no objections ( 1 )

1

2010/C 265/02

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.5886 — Emerson Electric/Chloride Group) ( 1 )

3

 

IV   Notices

 

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

 

European Commission

2010/C 265/03

Euro exchange rates

4

2010/C 265/04

Commission notice on current State aid recovery interest rates and reference/discount rates for 27 Member States applicable as from 1 October 2010(Published in accordance with Article 10 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 of 21 April 2004 (OJ L 140, 30.4.2004, p. 1))

5

 

NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

 

EFTA Surveillance Authority

2010/C 265/05

No State aid within the meaning of Article 61 of the EEA Agreement

6

2010/C 265/06

Information communicated by the EFTA States regarding State aid granted under the Act referred to in point 1 j of Annex XV of the EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General Block Exemption Regulation))

7

2010/C 265/07

No State aid within the meaning of Article 61 of the EEA Agreement

8

 

V   Announcements

 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

 

European Commission

2010/C 265/08

Notice of open competitions

9

 

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

 

European Commission

2010/C 265/09

Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain seamless pipes and tubes of stainless steel originating in the People's Republic of China

10

 

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

 

European Commission

2010/C 265/10

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.5934 — Veolia Water UK and Veolia Voda/Subsidiaries of United Utilities Group) ( 1 )

17

 

OTHER ACTS

 

European Commission

2010/C 265/11

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

18

2010/C 265/12

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

23

 


 

(1)   Text with EEA relevance

EN

 


II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/1


Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 265/01

Date of adoption of the decision

20.7.2010

Reference number of State Aid

N 197/10

Member State

Austria

Region

Unterkärnten

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Individual Aid for the Remediation of the Contaminated Site in Unterkärnten (AT)

Legal basis

Umweltförderungsgesetz, BGBl. Nr. 185/1993, zuletzt geändert durch BGBl. I Nr. 74/2008

Altlastensanierungsgesetz, BGBl. Nr. 299/1989, zuletzt geändert durch BGBl. I Nr. 40/2008

Förderungsrichtlinien 2002 für die Altlastensanierung oder -sicherung

Förderungsrichtlinien 2008 für die Altlastensanierung oder -sicherung

Type of measure

Individual aid

Objective

Environmental protection

Form of aid

Direct grant

Budget

Overall budget: EUR 29 million

Intensity

100 %

Duration (period)

1.1.2010-31.12.2021

Economic sectors

Chemical and pharmaceutical industry

Name and address of the granting authority

Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft

Stubenbastei 5

1010 Wien

ÖSTERREICH

Other information

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/state_aids_texts_en.htm

Date of adoption of the decision

27.8.2010

Reference number of State Aid

N 337/10

Member State

Italy

Region

Piemonte

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Incentivazione alla razionalizzazione dei consumi energetici e alla produzione/utilizzo di energia da fonti rinnovabili nel patrimonio immobiliare delle istituzioni pubbliche. Intervento Smat SpA

Legal basis

Deliberazione della Giunta regionale 1o marzo 2010 n. 22-13416

Type of measure

Individual aid

Objective

Environmental protection

Form of aid

Direct grant

Budget

Overall budget: EUR 0,6 million

Intensity

60 %

Duration (period)

Economic sectors

Electricity, gas and water supply

Name and address of the granting authority

Regione Piemonte

Piazza Castello 165

10121 Torino TO

ITALIA

Other information

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/state_aids_texts_en.htm


30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/3


Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.5886 — Emerson Electric/Chloride Group)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 265/02

On 24 August 2010, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes,

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) under document number 32010M5886. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to the European law.


IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/4


Euro exchange rates (1)

29 September 2010

2010/C 265/03

1 euro =


 

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,3611

JPY

Japanese yen

113,85

DKK

Danish krone

7,4517

GBP

Pound sterling

0,86180

SEK

Swedish krona

9,1545

CHF

Swiss franc

1,3295

ISK

Iceland króna

 

NOK

Norwegian krone

7,9670

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

24,570

EEK

Estonian kroon

15,6466

HUF

Hungarian forint

276,15

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,7092

PLN

Polish zloty

3,9743

RON

Romanian leu

4,2750

TRY

Turkish lira

1,9817

AUD

Australian dollar

1,3999

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,3978

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

10,5607

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,8388

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,7914

KRW

South Korean won

1 551,99

ZAR

South African rand

9,4699

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

9,1014

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,2965

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

12 151,22

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,1990

PHP

Philippine peso

59,752

RUB

Russian rouble

41,3725

THB

Thai baht

41,459

BRL

Brazilian real

2,3247

MXN

Mexican peso

16,9450

INR

Indian rupee

61,1500


(1)  Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.


30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/5


Commission notice on current State aid recovery interest rates and reference/discount rates for 27 Member States applicable as from 1 October 2010

(Published in accordance with Article 10 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 of 21 April 2004 (OJ L 140, 30.4.2004, p. 1))

2010/C 265/04

Base rates calculated in accordance with the Communication from the Commission on the revision of the method for setting the reference and discount rates (OJ C 14, 19.1.2008, p. 6). Depending on the use of the reference rate, the appropriate margins have still to be added as defined in this communication. For the discount rate this means that a margin of 100 basis points has to be added. The Commission Regulation (EC) No 271/2008 of 30 January 2008 amending the implementing Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 foresees that, unless otherwise provided for in a specific decision, the recovery rate will also be calculated by adding 100 basis points to the base rate.

Modified rates are indicated in bold.

Previous table published in OJ C 220, 14.8.2010, p. 4.

From

To

AT

BE

BG

CY

CZ

DE

DK

EE

EL

ES

FI

FR

HU

IE

IT

LT

LU

LV

MT

NL

PL

PT

RO

SE

SI

SK

UK

1.10.2010

1,24

1,24

4,15

1,24

2,03

1,24

1,88

2,27

1,24

1,24

1,24

1,24

5,97

1,24

1,24

2,85

1,24

3,99

1,24

1,24

4,49

1,24

7,82

1,38

1,24

1,24

1,35

1.9.2010

30.9.2010

1,24

1,24

4,15

1,24

2,03

1,24

1,88

2,27

1,24

1,24

1,24

1,24

5,97

1,24

1,24

2,85

1,24

3,99

1,24

1,24

4,49

1,24

7,82

1,18

1,24

1,24

1,35

1.8.2010

31.8.2010

1,24

1,24

4,92

1,24

2,03

1,24

1,88

2,27

1,24

1,24

1,24

1,24

5,97

1,24

1,24

2,85

1,24

3,99

1,24

1,24

4,49

1,24

7,82

1,18

1,24

1,24

1,35

1.7.2010

31.7.2010

1,24

1,24

4,92

1,24

2,03

1,24

1,88

2,27

1,24

1,24

1,24

1,24

5,97

1,24

1,24

2,85

1,24

3,99

1,24

1,24

4,49

1,24

7,82

1,02

1,24

1,24

1,35

1.6.2010

30.6.2010

1,24

1,24

4,92

1,24

2,03

1,24

1,88

2,77

1,24

1,24

1,24

1,24

5,97

1,24

1,24

3,45

1,24

4,72

1,24

1,24

4,49

1,24

7,82

1,02

1,24

1,24

1,16

1.5.2010

31.5.2010

1,24

1,24

4,92

1,24

2,03

1,24

1,88

2,77

1,24

1,24

1,24

1,24

5,97

1,24

1,24

4,46

1,24

6,47

1,24

1,24

4,49

1,24

7,82

1,02

1,24

1,24

1,16

1.4.2010

30.4.2010

1,24

1,24

4,92

1,24

2,39

1,24

1,88

3,47

1,24

1,24

1,24

1,24

5,97

1,24

1,24

5,90

1,24

8,97

1,24

1,24

4,49

1,24

9,92

1,02

1,24

1,24

1,16

1.3.2010

31.3.2010

1,24

1,24

4,92

1,24

2,39

1,24

1,88

4,73

1,24

1,24

1,24

1,24

7,03

1,24

1,24

7,17

1,24

11,76

1,24

1,24

4,49

1,24

9,92

1,02

1,24

1,24

1,16

1.1.2010

28.2.2010

1,24

1,24

4,92

1,24

2,39

1,24

1,88

6,94

1,24

1,24

1,24

1,24

7,03

1,24

1,24

8,70

1,24

15,11

1,24

1,24

4,49

1,24

9,92

1,02

1,24

1,24

1,16


NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA Surveillance Authority

30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/6


No State aid within the meaning of Article 61 of the EEA Agreement

2010/C 265/05

The EFTA Surveillance Authority raises no objections to the following State aid measure:

Date of adoption of the decision

:

24 February 2010

Case Number

:

67099

EFTA State

:

Norway

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

:

Training Aid granted by Innovation Norway to the Romanian companies SC Promex SA and SC 24 Januarie SA

Legal basis

:

Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning a Co-operation Programme for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Romania of 25 July 2007

Type of measure

:

Training aid

Form of aid

:

Grant

Budget

:

EUR 247,051

Intensity

:

24 %

Duration

:

Until 30 April 2011

Name and address of the granting authority

:

Innovation Norway

Akersgata 13

PO Box 448

0104 Oslo

NORWAY

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found on the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s website:

http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/state-aid-register/


30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/7


Information communicated by the EFTA States regarding State aid granted under the Act referred to in point 1 j of Annex XV of the EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General Block Exemption Regulation))

2010/C 265/06

PART I

Aid No

GBER 18/2009/TRA

EFTA State

Norway

Granting authority

Name

Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Address

Webpage

Postboks 8007 Dep.

0030 Oslo

NORWAY

http://www.regjeringen.no/

Title of the aid measure

Measures concerning forests, energy and climate change

National legal basis (Reference to the relevant national official publication)

State Budget: St. Prp. 1 (2008-2009)

St. Prp. 37 (2008-2009)

Web link to the full text of the aid measure

http://www.innovasjonnorge.no/Satsinger/Landbruk/Bioenergiprogrammet/

Type of measure

Scheme

X

Duration

Scheme

1.5.2009 to 1.1.2014

Economic sector(s) concerned

All economic sectors eligible to receive aid

X

Type of beneficiary

SME

X

Large enterprises

X

Budget

Annual overall amount of the budget planned under the scheme

NOK 2 million

Aid instrument (Article 5)

Grant

X

PART II

General Objectives (list)

Objectives (list)

Maximum aid intensity in % or Maximum aid amount in NOK

Training aid (Articles 38-39)

Specific training (Article 38(1))

25 %

 

General training (Article 38(2))

60 %


30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/8


No State aid within the meaning of Article 61 of the EEA Agreement

2010/C 265/07

The EFTA Surveillance Authority raises no objections to the following State aid measure:

Date of adoption

:

10 March 2010

Case number

:

67806

Decision No

:

75/10/COL

EFTA State

:

Norway

Legal basis

:

Parliamentary proposition No 1 (2009-2010)

Objective

:

Increase the supply of renewable heat and energy. Contribute to energy saving

Form of aid

:

Grants

Budget

:

Approximately NOK 2,8 billion

Duration

:

Until end of 2010

Economic sectors

:

Energy, electricity

Name and address of the granting authority

:

Enova SF

Professor Brochsgt. 2

7030 Trondheim

NORWAY

The authentic text of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found on the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s website:

http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/state-aid-register/


V Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/9


NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITIONS

2010/C 265/08

The European Commission is organising the following open competitions:

COM/AD/01/10 — Research Administrators (AD 6) in chemistry, biology and health sciences

COM/AD/02/10 — Research Administrators (AD 7) in chemistry, biology and health sciences

COM/AD/03/10 — Research Administrators (AD 6) in physics

COM/AD/04/10 — Research Administrators (AD 7) in physics

COM/AD/05/10 — Research Administrators (AD 6) in structural mechanics

COM/AD/06/10 — Research Administrators (AD 7) in structural mechanics

COM/AD/07/10 — Research Administrators (AD 6) in quantitative policy analysis

COM/AD/08/10 — Research Administrators (AD 7) in quantitative policy analysis

COM/AD/09/10 — Research Administrators (AD 6) in spatial sciences

COM/AD/10/10 — Research Administrators (AD 7) in spatial sciences

COM/AD/11/10 — Research Administrators (AD 6) in environmental sciences

COM/AD/12/10 — Research Administrators (AD 7) in environmental sciences

COM/AD/13/10 — Research Administrators (AD 6) in energy sciences

COM/AD/14/10 — Research Administrators (AD 7) in energy sciences

COM/AD/15/10 — Research Administrators (AD 6) in communication/information technology

COM/AD/16/10 — Research Administrators (AD 7) in communication/information technology

The competition notice is published in the Official Journal C 265 A of 30 September 2010.

Further details can be found on the EPSO website: http://eu-careers.eu


PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

European Commission

30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/10


Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain seamless pipes and tubes of stainless steel originating in the People's Republic of China

2010/C 265/09

The European Commission (‘the Commission’) has received a complaint pursuant to Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (1) (‘the basic Regulation’), alleging that imports of certain seamless pipes and tubes of stainless steel, originating in the People's Republic of China, are being dumped and are thereby causing material injury to the Union industry.

1.   Complaint

The complaint was lodged on 16 August 2010 by the Defence Committee of the seamless stainless steel tubes industry of the European Union (‘the complainant’) on behalf of producers representing a major proportion, in this case more than 50 % of the total Union production of certain seamless pipes and tubes of stainless steel.

2.   Product under investigation

The product subject to this investigation is certain seamless pipes and tubes of stainless steel, other than with attached fittings suitable for conducting gases or liquids for use in civil aircraft, currently falling within CN codes 7304 11 00, 7304 22 00, 7304 24 00, ex 7304 41 00, 7304 49 10, ex 7304 49 93, ex 7304 49 95, ex 7304 49 99 and ex 7304 90 00.

3.   Allegation of dumping  (2)

The product allegedly being dumped is the product under investigation, originating in the People's Republic of China (‘the country concerned’), currently falling within CN codes 7304 11 00, 7304 22 00, 7304 24 00, ex 7304 41 00, 7304 49 10, ex 7304 49 93, ex 7304 49 95, ex 7304 49 99 and ex 7304 90 00. These CN codes are given for information only.

Since, in view of the provisions of Article 2(7) of the basic Regulation, the People's Republic of China is considered to be a non-market economy country, the complainant established normal value for the imports from the People's Republic of China on the basis of the price in a market economy third country, namely the United States of America. The allegation of dumping is based on a comparison of the normal value thus established with the export prices (at ex-works level) of the product under investigation when sold for export to the Union.

On this basis the dumping margins calculated are significant for the exporting country concerned.

4.   Allegation of injury

The complainant has provided evidence that imports of the product under investigation from the country concerned have increased overall in absolute terms and in terms of market share.

The prima facie evidence provided by the complainant shows that the volumes and the prices of the imported product under investigation have, among other consequences, had a negative impact on the quantities sold, the level of prices charged and the market share held by the Union industry, resulting in substantial adverse effects on the overall performance of the Union industry.

5.   Procedure

Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that the complaint has been lodged by or on behalf of the Union industry and that there is sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a proceeding, the Commission hereby initiates an investigation pursuant to Article 5 of the basic Regulation.

The investigation will determine whether the product under investigation originating in the country concerned is being dumped and whether this dumping has caused injury to the Union industry. If the conclusions are affirmative, the investigation will examine whether the imposition of measures would not be against the Union interest.

5.1.    Procedure for the determination of dumping

Exporting producers (3) of the product under investigation from the country concerned are invited to participate in the Commission investigation.

5.1.1.   Investigating exporting producers

(a)   Sampling

In view of the potentially large number of exporting producers in the People's Republic of China involved in this proceeding and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission may limit the exporting producers to be investigated to a reasonable number by selecting a sample (this process is also referred to as ‘sampling’). The sampling will be carried out in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling is necessary, and if so, to select a sample, all exporting producers, or representatives acting on their behalf, are hereby requested to make themselves known to the Commission. These parties have to do so within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified, by providing the Commission with the following information on their company or companies:

name, address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers and contact person,

the turnover in local currency and the volume in tonnes of the product under investigation sold for export to the Union during the investigation period (‘IP’), i.e. from 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2010, for each of the 27 Member States (4) separately and in total,

the turnover in local currency and the volume in tonnes of the product under investigation sold on the domestic market during the IP, i.e. from 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2010,

the precise activities of the company worldwide with regard to the product under investigation,

the names and the precise activities of all related companies (5) involved in the production and/or sales (export and/or domestic) of the product under investigation,

any other relevant information that would assist the Commission in the selection of the sample.

The exporting producers should also indicate whether, in the event that they are not selected to be in the sample, they would like to receive a questionnaire and other claim forms in order to fill these in and thus claim an individual dumping margin in accordance with Section (b) below.

By providing the above information, the company agrees to its possible inclusion in the sample. If the company is selected to be part of the sample, this will imply completing a questionnaire and accepting a visit at its premises in order to verify its response (‘on-spot verification’). If the company indicates that it does not agree to its possible inclusion in the sample, it will be deemed not to have cooperated in the investigation. The Commission's findings for non-cooperating exporting producers are based on facts available and the result may be less favourable to that party than if it had cooperated.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for the selection of the sample of exporting producers, the Commission will also contact the authorities of the country concerned and may contact any known associations of exporting producers.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample, excluding the information requested above, must do so within 21 days of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

If a sample is necessary, the exporting producers may be selected based on the largest representative volume of exports to the Union which can reasonably be investigated within the time available. All known exporting producers, the authorities of the country concerned and associations of exporting producers will be notified by the Commission, via the authorities of the country concerned if appropriate, of the companies selected to be in the sample.

All exporting producers selected to be in the sample will have to submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified.

Companies that had agreed to their possible inclusion in the sample but were not selected to be in the sample shall be considered to be cooperating (‘non-sampled cooperating exporting producers’). Without prejudice to Section (b) below, the anti-dumping duty that may be applied to imports from the non-sampled cooperating exporting producers will not exceed the weighted average margin of dumping established for the exporting producers in the sample pursuant to Article 9(6) of the basic Regulation.

(b)   Individual dumping margin for companies not included in the sample

Non-sampled cooperating exporting producers may request, pursuant to Article 17(3) of the basic Regulation, that the Commission establish their individual dumping margins (‘individual dumping margin’). The exporting producers wishing to claim an individual dumping margin must request a questionnaire and other claim forms in accordance with Section (a) above and return them duly completed within the deadlines specified below. The completed questionnaire reply must be submitted within 37 days of the date of the notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified. It must be underlined that, in order for the Commission to be able to establish individual dumping margins for those exporting producers in the non-market economy country, it must be proven that they fulfil the criteria for being granted market economy treatment (‘MET’) or at least individual treatment (‘IT’) as specified in Section 5.1.2.2 below.

However, exporting producers claiming an individual dumping margin should be aware that the Commission may nonetheless decide not to determine their individual dumping margin if, for instance, the number of exporting producers is so large that such determination would be unduly burdensome and would prevent the timely completion of the investigation.

5.1.2.   Procedure with regard to exporting producers in the non-market economy country concerned

5.1.2.1.   Selection of a Market Economy Country

Subject to the provisions of Section 5.1.2.2 below, in accordance with Article 2(7)(a) of the basic Regulation, in the case of imports from the People's Republic of China normal value shall be determined on the basis of the price or constructed value in a market economy third country. For this purpose the Commission shall select an appropriate market economy third country. The Commission has provisionally chosen the Unites States of America. Interested parties are hereby invited to comment on the appropriateness of this choice within 10 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

5.1.2.2.   Treatment of exporting producers in the non-market economy country concerned

In accordance with Article 2(7)(b) of the basic Regulation, individual exporting producers in the country concerned which consider that market economy conditions prevail for them in respect of the manufacture and sale of the product under investigation, may submit a properly substantiated claim to this effect (‘MET claim’). Market economy treatment (‘MET’) will be granted if the assessment of the MET claim shows that criteria laid down in Article 2(7)(c) of the basic Regulation (6) are fulfilled. The dumping margin of the exporting producers granted MET will be calculated, to the extent possible and without prejudice to the use of facts available pursuant to Article 18 of the basic Regulation, by using their own normal value and export prices in accordance with Article 2(7)(b) of the basic Regulation.

Individual exporting producers in the country concerned may also, or as an alternative, claim individual treatment (‘IT’). To be granted IT these exporting producers must provide evidence that they fulfil the criteria set out in Article 9(5) of the basic Regulation (7). The dumping margin of the exporting producers granted IT will be calculated on the basis of their own export prices. The normal value for exporting producers granted IT will be based on the values established for the market economy third country selected as outlined above.

(a)   Market economy treatment (MET)

The Commission will send MET claim forms to all the exporting producers in the country concerned selected to be in the sample and to non-sampled cooperating exporting producers that wish to apply for an individual dumping margin, to any known association of exporting producers, as well as to the authorities of the country concerned.

All exporting producers claiming MET should submit a completed MET claim form within 15 days of the date of the notification of the sample selection or of the decision not to select a sample, unless otherwise specified.

(b)   Individual treatment (IT)

To apply for IT, exporting producers in the country concerned selected to be in the sample and non-sampled cooperating exporting producers that wish to apply for an individual dumping margin should submit the MET claim form with the sections relevant for IT duly completed within 15 days of the date of the notification of sample selection, unless otherwise specified.

5.1.3.   Investigating unrelated importers  (8)  (9)

In view of the potentially large number of unrelated importers involved in this proceeding and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission may limit to a reasonable number the unrelated importers that will be investigated by selecting a sample (this process is also referred to as ‘sampling’). The sampling will be carried out in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling is necessary and, if so, to select a sample, all unrelated importers, or representatives acting on their behalf, are hereby requested to make themselves known to the Commission. These parties should do so within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified, by providing the Commission with the following information on their company or companies:

name, address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers and contact person,

the precise activities of the company with regard to the product under investigation,

the volume in tonnes and value in euro of imports into and resales made on the Union market during the period from 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2010 of the imported product under investigation originating in the country concerned,

the names and the precise activities of all related companies (10) involved in the production and/or sales of the product under investigation,

any other relevant information that would assist the Commission in the selection of the sample.

By providing the above information, the company agrees to its possible inclusion in the sample. If the company is selected to be part of the sample, this will imply completing a questionnaire and accepting a visit at its premises in order to verify its response (‘on-spot verification’). If the company indicates that it does not agree to its possible inclusion in the sample, it will be deemed not to have cooperated in the investigation. The Commission's findings for non-cooperating importers are based on the facts available and the result may be less favourable to that party than if it had cooperated.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for the selection of the sample of unrelated importers, the Commission may also contact any known associations of importers.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample, excluding the information requested above, must do so within 21 days of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

If a sample is necessary, the importers may be selected based on the largest representative volume of sales of the product under investigation in the Union which can reasonably be investigated within the time available. All known unrelated importers and associations of importers will be notified by the Commission of the companies selected to be in the sample.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the sampled unrelated importers and to any known association of importers. These parties must submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of the notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified. The completed questionnaire will contain information on, inter alia, the structure of their company(ies), the activities of the company(ies) in relation to the product under investigation and on the sales of the product under investigation.

5.2.    Procedure for the determination of injury

Injury means material injury to the Union industry, or threat of material injury to the industry, or material retardation of the establishment of such an industry. A determination of injury is based on positive evidence and involves an objective determination of the volume of dumped imports, their effect on prices on the Union market and the consequent impact of those imports on the Union industry. In order to establish whether the Union industry is materially injured, Union producers of the product under investigation are invited to participate in the Commission investigation.

5.2.1.   Investigating Union producers

In view of the potentially large number of Union producers involved in this proceeding and in order to complete the investigation within the set time limits, the Commission may limit to a reasonable number the Union producers that will be investigated by selecting a sample (this process is also referred to as ‘sampling’). The sampling will be carried out in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling is necessary and, if so, to select a sample, all Union producers, or representatives acting on their behalf, are hereby requested to make themselves known to the Commission. These parties should do so within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified, by providing the Commission with the following information on their company or companies:

name, address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers and contact person,

the precise activities of the company worldwide with regard to the product under investigation,

the value in euro of sales of the product under investigation made on the Union market during the period from 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2010,

the volume in tonnes of sales of the product under investigation made on the Union market during the period from 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2010,

the volume in tonnes of the production of the product under investigation during the period from 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2010,

the volume in tonnes imported into the Union of the product under investigation produced in the country concerned during the period from 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2010, if applicable,

the names and the precise activities of all related companies (11) involved in the production and/or sales of the product under investigation (whether produced in the Union or in the country concerned),

any other relevant information that would assist the Commission in the selection of the sample.

By providing the above information, the company agrees to its possible inclusion in the sample. If the company is selected to be part of the sample, this will imply completing a questionnaire and accepting a visit at its premises in order to verify its response (‘on-spot verification’). If the company indicates that it does not agree to its possible inclusion in the sample, it will be deemed not to have cooperated in the investigation. The Commission's findings for non-cooperating Union producers are based on the facts available and the result may be less favourable to that party than if it had cooperated.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for the selection of the sample of Union producers, the Commission may also contact any known associations of Union producers.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample, excluding the information listed above, must do so within 21 days of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

If a sample is necessary, the Union producers may be selected based on the largest representative volume of sales in the Union which can reasonably be investigated within the time available. All known Union producers and associations of Union producers will be notified by the Commission of the companies selected to be in the sample.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the sampled Union producers and to any known association of Union producers. These parties must submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of the notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified. The completed questionnaire will contain information on, inter alia, the structure of their company(ies), the financial situation of the company(ies), the activities of the company(ies) in relation to the product under investigation, the cost of production and the sales of the product under investigation.

5.3.    Procedure for the assessment of Union interest

Should the existence of dumping and injury caused thereby be established, a decision will be reached as to whether the adoption of anti-dumping measures would be against the Union interest pursuant to Article 21 of the basic Regulation. Union producers, importers and their representative associations, users and their representative user organisations and representative consumer organisations are invited to make themselves known within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. In order to participate in the investigation, the representative consumer organisations have to demonstrate, within the same deadline, that there is an objective link between their activities and the product under investigation.

Parties that make themselves known within the above deadline may provide the Commission with information on whether the imposition of measures would not be against the Union interest within 37 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. This information may be provided either in a free format or by completing a questionnaire prepared by the Commission. In any case, information submitted pursuant to Article 21 will only be taken into account if supported by factual evidence at the time of submission.

5.4.    Other written submissions

Subject to the provisions of this notice, all interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known, submit information and provide supporting evidence. Unless otherwise specified, this information and supporting evidence should reach the Commission within 37 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

5.5.    Possibility to be heard by the Commission investigation services

All interested parties may request to be heard by the Commission investigation services. Any request to be heard should be made in writing and should specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of the investigation the request must be submitted within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. Thereafter, a request to be heard should be submitted within the specific deadlines set by the Commission in its communication with the parties.

5.6.    Procedure for making written submissions and sending completed questionnaires and correspondence

All submissions, including information submitted for the selection of the sample, completed MET claim forms, completed questionnaires and updates thereof, made by interested parties must be made in writing in both paper and electronic format, and must indicate the name, address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers of the interested party. If an interested party cannot provide its submissions and requests in electronic format for technical reasons, it must immediately inform the Commission.

All written submissions, including the information requested in this notice, completed questionnaires and correspondence provided by interested parties for which confidential treatment is requested shall be labelled ‘Limited’ (12).

Interested parties providing ‘Limited’ information are required to furnish non-confidential summaries of it pursuant to Article 19(2) of the basic Regulation, which will be labelled ‘For inspection by interested parties’. These summaries should be sufficiently detailed to permit a reasonable understanding of the substance of the information submitted in confidence. If an interested party providing confidential information does not furnish a non-confidential summary of it in the requested format and quality, such confidential information may be disregarded.

Commission address for correspondence:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Trade

Directorate H

Office: N-105 04/092

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Fax +32 22956505

6.   Non-cooperation

In cases where any interested party refuses access to or does not provide the necessary information within the time limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, provisional or final findings, affirmative or negative, may be made on the basis of facts available, in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation.

Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information may be disregarded and use may be made of facts available.

If an interested party does not cooperate or cooperates only partially and findings are therefore based on facts available in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, the result may be less favourable to that party than if it had cooperated.

7.   Hearing Officer

Interested parties may request the intervention of the Hearing Officer of Directorate-General for Trade. The Hearing Officer acts as an interface between the interested parties and the Commission investigation services. The Hearing Officer reviews requests for access to the file, disputes on the confidentiality of documents, requests for extension of time limits and requests by third parties to be heard. The Hearing Officer may organise a hearing with an individual interested party and mediate to ensure that the interested parties’ rights of defence are being fully exercised.

A request for a hearing with the Hearing Officer should be made in writing and should specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of the investigation the request must be submitted within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. Thereafter, a request to be heard must be submitted within specific deadlines set by the Commission in its communication with the parties.

The Hearing Officer will also provide opportunities for a hearing involving parties to take place which would allow different views to be presented and rebuttal arguments offered on issues pertaining, among others, to dumping, injury, causal link and Union interest. Such a hearing would, as a rule, take place at the latest at the end of the fourth week following the disclosure of provisional findings.

For further information and contact details interested parties may consult the Hearing Officer's web pages on Directorate-General for Trade's website (http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/respectrules/ho/index_en.htm).

8.   Schedule of the investigation

The investigation will be concluded, according to Article 6(9) of the basic Regulation within 15 months of the date of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. According to Article 7(1) of the basic Regulation, provisional measures may be imposed no later than 9 months from the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

9.   Processing of personal data

Any personal data collected in this investigation will be treated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (13).


(1)  OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 51.

(2)  Dumping is the practice of selling a product for export (‘the product concerned’) at a price below its ‘normal value’. The normal value is usually taken to be a comparable price for the ‘like’ product on the domestic market of the exporting country. The term ‘like product’ is interpreted to mean a product which is alike in all respects to the product concerned or, in the absence of such a product, a product which closely resembles the product.

(3)  An exporting producer is any company in the country concerned which produces and exports the product under investigation to the Union market, either directly or via third party, including any of its related companies involved in the production, domestic sales or exports of the product concerned. Non-producing exporters are normally not entitled to an individual duty rate.

(4)  The 27 Member States of the European Union are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

(5)  In accordance with Article 143 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 concerning the implementation of the Community Customs Code, persons shall be deemed to be related only if: (a) they are officers or directors of one another's businesses; (b) they are legally recognised partners in business; (c) they are employer and employee; (d) any person directly or indirectly owns, controls or holds 5 % or more of the outstanding voting stock or shares of both of them; (e) one of them directly or indirectly controls the other; (f) both of them are directly or indirectly controlled by a third person; (g) together they directly or indirectly control a third person; or (h) they are members of the same family. Persons shall be deemed to be members of the same family only if they stand in any of the following relationships to one another: (i) husband and wife; (ii) parent and child; (iii) brother and sister (whether by whole or half blood); (iv) grandparent and grandchild; (v) uncle or aunt and nephew or niece; (vi) parent-in-law and son-in-law or daughter-in-law; (vii) brother-in-law and sister-in-law (OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1). In this context ‘person’ means any natural or legal person.

(6)  The exporting producers have to demonstrate in particular that: (i) business decisions and costs are made in response to market conditions and without significant State interference; (ii) firms have one clear set of basic accounting records which are independently audited in line with international accounting standards and are applied for all purposes; (iii) there are no significant distortions carried over from the former non-market economy system; (iv) bankruptcy and property laws guarantee legal certainty and stability; and (v) exchange rate conversions are carried out at market rates.

(7)  The exporting producers have to demonstrate in particular that: (i) in the case of wholly or partly foreign owned firms or joint ventures, exporters are free to repatriate capital and profits; (ii) export prices and quantities and conditions and terms of sale are freely determined; (iii) the majority of the shares belong to private persons. State officials appearing on the Board of Directors or holding key management positions shall either be in a minority or it must be demonstrated that the company is nonetheless sufficiently independent from State interference; (iv) exchange rate conversions are carried out at the market rate; and (v) State interference is not such as to permit circumvention of measures if individual exporters are given different rates of duty.

(8)  Only importers not related to exporting producers can be sampled. Importers that are related to exporting producers have to fill in Annex 1 to the questionnaire for these exporting producers. For the definition of a related party see footnote 5.

(9)  The data provided by unrelated importers may also be used in relation to aspects of this investigation other than the determination of dumping.

(10)  For the definition of a related party see footnote 5.

(11)  For the definition of a related party see footnote 5.

(12)  This document is a confidential document pursuant to Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 51) and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-Dumping Agreement). It is also a document protected pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43).

(13)  OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.


PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/17


Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5934 — Veolia Water UK and Veolia Voda/Subsidiaries of United Utilities Group)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 265/10

1.

On 23 September 2010, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Veolia Water UK Plc (‘VWUK’, UK) and Veolia Voda SA (‘VV’, Czech Republic) both ultimately controlled by Veolia Environment SA (‘VE’, France) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of certain businesses of United Utilities Group PLC (‘the Target Business’, UK) in UK by way of purchase of shares. In addition, VE Group will acquire shareholdings of the Target Business in water operating concessions in Bulgaria, Estonia and Poland.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

for VWUK: provision of outsourced water and wastewater management services to regulated water and wastewater companies and industrial customers in UK and Ireland,

for VV: provision of water and wastewater infrastructures and services in Central and Eastern Europe,

for VE group: provision of environmental management services,

for the Target Business: provision of outsourced water and wastewater management services to regulated water and wastewater companies and industrial customers in UK and utility connections in UK. In Bulgaria, Poland and Estonia it has interests in companies operating concessions for the municipal supply of water and wastewater infrastructure and services.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5934 — Veolia Water UK and Veolia Voda/Subsidiaries of United Utilities Group, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË


(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).


OTHER ACTS

European Commission

30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/18


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 265/11

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

‘FICHI DI COSENZA’

EC No: IT-PDO-0005-0682-25.02.2008

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Name:

‘Fichi di Cosenza’

2.   Member State or third country:

Italy

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:

The designation ‘Fichi di Cosenza’ refers exclusively to dried fruit of the ‘Dottato’ (or ‘Ottato’) variety from the domestic fig tree Ficus carica sativa (domestica L.). When fresh, fruit of the ‘Dottato’ variety grown in the geographical area identified in point 4 are ovoid to round, with the ostiole generally being partly open and surrounded by a green ring that tends increasingly towards brown with ripening. Their skin is initially straw green and becomes greenish yellow; sometimes it has barely visible longitudinal ribbing. The amber-coloured receptacle contains amber-coloured, medium-firm flesh that is slightly aromatic and not very juicy. The juice is not particularly dense but, when the fruit is ripe, it sometimes leaks out in drops from the ostiole. The flavour is honey sweet. The small, empty achenes are relatively few.

When released for consumption, ‘Fichi di Cosenza’ have the following characteristics:

Physical characteristics

the figs are sorted by size as follows:

large: 55-65 fruit in 1 kg;

medium: 66-85 fruit in 1 kg;

small: more than 85 fruit in 1 kg;

shape: elongated drop-shaped, sometimes slightly flattened at the apex;

stalk: short and thin, always present;

skin: clear and golden, from deep straw yellow to light beige in colour, sometimes with limited amounts of darker parts;

ribbing (dark longitudinal lines): only slightly perceptible;

achenes: relatively few, small (average width 0,98 mm, average length 1,30 mm), generally empty and low in number, not very crunchy;

Chemical characteristics

moisture content: maximum 24 %; or 28 % if packaged;

total sugars (% of dry matter): 48-57 in those dried in the sun; 50-75 in those dried in greenhouses;

Organoleptic characteristics

flavour: particularly sweet, almost honeyish.

3.3.   Raw materials (for processed products only):

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

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

All steps in the production of ‘Fichi di Cosenza’, from harvesting to drying, must take place within the area identified in point 4.

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

The product is packaged in trays made of wood or another material for food use (contents between 50 g and 1 kg) or in containers made of cardboard or another material for food use (contents between 1 kg and 25 kg). The containers must be covered with transparent film.

3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling:

The procedures for presentation of the product when it is released for consumption require the label to feature, in addition to the Community graphic symbol, the following in clear and legible characters:

the wording ‘Fichi di Cosenza’, possibly followed by a translation into other languages, and the translatable wording ‘Denominazione di Origine Protetta’ (‘Protected Designation of Origin’),

the product logo.

The following additional wordings, in Italian or local dialect, may also be used on the product packaging:

‘Fichi secchi di Cosenza’, ‘Fichi essiccati del cosentino’, ‘Ficu siccati’, ‘Ficu Janchi’

It is forbidden to add any wording that is not expressly provided for.

Image

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area:

The geographical area of production of ‘Fichi di Cosenza’ is bounded to the north by the broad southern slope of the Pollino massif, which prevents contact with the Basilicata region, and to the south by the Sila plateau and the rivers that descend from it to the south east, the Nucà, and the south west, the Savuto. This production area lies between 0 and 800 m above sea level and excludes areas with an incline of more than 35 %. It includes the entire valley of the river Crati which, running from south to north, enters the Ionian Sea to the north east. It also covers the right bank of the valley of the river Savuto, which enters the Tyrrhenian Sea to the south west.

5.   Link with the geographical area:

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area:

Natural factors

Soil

By far the most widespread soils in the ‘Fichi di Cosenza’ production area are loose, rather dry soils that are rich in calcium and have average overall fertility.

Climate

The ‘Fichi di Cosenza’ production area is characterised by a mild climate. Indeed, it is located between two seas, the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian; to the north the Pollino massif protects it from the cold northern winds, while the Sila plateau protects it from the hot, blustery south eastern winds.

The available meteorological data attest to the absence of frosts or intense, frequent mists; the present of moderate annual average temperatures; precipitation in late spring and early summer limited to short, isolated occurrences; and, in the most important period for ensuring that the quality characteristics of the fruit are maintained, namely the period of ripening, harvesting and drying, a lack of rain and temperatures that are never torrid, along with, most importantly, moderate, daily ventilation. These climatic conditions mean that the figs dry almost completely on the branch, making them of higher quality than dried figs obtained from the same variety or similar varieties grown in other geographical areas.

Human factors

Dried figs — which, since antiquity, have been a very important foodstuff as they are easy to preserve and high in energy — have also become an important economic resource in the Cosenza area (ASN, 1587), characterised by specific local customs that have not developed in the neighbouring provinces, centred around local techniques for growing and processing the ‘Dottato’ variety.

Today, as in the past (Ravasini, 1911), farmers in the Cosenza area take special measures to prevent caprification, removing the occasional wild fig trees that can appear near the fig orchards.

Thanks to the area's specific climatic conditions, the figs are allowed to wilt on the branch until they remain hanging by the stalk (at this stage the dried figs are known in local dialect as ‘passuluni’). Local growers assess the optimum dehydration point, carefully harvest the ‘passuluni’ by hand and, in order to avoid the development of parasitic diseases, immediately send them for complete drying, either in direct sunlight (traditional drying) or in greenhouses covered by glass or another transparent material (protected drying) on handmade supports made of reeds or another breathable material for food use for a period of 3-7 days.

Over the 3-7 days (the period depends on the local grower's past experience and assessment) a great deal of attention is paid to the drying figs: sensory assessment of the degree and uniformity of ripening, health status and organolepetic and aesthetic qualities, in order to arrive at a final product that is suitable for consumption and subsequent processing (for example, in the first few days the figs must be turned by hand at least twice a day to allow uniform drying; figs without stalks, those with marks from burning by the sun and so on are discarded).

The growing and processing of ‘Dottato’ figs and their use after drying is thus a specific and traditional custom of the Cosenza area, which has long been recognised in Italy by researchers and traders who have described and recognised the marked qualities of the famous Cosenza dried figs (Casella, 1933; Pagano, 1857):

‘the expert work of a people which, over the centuries, has been able to develop a unique economic activity based on selection of the best varieties, implementation of the agricultural techniques and methods best suited to the purpose, use of appropriate equipment and machinery, the suitable application of time and work (both manual and mechanised work, with manual work still making an important contribution today), and optimum processing methods, all with the aim of arriving at a characteristic final product of high quality (in terms of taste, aesthetics, health and diet)’.

Starting from loose figs dried in the sun, farmers in Cosenza have, over the centuries, invented a large number of often creative derived products involving a greater or lesser degree of processing.

5.2.   Specificity of the product:

‘Fichi di Cosenza’ have noteworthy defining characteristics, since, once drying has been completed, they are full-bodied, fleshy, soft and tender, ranging in colour from light yellow to light amber. The most important feature distinguishing ‘Fichi di Cosenza’ from figs of the same ‘Dottato’ variety grown outside the Cosenza area is their small, fine achenes, which are almost imperceptible during chewing. To this are added other phenological and organolepetic characteristics, including the high sugar content, ease of preservation and high suitability for being processed using various traditional methods.

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):

The quality and characteristics of ‘Fichi di Cosenza’ are essentially due to the natural and human factors of the geographical environment.

Natural factors

The good soil texture, with soils that are neither clayey nor heavy, prevents waterlogging and instead favours the best possible physiological conditions of the trees, whose crown is less threatened by fungal and bacterial diseases.

The moderate, ever-present summer winds that mitigate the peaks of heat during the summer months ensure that the thin skin of the fig does not dehydrate too rapidly and take on a dark brown colour. The pace of water migration from the interior of the fruit to the outside of the skin is thus gradual and continuous, meaning that the flesh of the drying figs is uniform and soft, and encourages the process whereby the figs slowly dry on the branch (when they are known as ‘passuluni’). This phenomenon is very important for quality purposes, as it allows growers to harvest the figs at the best possible moment and prevents the figs from falling to the earth naturally and becoming exposed to parasites.

In addition, wild fig trees are rare in the Cosenza area and caprification does not occur. This allows the highest possible degree of parthenocarpy in the trees, making the fig flesh almost free of achenes, with any achenes present being small and infertile.

Human factors

Human input plays a decisive role in the quality of ‘Fichi di Cosenza’. Indeed, their production involves an important contribution from manual work, experience and expertise, which are present at all stages of the production process and are decisive in ensuring the quality of the final product, to the extent that it achieves better economic results (CUPECC, 1936). Manual harvesting and processing have always been carried out by expert personnel and testify to a high level of expertise which has been handed down from generation to generation, becoming an irreplaceable asset of the area. Local experience — which is age-old, varied, well established and sometimes even kept secret within families — also determines the final results of production of the many traditional processed products made from ‘Fichi di Cosenza’. Each of these is a form of expression of the creative verve of the local population, which has long been recognised by many sources (Casella D., 1933; Casella L.A., 1915; Cerchiara, 1933; Jacini, 1877; REDA, 1960; Palopoli, 1985). The production area of ‘Fichi di Cosenza’ has many fairs and traditional events dedicated to the product, including the Fair of San Giuseppe which has been recorded in Cosenza at least as far back as the mid-19th century.

Reference to publication of the specification:

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

The Ministry launched the national objection procedure with the publication of the proposal for recognising ‘Fichi di Cosenza’ PDO in Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 7 of 9 January 2008.

The full text of the product specification is available:

at the following site: http://www.politicheagricole.it/DocumentiPubblicazioni/Search_Documenti_Elenco.htm?txtTipoDocumento=Disciplinare%20in%20esame%20UE&txtDocArgomento=Prodotti%20di%20Qualit%E0>Prodotti%20Dop,%20Igp%20e%20Stg

or

by going directly to the home page of the Ministry (http://www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Prodotti di Qualità’ (on the left of the screen) and finally on ‘Disciplinari di Produzione all’esame dell’UE [regolamento (CE) n. 510/2006]’.


(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.


30.9.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 265/23


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 265/12

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.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘CHORIZO DE CANTIMPALOS’

EC No: ES-PGI-0005-0632-17.07.2007

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1.   Name:

‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’

2.   Member State or third country:

Spain

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff:

3.1.   Product type:

Class 1.2:

Meat-based products

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

‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ is a cured sausage product made from fresh fatty pork, with salt and pepper as basic ingredients, to which garlic and oregano may also be added, and subjected to a drying and maturing process, over 40 % of which takes place in natural curing houses. It may be put up whole or in thick or thin slices.

The various formats in which the chorizo may be put up are:

—   ‘Sarta’: Chorizo-style sausage of 25-35 mm in diameter, of a piece,

—   ‘Achorizado’: Chorizo-style sausage of 30-50 mm in diameter, tied or wired together to form a string of several chorizo sausages, and

—   ‘Cular’: Chorizo-style sausage in pig-gut casing of more than 35 mm in diameter, of an irregular cylindrical shape which varies according to the casing.

‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ must present the following characteristics:

Morphological properties, according to format

—   ‘Sarta’: The surface of the sausage must be dark red in colour, smooth or slightly wrinkled and no bits of fat must show on the outside.

—   ‘Achorizado’: The surface of the sausage must be dark red in colour, smooth or slightly wrinkled and no bits of fat must show on the outside; the outside must have a floury whitish mould.

—   ‘Cular’: Part or all of the surface of the sausage must have a floury whitish mould, over a greenish hue caused by oxidation of the casing.

Chemical and physical properties

Moisture content of between 20 % and 40 %.

Fat in dry matter: Maximum 57 %.

Protein in dry matter: Minimum 30 %.

Hydroxiproline in dry matter: Maximum 0,5 %.

Total carbohydrates expressed as a percentage of glucose in the dry matter: Maximum 1,5 % when put up in Sarta or Achorizado format and maximum 3 % in Cular format.

Chloride, expressed as sodium chloride in the dry matter: Maximum 6 %.

pH of between 5,0 and 6,0.

Organoleptic properties

Consistency: They must be uniformly firm, without being excessively hard or soft, throughout their length.

Appearance on slicing: Intense red colour when sliced, with red-tainted white spots due to the presence of bits of pigmented fat. The filling must be well bound, that is to say it must be homogenous, compact and free from any fatty bits larger than 0,5 cm in diameter.

Aroma: The intrinsic aroma must be made up of a number of components arising from the maturing process of the meat, slightly acid, smooth and of medium intensity, together with that of the permitted spices which are added to it, while none of them should stand out above the others.

On the palate, its consistency must be juicy and cohesive, easily chewed, not very fibrous and free from undesirable matter (such as fascia, bone fragments, ganglia or tendon). As a whole, its taste must be pleasant and not spicy.

3.3.   Raw materials (for processed products only):

The meat must be from heavy-pig varieties, white-pig breeds of either sex, although males must be castrated, fed in the last three months before slaughter with a minimum 75 %, in the dry matter, of barley, wheat and rye, slaughtered at an age between 7 and 10 months, with a live weight of between 115 and 175 kilograms.

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

There is no restriction as to the provenance of the feed.

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

In particular, the manufacture, maturing and drying of the chorizo is carried out within the defined geographical area.

In addition to the particular characteristics of its method of production, natural drying is the most essential stage linked to the identified area to produce chorizo of the characteristics set out in the section ‘Description of the product’.

The process takes the following steps in the order indicated:

 

First the meat is prepared in the workshop, at an ambient temperature less than 12 °C for a period not exceeding two hours. All excess fat or parts of tendons which it may contain are removed. The temperature of the meat at the time of mincing must be between 0 and 2 °C. The mincers have plates with holes of varying diameter. For Sarta and Achorizado chorizos, their diameter must be between 8 and 16 millimetres and between 18 and 26 millimetres for Cular chorizos.

 

The mincing process mixes the ingredients and authorised additives to form a homogenous mass which is then rested in refrigerated rooms at a temperature of between 2 and 7 °C for a period of between 12 and 36 hours. The mixture should have a pH between 5,5 and 6,5.

 

After refrigeration, the mixture is stuffed into a casing. Care must be taken to ensure that no air gets in. This is then wired or tied with thread of three different colours (red, black and white) depending on its format, and subsequently cured.

 

The curing process has a minimum duration of 21 days for Sarta chorizo, 24 days for Achorizado chorizo and 40 days for Cular chorizo. This should produce a shrinkage of at least 25 % from the initial mixture and the finished chorizo. The curing process must comprise two sections: maturing and drying.

 

The chorizo is cured in curing houses at a temperature between 6 and 16 °C and a relative humidity of between 60 and 85 %.

 

The drying process must take place in natural curing houses for over 40 % of the total curing time.

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

The chorizo may be sliced, grated or packaged by registered plants.

3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling:

The wording or labels on packages identifying ‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ intended for consumption must include the terms ‘Indicación Geográfica Protegida’ and ‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ (‘Protected Geographical Indication’ and ‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’).

The product will also carry a back label, issued by the inspection body and identified by an alphanumeric code, to be affixed by the registered manufacturer in such a way that it cannot be reused, allowing guaranteed traceability. Such labels must bear the words ‘Indicación Geográfica Protegida Chorizo de Cantimpalos’, its logo, and with the form in which the chorizo is put up: ‘Sarta’, ‘Achorizado’ or ‘Cular’.

Products prepared using ‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ PGI as the raw material, including those which have undergone processing, may be released for consumption in packaging bearing the following reference to the PGI, ‘Elaborado con Indicación Geográfica Protegida Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ (prepared with ‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ Protected Geographical Indication), but without the Community logo, provided that ‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ PGI, certified as such, is the sole component of the product group concerned. The manufacturers or processors concerned are asked to notify the control body accordingly.

When ‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ PGI is not used exclusively, the protected designation may be mentioned only in the list of ingredients of products containing it or obtained from its processing or preparation.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area:

The geographical area in which the chorizo is manufactured consists of the following municipalities of the province of Segovia:

Abades, Adrada de Pirón, Aldealengua de Pedraza, Arahuetes, Arcones, Armuña (excluding Carbonero de Ahusín), Basardilla, Bercial, Bernardos, Bernuy de Porreros, Brieva, Caballar, Cabañas de Polendos, Cantimpalos, Carbonero el Mayor, Casla, Collado Hermoso, Cubillo, Encinillas, El Espinar, Escobar de Polendos, Espirido, Gallegos, Garcillán, Ituero y Lama, Juarros de Riomoros, La Lastrilla, La Losa, La Matilla, Labajos, Lastras del Pozo, Marazoleja, Marazuela, Martín Miguel, Marugán, Matabuena, Monterrubio, Muñopedro, Navafría, Navas de Riofrío, Navas de San Antonio, Orejana, Ortigosa del Monte, Otero de Herreros, Palazuelos de Eresma, Pedraza, Pelayos del Arroyo, Prádena, Rebollo, Roda de Eresma, Sangarcía, San Ildefonso o La Granja, Santa María la Real de Nieva, Santiuste de Pedraza, Santo Domingo de Pirón, Segovia, Sotosalbos, Tabanera la Luenga, Torrecaballeros, Torreiglesias, Torre Val de San Pedro, Trescasas, Turégano, Valdeprados, Valleruela de Pedraza, Valleruela de Sepúlveda, Valseca, Valverde del Majano, Vegas de Matute, Ventosilla y Tejadilla, Villacastín and Zarzuela del Monte.

These 72 municipalities cover a 40 kilometre-wide strip on the north face of the Sierra de Guadarrama, with a surface area of 2 574 square kilometres.

This geographical area is marked by its altitude of over 900 metres and its tradition of producing sausage for over 50 years.

The identified area brings together conditions of average annual temperatures of less than 12 °C, moderate relative humidity and less than 15 days of mist per year, conditions which favour the natural curing of the chorizo.

5.   Link with the geographical area:

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area:

The orography and climate of the geographical production area give rise to climatic conditions which favour the drying of the chorizo in natural conditions, essentially as a result of its altitude of over 900 metres, low temperatures, moderate relative humidity and very few days of mist per year, in comparison with other areas nearby.

These characteristics are not present in neighbouring areas, as to the south is the Sierra de Guadarrama, a colder and more humid mountainous area with a higher altitude; and to the north are plains with a lower altitude and more mist. Nor is there a tradition of producing chorizo in the vicinity.

5.2.   Specificity of the product:

The specificity of the product arises from:

the use of particular pieces of meat: flank, neck end, trims of cuts of topsides of beef and ham, dried hams and dried topsides of beef from which the fibrous parts, tendons and fascia have been removed, taken from pigs that have been reared on a diet of at least 75 % cereals (barley, wheat and rye),

the small size of the plates used for mincing,

the fact that the meat mixture is allowed to rest before insertion into the casings, which allows the flavours of the meat and other ingredients (salt, pepper, garlic, etc.) to mix, while at the same time a bacterial flora develops, lowering the pH and facilitating the subsequent drying process,

at least half of the pepper used is Pimentón de La Vera PDO.

This gives the chorizo specific characteristics such as the absence of tendons, an intense red colour, small bits of pigmented fat, firm consistency and a non-spicy 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):

The quality of the ‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ is the result of the careful selection of the meats used in its manufacture, the fact that the meat mixture is allowed to rest before insertion into the casings and the special curing and drying conditions in a geographical area whose altitude and very few days of mist result in a very well-cured product.

This final quality has conferred a reputation on this chorizo attested to by many historical and literary references since the beginning of the 20th Century, when the industrial manufacture of the chorizo first began in the area.

There are commercial documents dating from 1928 and 1933 regarding the exportation of ‘Chorizo de Cantimpalos’ to Mexico warning of imitations of the product.

Even Camilo José Cela, winner of the Nobel prize for literature, talks about ‘Cantimpalos, famoso por sus chorizos’ (‘Cantimpalos, famous for its chorizos’) in his book of 1956 ‘Judíos, moros y cristianos’.

This reputation extends to the three traditional formats as they present the same organoleptic characteristics on the palate.

Reference to publication of the specification:

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

http://www.itacyl.es/opencms_wf/opencms/system/modules/es.jcyl.ita.extranet/elements/galleries/galeria_downloads/calidad/pliegos_IGP/IGP_Chorizo_de_Cantimpalos.pdf


(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.