ISSN 1977-091X |
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Official Journal of the European Union |
C 414 |
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English edition |
Information and Notices |
Volume 57 |
Notice No |
Contents |
page |
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IV Notices |
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NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
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European Commission |
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2014/C 414/01 |
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NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA |
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EFTA Surveillance Authority |
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2014/C 414/02 |
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2014/C 414/03 |
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2014/C 414/04 |
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V Announcements |
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PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY |
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European Commission |
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2014/C 414/05 |
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2014/C 414/06 |
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2014/C 414/07 |
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PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY |
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European Commission |
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2014/C 414/08 |
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OTHER ACTS |
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European Commission |
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2014/C 414/09 |
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EN |
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IV Notices
NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
European Commission
20.11.2014 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 414/1 |
Euro exchange rates (1)
19 November 2014
2014/C 414/01
1 euro =
|
Currency |
Exchange rate |
USD |
US dollar |
1,2535 |
JPY |
Japanese yen |
147,45 |
DKK |
Danish krone |
7,4439 |
GBP |
Pound sterling |
0,79965 |
SEK |
Swedish krona |
9,2598 |
CHF |
Swiss franc |
1,2014 |
ISK |
Iceland króna |
|
NOK |
Norwegian krone |
8,4930 |
BGN |
Bulgarian lev |
1,9558 |
CZK |
Czech koruna |
27,683 |
HUF |
Hungarian forint |
304,80 |
LTL |
Lithuanian litas |
3,4528 |
PLN |
Polish zloty |
4,2184 |
RON |
Romanian leu |
4,4389 |
TRY |
Turkish lira |
2,8001 |
AUD |
Australian dollar |
1,4512 |
CAD |
Canadian dollar |
1,4226 |
HKD |
Hong Kong dollar |
9,7213 |
NZD |
New Zealand dollar |
1,5949 |
SGD |
Singapore dollar |
1,6347 |
KRW |
South Korean won |
1 391,24 |
ZAR |
South African rand |
13,8612 |
CNY |
Chinese yuan renminbi |
7,6710 |
HRK |
Croatian kuna |
7,6775 |
IDR |
Indonesian rupiah |
15 241,84 |
MYR |
Malaysian ringgit |
4,2119 |
PHP |
Philippine peso |
56,652 |
RUB |
Russian rouble |
58,8432 |
THB |
Thai baht |
41,136 |
BRL |
Brazilian real |
3,2431 |
MXN |
Mexican peso |
17,0288 |
INR |
Indian rupee |
77,7095 |
(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.
NOTICES CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA
EFTA Surveillance Authority
20.11.2014 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 414/2 |
Information communicated by the EFTA States regarding State aid granted under the Act referred to in point 1j of Annex XV to the EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty) (General Block Exemption Regulation)
2014/C 414/02
PART I
Aid reference |
GBER 9/2014/ENV |
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EFTA State |
Norway |
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Granting authority |
Name |
The Norwegian Ministry of Finance |
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Postal address |
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Web address |
http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fin.html?id=216 |
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Title of the aid measure |
Environmental aid – reduced tax rate for certain industries |
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National legal basis (Reference to the relevant national official publication) |
The Parliament’s annual decision on electricity tax Regulation 11 December 2001 No 1451 on excise duties § 3-12-4 and § 3-12-5 |
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Web link to the full text of the aid measure |
http://lovdata.no/dokument/STV/forskrift/2013-12-05-1486#KAPITTEL_6 http://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2001-12-11-1451?q=elektrisk+kraft* https://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Publikasjoner/Innstillinger/Stortinget/2013-2014/inns-201314-003/ |
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Type of measure |
Scheme |
|
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Amendment of an existing aid scheme or ad hoc aid |
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EFTA Surveillance Authority aid reference |
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Prolongation |
Decision No 149/04/COL |
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Duration |
Scheme |
1.7.2014 to 30.6.2024 |
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Economic sector(s) concerned |
Limited to certain sectors: Please specify at NACE group level |
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC2007): Section B – Mining and quarrying (Division 05 – 09) Section C – Manufacturing (Division 10 – 33) Section D – Steam and air conditioning supply (Subclass 35.300) Section E – Recovering of sorted materials (Subclass 38.320) Section Q – Vocational rehabilitation activities for unemployed persons (Subclass 88.993) and Individual adapted work (Subclass 88.994), as far as the electricity is used by enterprises that carry out industry production in the same way as the enterprises under Sections B and C. |
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Type of beneficiary |
SME |
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Large undertakings |
|
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Budget |
Total annual amount of the budget planned under the scheme |
NOK 2 200 (in millions) |
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Aid instrument |
Tax advantage or tax exemption |
PART II
Primary objective – General objectives (list) |
Objectives (list) |
Maximum aid intensity in % or Maximum annual aid amount in national currency (in full amounts) |
SME — bonuses in % |
Aid for Environmental protection (Arts. 36-49) |
Aid in the form of reductions in environmental taxes under Directive 2003/96/EC (Article 44) |
NOK 2 200 million |
% |
20.11.2014 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 414/4 |
Information communicated by the EFTA States regarding State aid granted under the Act referred to in point 1j of Annex XV to the EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty) (General Block Exemption Regulation)
2014/C 414/03
PART I
Aid reference |
GBER 10/2014/REG |
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EFTA State |
Norway |
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Region |
Name of the Region(s) Regional aid map, cf 91/14/COL |
Regional aid status C |
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Granting authority |
Name |
Innovation Norway |
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Postal address |
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Web address |
www.innovasjonnorge.no |
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Title of the aid measure |
Regional investment aid scheme |
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National legal basis (Reference to the relevant national official publication) |
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Web link to the full text of the aid measure |
http://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2014-06-17-807 http://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2013-12-11-1574 http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/kmd/tema/regional-_og_distriktspolitikk/bakgrunn-og-malsettinger-i-distrikts--og/tilskotsbrev/tilskotsbrev-2014/tilskuddsbrev-kapittel-551-post-60.html?id=748475 |
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Type of measure |
Scheme |
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Amendment of an existing aid scheme or ad hoc aid |
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EFTA Surveillance Authority aid reference |
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Prolongation |
Cf. 406/06/COL and letter from the Ministry of Local Governments and Regional Development, 19 January 2007, case no 06/2699 |
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Modification |
New regional aid map, cf. 91/14/COL. Amalgamation of two schemes |
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Duration |
Scheme |
1.7.2014 to 31.12.2020 |
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Economic sector(s) concerned |
All economic sectors eligible to receive aid |
Eligible sectors will comply with section 1.1 in the Authority’s guidelines on regional state aid for 2014-2020 (consolidated version) and with Article 13 of the GBER. |
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Type of beneficiary |
SME |
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Large undertakings |
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Budget |
Total annual amount of the budget planned under the scheme |
NOK 300 million |
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Aid instrument |
Grant/Interest rate subsidy |
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Loan/Repayable advances |
PART II
Primary objective — General objectives (list) |
Objectives (list) |
Maximum aid intensity in % or Maximum annual aid amount in national currency (in full amounts) |
SME — bonuses in % |
Regional aid — investment aid (Article 14) |
Scheme |
15 % |
10 % for medium sized enterprises, 20 % to small enterprises |
(1) Forskrift om virkeområde for distriktsrettet investeringsstøtte og regional transportstøtte.
(2) Forskrift for distrikts- og regionalpolitiske virkemidler.
20.11.2014 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 414/6 |
Information communicated by the EFTA States regarding State aid granted under the Act referred to in point 1j of Annex XV of the EEA Agreement (Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty) (General Block Exemption Regulation)
2014/C 414/04
PART I
Aid reference |
GBER 11/2014/REG |
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EFTA State |
Norway |
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Region |
Name of the Region(s) Regional aid map, cf 91/14/COL. |
Regional aid status C |
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Granting authority |
Name |
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Postal address |
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Web address |
www.stfk.no www.nfk.no www.tromsfylke.no |
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Title of the aid measure |
Regional transport aid scheme |
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National legal basis (Reference to the relevant national official publication) |
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Web link to the full text of the aid measure |
http://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2014-06-17-807 http://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2013-12-11-1574 http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/kmd/tema/regional-_og_distriktspolitikk/bakgrunn-og-malsettinger-i-distrikts--og/tilskotsbrev/tilskotsbrev-2014/tilskuddsbrev-kapittel-551-post-60.html?id=748475 |
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Type of measure |
Scheme |
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Amendment of an existing aid scheme or ad hoc aid |
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EFTA Surveillance Authority aid reference |
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Prolongation |
Cf. 143/07/COL |
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Modification |
New regional aid map, cf. 91/14/COL, increased aid intensities, cf. GBER article 15, paragraph 3. Eligible sectors according to RAGs and GBER. |
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Duration |
Scheme |
1.7.2014 to 31.12.2020 |
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Economic sector(s) concerned |
All economic sectors eligible to receive aid |
Eligible sectors will comply with Section 1.1 in the Authority’s guidelines on regional State aid for 2014-2020 (consolidated version) and with Article 13 of the GBER. |
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Type of beneficiary |
SMEs |
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Large undertakings |
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Budget |
Total annual amount of the budget planned under the scheme |
National currency NOK 30 million |
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Aid instrument |
Grant/Interest rate subsidy |
PART II
Primary objective — General objectives (list) |
Objectives (list) |
Maximum aid intensity in % or Maximum annual aid amount in national currency (in full amounts) |
SME — bonuses in % |
Regional aid — operating aid (Article 15) |
Transport costs of goods in eligible areas (Article 15(2)(a)) |
40 % |
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(1) Forskrift om virkeområde for distriktsrettet investeringsstøtte og regional transportstøtte.
(2) Forskrift for distrikts- og regionalpolitiske virkemidler.
V Announcements
PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY
European Commission
20.11.2014 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 414/8 |
Notice concerning the anti-dumping measures in force in respect of imports into the Union of melamine originating in the People’s Republic of China: change of the name of one company subject to the minimum import price
2014/C 414/05
Imports of melamine originating in the People’s Republic of China are subject either to a minimum import price or an anti-dumping duty imposed by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 457/2011 (1) (‘Regulation (EU) No 457/2011’).
On 6 August 2014, Shandong Liaherd Chemical Industry Co., Ltd, a company subject to the minimum import price, notified the Commission of its change of name to Holitech Technology Co., Ltd.
The company argued that their change of name does not affect their right to continue to benefit from the minimum import price.
The Commission has examined the information supplied and concluded that the change of name in no way affects the findings of Regulation (EU) No 457/2011.
Therefore, the reference in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EU) No 457/2011 to:
Shandong Liaherd Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
should be read as:
Holitech Technology Co., Ltd.
The TARIC additional code A987, previously attributed to Shandong Liaherd Chemical Industry Co., Ltd, shall apply to Holitech Technology Co., Ltd.
(1) OJ L 124, 13.5.2011, p. 2.
20.11.2014 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 414/9 |
Notice concerning the anti-dumping measures in force in respect of imports into the Union of ceramic tableware and kitchenware originating in the People’s Republic of China: change of the name of companies subject to the anti-dumping duty rate for cooperating non-sampled companies
2014/C 414/06
Imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware (‘tableware’) originating in the People’s Republic of China are subject to a definitive anti-dumping duty, imposed by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 412/2013 (1) (‘Regulation (EU) No 412/2013’).
Seven companies located in the People’s Republic of China, whose exports to the Union of tableware are subject to the anti-dumping duty rate for cooperating non-sampled companies of 17,9 %, have informed the Commission that they have changed their names as set out below.
The companies argued that their change of name does not affect their right to benefit from the duty applied to them under their previous names.
The Commission has examined the information supplied and concluded that the change of name in no way affects the findings of Regulation (EU) No 412/2013.
Therefore, the references in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 412/2013 regarding these companies should be read as below and the TARIC additional codes applied accordingly:
For |
Read |
TARIC code |
Chaozhou Ronglibao Porcelain Co., Ltd. |
Guangdong Ronglibao Homeware Co., Ltd. |
B461 |
Yong Feng Yuan Industry Co., Ltd. (‘Yong Feng Yuan Industry’) |
China Yong Feng Yuan Co., Ltd. |
B747 |
Chaozhou Jinqiangyi Ceramics Co., Ltd. |
Guangdong Jinqiuangyi Ceramics Co., Ltd. |
B437 |
Chaozhou Totye Ceramics Industrial Co., Ltd. |
Guangdong Totye Ceramics Industrial Co., Ltd. |
B474 |
Chaozhou Xinhui Porcelain Co., Ltd. |
Chaozhou Wenhui Porcelain Co., Ltd. |
B486 |
Jiyuan Jukang Xingxing Ceramics Co., Ltd. |
Jiyuan Jukang Xinxing Ceramics Co., Ltd. |
B618 |
T&C Shantou Daily Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. |
Gemmi (Shantou) Industrial Co., Ltd. |
B958 |
(1) OJ L 131, 15.5.2013, p. 1.
20.11.2014 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 414/10 |
Notice concerning the anti-dumping measures in force in respect of imports into the Union of ceramic tiles originating in the People’s Republic of China: change of the name of a company subject to the anti-dumping duty rate for cooperating non-sampled companies
2014/C 414/07
Imports of ceramic tiles originating in the People’s Republic of China are subject to a definitive anti-dumping duty, imposed by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 917/2011 of 12 September 2011 (1) (‘Regulation (EU) No 917/2011’).
Shanghai Cimic Tile Co. Ltd, a company located in the People’s Republic of China, whose exports to the Union of ceramic tiles are subject to the anti-dumping duty rate for cooperating non-sampled companies of 30,6 %, informed the Commission that on 4 June 2012 it changed its name to Shanghai CIMIC Holdings Co., Ltd
The company argued that their change of name does not affect their right to benefit from the duty applied to the company under its previous name of Shanghai Cimic Tile Co. Ltd
The Commission has examined the information supplied and concluded that the change of name in no way affects the findings of Regulation (EU) No 917/2011.
Therefore, the reference in Annex I of Regulation (EU) No 917/2011 to:
|
Shanghai Cimic Tile Co. Ltd |
should be read as:
|
Shanghai CIMIC Holdings Co., Ltd |
The TARIC additional code B214, previously attributed to Shanghai Cimic Tile Co. Ltd, shall apply to Shanghai CIMIC Holdings Co., Ltd
(1) OJ L 238, 15.9.2011, p. 1.
PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY
European Commission
20.11.2014 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 414/11 |
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION
State aid — Publication of existing State aid measures in Croatia in the agriculture sector
2014/C 414/08
In accordance with the procedure laid down in point 3(b) of Annex IV to the Accession Treaty, Croatia informed the Commission within four months of its accession of the State aid measures that it wished to be regarded as existing aid within the meaning of Article 108(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) until the end of the third year following its accession. Under the same provision, the Commission is required to publish a list of such aid.
The list of existing State aid measures in Croatia is hereby published in the official language of Croatia.
The full text of the measures has been published on the following website:
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/stateaid/index_en.htm
Under no circumstances is this publication to be taken as representing the Commission’s official view that these measures meet all other conditions set out in the TFEU and Accession Treaty, and in particular that these measures were implemented by Croatia prior to its accession and that they continue to apply.
1. |
Plaćanja za iznimno osjetljive sektore (mliječne krave, krmače, šećemu repu, maslinovo ulje, duhan). |
2. |
Dodjela prava na godišnju potrošnju plinskog ulja obojanog plavom bojom za namjene u poljoprivredi, ribolovu i akvakulturi. |
3. |
Vijeće za istraživanja u poljoprivredi – sufinanciranje razvojnih i primijenjenih istraživanja u poljoprivredi i ruralnim područjima. |
4. |
Sufinanciranje rada uzgojnih udruženja. |
5. |
Sufinanciranje selekcijskog rada uzgojnih organizacija. |
6. |
Sufinanciranje udruge Sinjska alka. |
7. |
Referentni laboratorij za mlijeko. |
8. |
Katastar pčelinjih paša. |
9. |
Državna ergela Ðakovo i Lipik. |
10. |
Potpora za očuvanje izvornih i zaštićenih vrsta i kultivara poljoprivrednog bilja. |
11. |
Osiguranje od mogućih šteta u proizvodnji u poljoprivredi. |
12. |
Potpora za ekološku poljoprivrednu proizvodnju. |
13. |
Potpora za integriranu poljoprivrednu proizvodnju. |
14. |
Potpora za područja s tezim uvjetima gospodarenja u poljoprivredi. |
15. |
Potpora za organizaciju manifestacija. |
16. |
Potpora za očuvanje izvornih i zaštićenih pasmina domaćih životinja. |
17. |
Program posebnih nadzora štetnih organizama bilja u 2013. godini – 2. dio: Štetni organizmi za koje se poseban nadzor provodi zbog pojave u šumskim sastojinama i na poljoprivrednim kulturama od gospodarskog interesa RH. |
18. |
Projekt tehničke suradnje IAEA, FAO/IAEA TCP RER 5018: Suzbijanje sredozemne voćne muhe (Ceratitis capitata) SIT tehnikom (Sterile Insect Technique) na području doline Neretve za razdoblje 2012./2013. |
19. |
Postojeće državne potpore u poljoprivredi jedinica lokalne, područne (regionalne) samouprave. |
20. |
Jamstveni program ‘Poljoprivrednici’ – Hrvatska agencija za malo gospodarstvo i investicije (HAMAG INVEST). |
21. |
Programi kreditiranja – Hrvatska banka za obnovu i razvoj (HBOR). |
OTHER ACTS
European Commission
20.11.2014 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 414/13 |
Publication of an application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs
2014/C 414/09
This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 (1).
SINGLE DOCUMENT
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006
on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (2)
‘PÖLLAUER HIRSCHBIRNE’
EC No: AT-PDO-0005-01190 — 16.12.2013
PGI ( ) PDO ( X )
1. Name
‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’
2. Member State or Third Country
Austria
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 ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ applies only to unprocessed fruit obtained from the perry pear variety ‘Hirschbirne’ (old regional variety) and the dried pears and unfermented fruit juice obtained from them.
‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ is a perry pear which ripens very late and is consumed fresh only very rarely. In the production area it is harvested when ripe for consumption and then immediately dried or processed into juice, because when ripe for consumption it is barely suitable for storage.
As a fruit, the ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ has the following characteristics — though natural variations must be taken into account:
— |
Shape: similar to a bergamot, a fruit on average wider than it is long (average length/width index 0,94), round in cross-section |
— |
Size: fruit small to medium-sized, length 35-68 mm (average: 50,4 mm), width 38-78 mm (average: 53,9 mm) |
— |
Weight: 26-203 g, average weight: 80,5 g |
— |
Skin yellow-green in colour, with a red colouration (often missing) on the side exposed to the sun; yellow when fully ripe; skin has numerous medium-sized, light brown lenticels which on the side exposed to the sun are often ringed with cloudy red |
— |
Fruit flesh cream-coloured, firm, non-melting (‘creamy’), juicy |
— |
Core calycifloral with open axis; seeds well developed, large, black |
— |
Stone-cell ring around the core coarse-grained, spherical or short spindle-shaped; hardly any stone cells outside the ring |
— |
Sepals on the fruit have felty hair |
— |
Fruit ripe in the autumn: from the last week in September to the third week in October, depending on altitude |
— |
Taste: for a perry pear, when ripe for consumption not very astringent, harmonious |
— |
Smell: cinnamon-like (not detectable in every case). |
Dried ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ is characterised by the following:
— |
Shape: pear-shaped, but with very wrinkled surface, irregularly distorted by the drying process |
— |
Fruit size: length approx. 23-47 mm (average: 36,4 mm), width approx. 24-44 mm (average: 32,5 mm) |
— |
Weight: 7-27 g, average weight approximately: 13 g |
— |
Skin dark brown in colour, with characteristic light blue-grey frosting |
— |
Fruit flesh: hard, dry and firm on the outside, stringy-soft and sticky on the inside, medium to dark brown |
— |
Core: characteristically hollow |
— |
Smell: characteristic of the variety, slightly spicy, fine dried-fruit smell, without extraneous smells |
— |
Taste: caramel-like dried-pear taste, sweetish. |
The juice from ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ has the following characteristics:
— |
Colour: light golden-yellow to deep golden-yellow, rarely almost bronze-coloured |
— |
Clarity: depending on the production method, clear to naturally cloudy juices can be made |
— |
Smell: like dried fruit, slight hints of acetaldehyde and spice (marjoram) may be present |
— |
Taste: aromatic, like dried pear, typical fruit with a hint of green pears; harmonious, balanced ratio of sugar, acid and tannin; lingering acidity in the finish |
— |
Other characteristics: a deposit of tannins in the form of partially spherical lees is possible. |
3.3. Raw materials (for processed products only)
Only fruit of the perry pear variety ‘Hirschbirne’ is used as the raw material for producing ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’. As fruit it is characterised by the features of ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ described under point 3.2.
The propagating material (comprising seeds from the fruit of wild pear trees [wild pears] and/or of suitable perry pear trees [bearing small fruit], grafts and/or grafting material as well as trees which are suitable for planting out) must originate from the geographical area.
‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ is grafted only on seedling foundations as half standards and standards, in order to obtain characteristic large-crown tree shapes with strong growth. ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ must not be cultivated in a spindle shape on foundations with weak growth, since this form of cultivation alters the characteristics of the variety and in particular the variety’s typical taste.
Only fully ripe fruit is suitable for further processing, since only at this time does the ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ attain its typical harmonious taste which is key to the properties of the processed products described in point 3.2.
3.4. Feed (for products of animal origin only)
—
3.5. Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area
In order to ensure the high quality of the product, all the production steps — from producing the propagating material up to and including the juice production and the drying process — must take place in the defined geographical area. Since it is harvested when ready for consumption (fully ripe), ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ can be stored only for a short time and is susceptible to mechanical damage (e.g. during transport). Processing into products which are not susceptible to damage must therefore take place in the same defined geographical area.
3.6. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc.
—
3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling
Labels for pears, dried pears or pear juice which comply with the specification must include the wording ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne PDO’ and the EU logo. Packages and/or containers must also have affixed to them a band containing the wording ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne PDO’, the EU logo, and an individual, serial identification number. The compulsory use of a band is solely to enable certified products to be traced.
4. Concise definition of the geographical area
The Pöllau Valley (nature park) is the traditional central area for growing ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ trees and processing ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’. The production area comprises the following administrative districts of the Provinces of Styria and Lower Austria:
— Province of Styria: Districts of South-east Styria (only the part comprising the former district of Feldbach), Hartberg-Fürstenfeld, Graz, Graz-Umgebung, Hartberg, Weiz
— Province of Lower Austria: Districts of Neunkirchen, Wiener Neustadt-Land
The area of origin of the raw materials is identical to the production area.
5. Link with the geographical area
5.1. Specificity of the geographical area
The defined geographical area includes parts of the two Styrian climatic areas of ‘Steirisches Randgebirge’ and ‘Vorland’, as well as the comparable climatic areas in Lower Austria. The prevailing mild climates allow ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ to grow, bloom and bear fruit in the optimum way, thus enabling the best possible development of the fruit’s key qualities and characteristics.
Crucial factors for this are the low number of frost days in the production area’s favourable locations suitable for this form of cultivation (approx. 80-110 days) and the length of the growing season (approx. 185-245 days). Since the ‘Hirschbirne’ blossom is vulnerable to late frosts, the most suitable locations in the production area are on slopes and ridges at about 300-800 m above sea level, away from the areas with inversions and/or cold-air pools in the valleys and basins. Above that area, the fruit ripens fully at altitudes of up to 1 000 m above sea level only in definitely favourable locations.
Ideal conditions for growing ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ are to be found in the soils of the designated geographical area, which are not too heavy, are fresh and are predominantly low in lime, provided that they do not have any water-retaining zones. The soils are skeleton-rich and contain little humus or loam. Although ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ is considered to be undemanding as regards soil nutrient content, supplying the soils with basic nutrients is, however, a precondition for its successful cultivation and that precondition is adequately met in the designated area.
The growers’ specialist know-how is a decisive factor in the production process, based on traditional knowledge of how to cultivate and process ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ in the geographical area. The specialist know-how required was developed over centuries (evidence of this dates back as far as the nineteenth century: growers from the production area presented the ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ at the German national fruit exhibition in 1888), and has been passed down the generations. Such know-how concerns technical knowledge and experience as regards cultivation (traditionally using only regional foundations, also regarding how to procure the necessary seeds), the grafting of ‘Hirschbirne’ trees, and selecting the most appropriate location as regards altitude, climate (temperature, risk of frost, length of growing season) and soil suitability. Moreover, the success of ‘processing Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ closely depends on knowledge about the fruit ripening process, and therefore about the right time to harvest for the production of juice and dried fruit.
5.2. Specificity of the product
The typical characteristics of ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’, produced from the old ‘Hirschbirne’ regional variety and the last pear variety to ripen in the autumn (explaining the etymology of ‘Hirschbirne’, meaning ‘Herbst-birne’ (autumn pear), ‘Hi(a)rscht’ being the vernacular term for ‘Herbst’ (autumn)), are its typical taste (a caramel-like dried-pear taste, sweetish), and the variety-specific aroma of the fruit, juice and dried fruit. ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ fruit achieves the necessary sweetness and the typical ratio of sugar, acid and tannin only at favoured locations in the geographical area, and only on account of the regional growers’ expertise in knowing when to harvest the fruit. Harvesting and processing take place when there is still significant existing tannin (polyphenol) content present, which is essential for the juice to clarify. Nevertheless, the tannin content is already so low, because of the time when it is decided to harvest, that the juice has a pleasant, harmonious taste and a balanced sugar-acid-tannin ratio. This significantly sets ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ juice apart from other pear juices. The dried pears also develop a discernible caramel flavour and a stringy-soft, sticky consistency. The ideal harvesting time (i.e. when a harmonious sugar-acid-tannin ratio exists) is traditionally determined organoleptically. The specific features of ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ include its high polyphenol content (0,83-2,2 %, depending on ripeness) and its high fibre content (7,9-10,5 g/100 g), which is in the same range as whole wheat flour (10 g/100 g), i.e. five times greater than the fibre content of dessert pears. The producers’ experience in judging the aesthetic and taste qualities of the fruit is therefore a key part of the traditional knowledge of how to process ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’.
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 special quality of ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’, which developed as a Styrian chance seedling in the geographical area and which is produced only from fruit from trees of the old ‘Hirschbirne’ regional variety grafted from seedling foundations as half standards and standards, guarantees its particular suitability for cultivation in the defined geographical area. The large-crowned trees with strong growth have varietal properties which have come about through natural and human selection over centuries in the geographical area, and which guarantee the typical taste and aroma of the ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ variety.
The climate and soil conditions in the geographical area enable the cultivation of ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’, which is the last pear variety to ripen over the course of the year and which therefore needs the long growing season available in the geographical area in order to develop the variety’s high-quality features. The ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’ fruit attains the required sweetness and the aforementioned balanced ratio of sugar, acid and tannin only at favoured locations.
The combination of these climatic and edaphic factors and the knowledge passed down the generations by regional producers as regards the choice of location for planting (as regards altitude, appropriate climate, soil conditions), cultivation, crop-tending, the method and time of harvesting (only pears ripe for consumption, organoleptic analysis of the degree of ripeness), the storage technique and their experience in production and traditional processing are key to the quality of ‘Pöllauer Hirschbirne’. This combination therefore contributes to retaining the regional, old ‘Hirschbirne’ fruit variety, which is renowned for its good quality.
Reference to publication of the specification
(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (3))
The full text of the specification is available under: http://www.patentamt.at/Media/Poellauer_Hirschbirne_Antrag.pdf
The specification text can also be directly found on the Austrian Patent Office’s website (www.patentamt.at), using the following path: ‘Markenschutz/Schutzrechte/Herkunftsangabe’. The text appears under the name of the quality designation.
(1) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12. Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.
(3) See footnote 2.