8.2.2017

Official Journal of the European Union

C 41/5

Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the People's Republic of China

(2017/C 41/06)

Following the publication of a Notice of impending expiry (1) of the anti-dumping measures in force on the imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the People's Republic of China, the European Commission (‘the Commission’) has received a request for review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Union (2) (‘the basic Regulation’).

1. Request for review

The request was lodged on 7 November 2016 by the Liaison Committee of E.U. Wire Rope Industries (EWRIS) (‘the applicant’) on behalf of producers representing more than 25 % of the total Union production of steel ropes and cables.

2. Product under review

The product subject to this review is steel ropes and cables including locked coil ropes, excluding ropes and cables of stainless steel, with a maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeding 3 mm originating in the People's Republic of China (‘the product under review’), currently falling within CN codes ex 7312 10 81, ex 7312 10 83, ex 7312 10 85, ex 7312 10 89 and ex 7312 10 98 (TARIC codes 7312108112, 7312108113, 7312108119, 7312108312, 7312108313, 7312108319, 7312108512, 7312108513, 7312108519, 7312108912, 7312108913, 7312108919, 7312109812, 7312109813 and 7312109819).

3. Existing measures

The measures currently in force are a definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 102/2012 (3), as last amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/90 (4), and extended to imports consigned from Morocco whether declared as originating in Morocco or not, by Council Regulation (EC) No 1886/2004 (5) and extended to imports consigned from the Republic of Korea whether declared as originating in the Republic of Korea or not, by Implementing Regulation of the Council (EU) No 400/2010 (6).

4. Grounds for the review

The request is based on the grounds that the expiry of the measures would be likely to result in continuation of dumping and recurrence of injury to the Union industry.

4.1. Allegation of likelihood of continuation of dumping

Since, in view of the provisions of Article 2(7) of the basic Regulation, the People's Republic of China (‘the country concerned’) is considered to be a non-market economy country, the applicant 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 Turkey. The allegation of likelihood of continuation of dumping is based on a comparison of the normal value thus established with the export price (at ex-works level) of the product under review when sold for export to the Union.

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

4.2. Allegation of likelihood of recurrence of injury

The applicant alleges the likelihood of recurrence of injury. In this respect the applicant has provided prima facie evidence that, should measures be allowed to lapse, the current import level of the product under review from the country concerned to the Union is likely to increase due to the existence of unused capacity of the manufacturing facilities of the exporting producers in the People's Republic of China.

The applicant finally alleges that the removal of injury has been mainly due to the existence of measures and that any recurrence of substantial imports at dumped prices from the country concerned would likely lead to a recurrence of injury to the Union industry should measures be allowed to lapse.

5. Procedure

Having determined, after consulting the Committee established by Article 15(1) of the basic Regulation], that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of an expiry review, the Commission hereby initiates a review in accordance with Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation.

5.1. Review investigation period and period considered

The investigation of a continuation or recurrence of dumping will cover the period from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 (‘the review investigation period’). The examination of trends relevant for the assessment of the likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury will cover the period from 1 January 2013 to the end of the review investigation period (‘the period considered’).

5.2. Procedure for the determination of a likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping

Exporting producers (7) of the product under review from the country concerned, including those that did not cooperate in the investigation leading to the measures in force, are invited to participate in the Commission investigation.

5.2.1. Investigating exporting producers

Procedure for selecting exporting producers to be investigated in the country concerned

Sampling

In view of the potentially large number of exporting producers in the People's Republic of China involved in this expiry review 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, including the ones who did not cooperate in the investigation leading to the measures subject to the present review, 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 information on their company(ies) requested in Annex I to this Notice.

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 will be selected based on the largest representative volume of production, sales or exports 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.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation with regard to exporting producers, the Commission will send questionnaires to the exporting producers selected to be in the sample, to any known association of exporting producers and to the authorities of the country concerned.

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.

Without prejudice to the possible application of Article 18 of the basic Regulation, companies that have agreed to their possible inclusion in the sample but are not selected to be in the sample will be considered to be cooperating (‘non-sampled cooperating exporting producers’).

5.2.2. Additional procedure with regard to exporting producers in the non-market economy country concerned

Selection of a market economy third country

Subject to the provisions of section dealing with the treatment of exporting producers in the non-market economy country concerned, in accordance with Article 2(7)(a) of the basic Regulation, in the case of imports from the country concerned normal value will be determined on the basis of the price or constructed value in a market economy third country.

In the previous investigation Turkey was used as a market economy third country for the purpose of establishing normal value in respect of the country concerned. For the purpose of the current investigation, the Commission envisages using again Turkey. According to the information available to the Commission, other market economy producers may be located, inter alia, in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. With the aim of finally selecting the market economy third country, the Commission will examine whether there is production and sales of the product under review in those market economy third countries for which there are indications that production of the product under review is taking place. Interested parties are hereby invited to comment on the choice of the analogue country within 10 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

5.2.3. Investigating unrelated importers (8) (9)

Unrelated importers of the product under review from the country concerned to the Union, including those that did not cooperate in the investigation(s) leading to the measures in force, are invited to participate in this investigation.

In view of the potentially large number of unrelated importers involved in this expiry review 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, including the ones who did not cooperate in the investigation leading to the measures subject to the present review, are hereby requested to make themselves known to the Commission. These parties must 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 information on their company(ies) requested in Annex II to this Notice.

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

If a sample is necessary, the importers may be selected based on the largest representative volume of sales of the product under review 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.

5.3. Procedure for the determination of a likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury

In order to establish whether there is a likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of injury to the Union industry, Union producers of the product under review are invited to participate in the Commission investigation.

5.3.1. Investigating Union producers

In view of the large number of Union producers involved in this expiry review and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission has decided to 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 is carried out in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

The Commission has provisionally selected a sample of Union producers. Details can be found in the file for inspection by interested parties. Interested parties are hereby invited to consult the file (for this they should contact the Commission using the contact details provided in section 5.7 below). Other Union producers, or representatives acting on their behalf, including Union producers who did not cooperate in the investigation(s) leading to the measures in force, that consider that there are reasons why they should be included in the sample must contact the Commission within 15 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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

All known Union producers and/or associations of Union producers will be notified by the Commission of the companies finally 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 associations 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.

5.4. Procedure for the assessment of Union interest

Should the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury be confirmed, a decision will be reached, pursuant to Article 21 of the basic Regulation, as to whether maintaining the anti-dumping measures would not be against the Union interest. Union producers, importers and their representative associations, users and their representative associations, 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 review.

Parties that make themselves known within the above deadline may provide the Commission with information on 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.

5.5. 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 must reach the Commission within 37 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

5.6. 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 must be made in writing and must 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 the specific deadlines set by the Commission in its communication with the parties.

5.7. Instructions for making written submissions and sending completed questionnaires and correspondence

Information submitted to the Commission for the purpose of trade defence investigations shall be free from copyrights. Interested parties, before submitting to the Commission information and/or data which is subject to third party copyrights, must request specific permission to the copyright holder explicitly allowing a) the Commission to use the information and data for the purpose of this trade defence proceeding and b) to provide the information and/or data to interested parties to this investigation in a form that allows them to exercise their rights of defence.

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’ (10).

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 must 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 information may be disregarded.

Interested parties are invited to make all submissions and requests by email including scanned powers of attorney and certification sheets, with the exception of voluminous replies which shall be submitted on a CD-ROM or DVD by hand or by registered mail. By using email, interested parties express their agreement with the rules applicable to electronic submissions contained in the document ‘CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN TRADE DEFENCE CASES’ published on the website of the Directorate-General for Trade: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2011/june/tradoc_148003.pdf The interested parties must indicate their name, address, telephone and a valid email address and they should ensure that the provided email address is a functioning official business email which is checked on a daily basis. Once contact details are provided, the Commission will communicate with interested parties by email only, unless they explicitly request to receive all documents from the Commission by another means of communication or unless the nature of the document to be sent requires the use of a registered mail. For further rules and information concerning correspondence with the Commission including principles that apply to submissions by email, interested parties should consult the communication instructions with interested parties referred to above.

Commission address for correspondence:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Trade

Directorate H

Office: CHAR 04/039

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

E-mail addresses

TRADE-R655-SRC-DUMPING@ec.europa.eu

TRADE-R655-SRC-INJURY@ec.europa.eu

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, 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.

Failure to give a computerised response shall not be deemed to constitute non-cooperation, provided that the interested party shows that presenting the response as requested would result in an unreasonable extra burden or unreasonable additional cost. The interested party should immediately contact the Commission.

7. Hearing Officer

Interested parties may request the intervention of the Hearing Officer in trade proceedings. 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 regarding 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 other things, to the likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury and Union interest.

For further information and contact details interested parties may consult the Hearing Officer's web pages on DG Trade's website: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/trade-policy-and-you/contacts/hearing-officer/

8. Schedule of the investigation

The investigation will be concluded, pursuant to Article 11(5) of the basic Regulation within 15 months of the date of the publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

9. Possibility to request a review under Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation

As this expiry review is initiated in accordance with the provisions of Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation, the findings thereof will not lead to the existing measures being amended but will lead to those measures being repealed or maintained in accordance with Article 11(6) of the basic Regulation.

If any interested party considers that a review of the measures is warranted so as to allow for the possibility to amend the measures, that party may request a review pursuant to Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation.

Parties wishing to request such a review, which would be carried out independently of the expiry review mentioned in this Notice, may contact the Commission at the address given above.

10. 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 of 18 December 2000 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 (11).

(1) OJ C 180, 19.5.2016, p. 2.

(2) OJ L 176, 30.6.2016, p. 21.

(3) Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 102/2012 of 27 January 2012 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the People's Republic of China and Ukraine as extended to imports of steel ropes and cables consigned from Morocco, Moldova and the Republic of Korea, whether declared as originating in these countries or not, following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 and terminating the expiry review proceeding concerning imports of steel ropes and cables originating in South Africa pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 (OJ L 36, 9.2.2012, p. 1).

(4) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/90 of 26 January 2016 amending Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 102/2012 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of steel ropes and cables originating, inter alia, in Ukraine following a partial interim review pursuant to Article 11(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 (OJ L 19, 27.1.2016, p. 22).

(5) Council Regulation (EC) No 1886/2004 of 25 October 2004 extending the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1796/1999 on imports of steel ropes and cables originating, inter alia, in the People's Republic of China to imports of steel ropes and cables consigned from Morocco, whether declared as originating in Morocco or not, and terminating the investigation in respect of imports from one Moroccan exporter (OJ L 328, 30.10.2004, p. 1).

(6) Implementing Regulation of the Council (EU) No 400/2010 of 26 April 2010 extending the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No 1858/2005 on imports of steel ropes and cables originating, inter alia, in the People's Republic of China to imports of steel ropes and cables consigned from the Republic of Korea, whether declared as originating in the Republic of Korea or not, and terminating the investigation in respect of imports consigned from Malaysia (OJ L 117, 11.5.2010, p. 1).

(7) An exporting producer is any company in the country concerned which produces and exports the product under review 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 under review.

(8) Only importers not related to exporting producers can be sampled. Importers that are related to exporting producers have to fill in Annex I to the questionnaire for these exporting producers. In accordance with Article 127 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 of 24 November 2015 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code, two persons shall be deemed to be related if: (a) they are officers or directors of the other person's business; (b) they are legally recognised partners in business; (c) they are employer and employee; (d) a third party 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 control a third person directly or indirectly; or (h) they are members of the same family (OJ L 343, 29.12.2015, p. 558). 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. In accordance with Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code, ‘person’ means a natural person, a legal person, and any association of persons which is not a legal person but which is recognised under Union or national law as having the capacity to perform legal acts (OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1).

(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) A ‘Limited’ document is a document which is considered confidential pursuant to Article 19 of the basic Regulation 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).

(11) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

ANNEX I

Text of image

☐ ‘Limited’ version (1)

☐ Version ‘For inspection by interested parties’

(tick the appropriate box)

ANTI-DUMPING PROCEEDING CONCERNING IMPORTS OF STEEL ROPES AND CABLES ORIGINATING IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

INFORMATION FOR THE SELECTION OF THE SAMPLE OF EXPORTING PRODUCERS IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

This form is designed to assist exporting producers in the People’s Republic of China in responding to the request for sampling information made in point 5.2.1 of the Notice of Initiation.

Both the ‘Limited’ version and the version ‘For inspection by interested parties’ should be returned to the Commission as set out in the Notice of Initiation.

1. IDENTITY AND CONTACT DETAILS

Supply the following details about your company:

Company name

Address

Contact person

Email address

Telephone

Fax

2. TURNOVER, SALES VOLUME, PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTION CAPACITY

As regards the product under review as defined in the Notice of Initiation and originating in the country concerned, for the review investigation period defined in section 5.1 of the Notice, please indicate export sales to the Union for each of the 28 Member States (2) separately and in total, export sales to the rest of the world (total and the 5 biggest importing countries), domestic sales, production and production capacity. State the unit of weight or volume and the currency used.

Table I

Turnover, sales volume

Specify the unit of measurement

Value in accounting currency

Specify the currency used

Export sales to the Union, for each of the 28 Member States separately and in total, of the product under review, manufactured by your company

Total:

Name each Member State (1):

Export sales of the product under review, manufactured by your company to the rest of the world

Total:

Name the 5 biggest importing countries and give the respective volumes and values

(1) This document is for internal use only. It is 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). It is a confidential document pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Union (OJ L 176, 30.6.2016, p. 21) and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-Dumping Agreement).

(2) The 28 Member States of the European Union are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the 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.

Text of image

Specify the unit of measurement

Value in accounting currency

Specify the currency used

Domestic sales of the product under review, manufactured by your company

(1) Add additional rows where necessary.

Table II

Production and production capacity

Specify the unit of measurement

Your company’s overall production of the product under review

Your company’s production capacity of the product under review

3. ACTIVITIES OF YOUR COMPANY AND RELATED COMPANIES (1)

Give details of the precise activities of the company and all related companies (please list them and state the relationship to your company) involved in the production and/or selling (export and/or domestic) of the product under review. Such activities could include but are not limited to purchasing the product under review or producing it under sub-contracting arrangements, or processing or trading the product under review.

Company name and location

Activities

Relationship

4. OTHER INFORMATION

Please provide any other relevant information which the company considers useful to assist the Commission in the selection of the sample.

5. CERTIFICATION

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 involve completing a questionnaire and accepting a visit at its premises in order to verify its response. 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 company than if it had cooperated.

Signature of authorised official:

Name and title of authorised official:

Date:

(1) In accordance with Article 127 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 of 24 November 2015 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code, two persons shall be deemed to be related if: (a) they are officers or directors of the other person’s business; (b) they are legally recognised partners in business; (c) they are employer and employee; (d) a third party 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 control a third person directly or indirectly; or (h) they are members of the same family (OJ L 343, 29.12.2015, p. 558). 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. In accordance with Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code, ‘person’ means a natural person, a legal person, and any association of persons which is not a legal person but which is recognised under Union or national law as having the capacity to perform legal acts (OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1).

ANNEX II

Text of image

☐ ‘Limited’ version (1)

☐ Version ‘For inspection by interested parties’

(tick the appropriate box)

ANTI-DUMPING PROCEEDING CONCERNING IMPORTS OF STEEL ROPES AND CABLES ORIGINATING IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

INFORMATION FOR THE SELECTION OF THE SAMPLE OF UNRELATED IMPORTERS

This form is designed to assist unrelated importers in responding to the request for sampling information made in point 5.2.3 of the Notice of Initiation.

Both the ‘Limited’ version and the version ‘For inspection by interested parties’ should be returned to the Commission as set out in the Notice of Initiation.

1. IDENTITY AND CONTACT DETAILS

Supply the following details about your company:

Company name

Address

Contact person

Email address

Telephone

Fax

2. TURNOVER AND SALES VOLUME

Indicate the total turnover in euros (EUR) of the company, and the turnover and weight or volume for imports into the Union (2) and resales on the Union market after importation from the People’s Republic of China, during the review investigation period, of steel ropes and cables as defined in the Notice of Initiation and the corresponding weight or volume. State the unit of weight or volume used.

Specify the unit of measurement

Value in euros (EUR)

Total turnover of your company in euros (EUR)

Imports of the product under review into the Union

Resales on the Union market after importation from the People’s Republic of China of the product under review

(2) The 28 Member States of the European Union are: Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Croatia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Text of image

3. ACTIVITIES OF YOUR COMPANY AND RELATED COMPANIES (1)

Company name and location

Activities

Relationship

4. OTHER INFORMATION

Please provide any other relevant information which the company considers useful to assist the Commission in the selection of the sample.

5. CERTIFICATION

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 involve completing a questionnaire and accepting a visit at its premises in order to verify its response. 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 company than if it had cooperated.

Signature of authorised official:

Name and title of authorised official:

Date:

8.2.2017

Official Journal of the European Union

C 41/18

Application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2017/C 41/09)

The European Commission has approved this minor amendment in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 6(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 (1).

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF A MINOR AMENDMENT

Application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2)

‘KRANJSKA KLOBASA’

EU No: PGI-SI-0764-AM01 — 6.7.2016

PDO ( ) PGI ( X ) TSG ( )

1. Applicant group and legitimate interest

GIZ Kranjska klobasa — ‘Kranjska klobasa’ economic interest group

Address:

Dimičeva ulica 9

1000 Ljubljana

SLOVENIA

Tel.

+386 15659240

Email:

giz.mi@siol.net

The applicant is GIZ Kranjska klobasa (the ‘Kranjska klobasa’ economic interest group) is the consortium of producers of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ that has applied for registration of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ and thus has a legitimate interest in submitting an amendment application.

2. Member State or Third Country

Slovenia

3. Headings in the specification affected by the amendment(s)

—	☐	Description of product
—	☐	Proof of origin
—	☐	Method of production
—	☐	Link
—	☒	Markings
—	☐	Other [to be specified]

4. Type of amendment(s)

—	☐	Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, that requires no amendment to the published single document.
—	☒	Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, that requires an amendment to the published single document.
—	☐	Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, for which a single document (or equivalent) has not been published.
—	☐	Amendment to product specification of registered TSG to be qualified as minor in accordance with the fourth subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

5. Amendments

According to the second point of chapter 3.6 Specific rules concerning labelling, ‘Kranjska klobasa’ must bear the ‘Kranjska klobasa’ logo, the producer logo and the corresponding EU and national quality symbols. This point also states that the certificate for the production of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ must label products with the ‘Kranjska klobasa’ logo, irrespective of whether they are members of GIZ Kranjska klobasa.

We propose that the requirements to label the product with the national quality symbol and with the ‘Kranjska klobasa’ logo, which apply to all producers of ‘Kranjska klobasa’, regardless of their membership in GIZ Kranjska klobasa, be deleted.

The deletion of the requirement to label the product with the national quality symbol has been proposed because there is no such obligation laid down even in national legislation. The only symbol that must be used by producers on the labelling of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ is the Union one; the national quality symbol is optional.

The ‘Kranjska klobasa’ logo refers to the logo bearing the slogan ‘Kranjska klobasa — zašpiljeno dobra od 1896’, owned by GIZ Kranjska klobasa. Membership in GIZ Kranjska klobasa is not obligatory; therefore, non-members should not be required to use its logo. Producers that are not members of GIZ Kranjska klobasa must use the protected name, their own logo and the Union symbol when labelling their ‘Kranjska klobasa’. Should they wish to use the abovementioned GIZ logo as well, they can obtain it from GIZ Kranjska klobasa.

6. Updated product specification (only for PDO and PGI)

—

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘KRANJSKA KLOBASA’

EU No: PGI-SI-0764-AM01 — 6.7.2016

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

1. Name(s)

‘Kranjska klobasa’

2. Member State or Third Country

Slovenia

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 1.2 Meat products (cooked, salted, smoked, etc.)

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

‘Kranjska klobasa’ is a pasteurised semi-durable sausage which is produced from coarsely minced pork of categories I and II (leg, shoulder, neck) and pork fat (back fat). The filling for ‘Kranjska klobasa’ is salted by adding nitrite salt, seasoned with garlic and pepper and then stuffed into a pig’s small intestine, the ends of which are closed and skewered by a wooden dowel to make a pair of sausages with their ends joined together. The sausage undergoes hot smoking and pasteurisation.

It is eaten warm after brief warming in hot water, when it acquires its organoleptic characteristics and its excellent gastronomic qualities. The sausage has a reddish-brown surface and a mildly smoky smell; the meat inside is pinkish-red in colour and the fat is creamy white and unmelted; the texture is taut, crisp and succulent and the aroma is strong and typical of salted, specifically seasoned and smoked pork.

The chemical composition of the unheated sausage is as follows:

—	:	total proteins	:	minimum 17 %
—	:	fat	:	maximum 29 %

3.3. Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

The raw materials are pork meat and fat.

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

The production of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ (selecting and mincing the meat and fat, preparing the filling, mixing the filling, filling the casings, drying the sausages, heat treatment with hot smoking, process monitoring and labelling) must take place within the defined geographical area.

3.5. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

—

3.6. Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

Each ‘Kranjska klobasa’ must be labelled in the same way:

—	each product (pair) must bear a uniform self-adhesive band,

—	each packaged product must bear a label.

The uniform labelling of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ includes:

—	the protected name,

—	the producer’s logo,

—	the corresponding Union symbol.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area for the production of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ comprises the area within Slovenia which lies between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, which is delimited in the west by the border with Italy, to the north by the border with Austria and to the south by the border with Croatia, and which opens up to the east towards the Pannonian Basin, stretching as far as the border with Hungary.

Under the Holy Roman Empire, and subsequently the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the region of Kranjska was the only completely Slovenian region, which is why the term ‘Kranjec’ (Carniolian) used to be used as another name for ‘Slovenian’ and is still used today in everyday language to designate part of the population of Slovenia. Numerous other word combinations and designations containing the adjective ‘kranjski, kranjska’ are also still used today in Slovenia.

The name ‘Kranjska’ comes from the Slovenian word ‘krajina’, which meant ‘country’ (first recorded in 973 as the popular name ‘Creina’ for ‘Carniola’). The Slovenian form ‘Kranjska’ (‘Krain’ and ‘Krainburg’ in German) predominated after the 13th century. From 1002, Kranjska was an autonomous margravate (border province) with its own margraves. Administratively, Kranjska was part of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 14th century, most of present-day Slovenia belonged to the Habsburgs. Slovenian territory was divided amongst the following lands: Kranjska (Carniola), Trst (Trieste), Istra (Istria), Goriška (Gorizia), Koroška (Carinthia) in Štajerska (Styria). Following the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Kranjska ceased to exist as a separate entity. Slovenia is a relatively new state, having become independent only in 1991 when it broke away from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The present-day Republic of Slovenia is therefore the geographical successor of the former land of Kranjska, as it includes the whole of what used to be Kranjska.

5. Link with the geographical area

The definition of the geographical area is directly linked to the history of ‘Kranjska klobasa’.

The natural conditions for food production, as well as the climate, have been a key factor in the development of the characteristic culinary culture, with agriculture being geared mainly towards subsistence farming. On very rugged terrain comprising mountains, valleys, basins and plains, the inhabitants have managed to preserve arable areas which have been set aside for growing feed for pigs. Pig-farming has gone hand in hand with the production of pork and pork products. Accounts of the production of pork and pork products, including sausages, date back a very long time, as shown by the excellent portrayals on medieval frescos and in certain written documents in the archives (for example the 17th-century note written in the Slovenian language by the guardian of Vrbovec castle to the lord of the land). However, all these accounts talk of pork, pork products and sausages. One of the typical products was a semi-durable sausage which, owing to the skill and know-how of the people of its region of origin and because of its specific identifying features (taste), came to be known as ‘Kranjska klobasa’ in the early 19th century, during the Austro-Hungarian period.

The reputation of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ dates back to the multinational Austro-Hungarian Empire. ‘Kranjska klobasa’ is definitely one of the most original and internationally renowned Slovenian meat products, as shown by the number of hits on the internet, where ‘Kranjska klobasa’ is mentioned as an original Slovenian product in the majority of cases. Recent specialised literature (Meat Products Handbook, Gerhard Feiner, CRC Press, 2006; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kransky) also mentions ‘Kranjska klobasa’ as being a typical unfermented sausage from Slovenia.

The properties of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ are the result of the skills and know-how of the people who lived in what is now Slovenia when it was the Austro-Hungarian crown land of Kranjska. Its quality was also determined by the use of top-quality cuts of meat and the consistent use of sea salt, which in the former Kranjska was a permanent, even strategic, competitor for rock salt (J. Bogataj, The Food and Cooking of Slovenia, Annes Publishing, London, 2008).

The oldest instructions for the production of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ (also under that name) can be found in two cookery books, namely Süddeutsche Küche by Katharina Prato (1896) and the sixth edition of Slovenska kuharica by Felicita Kalinšek (1912). While Katharina Prato cannot really be said to provide instructions for the production of ‘Kranjska klobasa’, her reference is probably one of the oldest written references to this type of sausage (1896). Felicita Kalinšek, in her book Slovenska kuharica (1912), provided instructions on how to produce ‘Kranjska klobasa’.

There is a series of accounts in Slovenia, especially oral accounts, which talk of ‘Kranjska klobasa’, its areas of production and its reputation among the other regional types of sausage. There are numerous folk accounts claiming to state the real place of origin of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ or the place where it was supposedly first produced. Mention is frequently made of the village of Trzin, which is located between Ljubljana and Kamnik, where numerous butchers are said to have been plying their trade since the 19th century, supplying the market with ‘Kranjska klobasa’, which could be found as far away as Vienna. According to certain oral sources, this sausage took its name from the town of Kranj, while other oral sources state that it was produced in all major towns and market towns in the territory of the former land of Kranjska. There is also the picturesque tale of Emperor Franz Joseph who, while travelling by carriage from Vienna to Trieste, stopped in the famous Marinšek coaching inn on the main road in the village of Naklo pri Kranju. He wished to have something to eat and asked the inn-keeper what was available. ‘We only have ordinary house sausages, nothing else’, he replied to the Emperor. The Emperor ordered a sausage and, when he tried it, exclaimed enthusiastically: ‘But this is no ordinary sausage, it is Carniolan sausage!’

A culinary feature of Slovenian regions is that ‘Kranjska klobasa’ is produced and sold in all regions, which shows that it is part of the heritage of the whole of Slovenian territory. The reputation of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ can also be seen in the typical Slovenian speciality of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ with sauerkraut.

The reputation of ‘Kranjska klobasa’ has also spread across frontiers, as shown by the translations of the name into the various languages of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire (J. de Moor & N. de Rooj/ed./, European Cookery, Tradition & Innovation, Utrecht, 2004).

A ‘Kranjska klobasa’ Festival has been held in Slovenia since 2003, with a national competition to find the best ‘Kranjska klobasa’.

Reference to publication of the specification

(the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of this Regulation)

http://www.mkgp.gov.si/fileadmin/mkgp.gov.si/pageuploads/podrocja/Kmetijstvo/zascita_kmetijskih_pridelkov_zivil/KK_spec_F.pdf

(1) OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, p. 17.

(2) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.

8.2.2017

Official Journal of the European Union

C 41/22

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

(2017/C 41/10)

This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1).

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘AIL VIOLET DE CADOURS’

EU No: PDO-FR-02103 — 7.1.2016

PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

1. Name(s)

‘Ail violet de Cadours’

2. Member State or Third Country

France

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 the product to which the name in (1) applies

‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is a garlic that is sold dry, with a minimum dry matter content of 30 %. It is produced using the Germidour and Valdour varieties, which were isolated from the local purple garlic population.

It has violet ‘wine-coloured’ striations on its white outer tunics.

‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is distinguished by its size of 45 mm or greater and the regular, round shape of the bulb. Bulbs are sold whole and well-cleaned. There must be at least one whole, undamaged layer of outer skin. The roots are cut flush with the bulb, their length equal to or less than 2,5 mm. Both the cloves and the root disc of the bulb are firm to the touch. In the case of bulbs sold trimmed, the length of the remaining stem is from 10 mm to 30 mm.

The skin of the cloves is beige, streaked with violet. The flesh of the cloves when cut ranges from ivory to cream in colour.

Raw, it has a distinctive, persistent garlic smell and an intense sharpness. Cooked, ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ has a garlicky fragrance. It has a light piquancy to the taste, with a good aromatic persistence. It is soft in texture, and its flavour is delicately sweet.

In order to obtain an aesthetically pleasing sales presentation, the bulbs selected are of uniform colour, shape and size. In particular, the size of the largest bulb may not exceed the size of the smallest by more than 20 mm.

‘Ail violet de Cadours’ may be presented for sale in the following ways:

—	braid including at least 9 untrimmed bulbs. Its weight is 500 g, 1 kg or 2 kg depending on the number of bulbs and their size,

—	sheaf of untrimmed bulbs, minimum weight 8 kg,

—	bunch of untrimmed bulbs. Its weight is 500 g, 1 kg or 2 kg,

—	5 kg bag, hand-sorted, composed of trimmed bulbs,

—	hand-sorted crate of trimmed bulbs measuring between 60 mm and 70 mm, or more than 70 mm,

—	hand-sorted basket of trimmed bulbs 60 mm to 80 mm in size,

—	net of trimmed bulbs, maximum weight 1 kg,

—	punnet of trimmed bulbs, maximum weight 1 kg.

The product is sold in the original packaging. Only the crate and the basket allow single bulbs to be sold individually.

3.3. Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

—

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

All steps in the production of ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ must take place in the geographical area.

3.5. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product to which the registered name refers

‘Ail violet de Cadours’ must be packaged within the geographical area in order to preserve quality.

In order to ensure that the product remains in sound condition, with at least one intact layer of outer skin over the bulbs, ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is stored in specific conditions and handled as little as possible.

The packaging process makes use of the operators' local expertise, which also helps determine the characteristics of ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ through:

—	a meticulous selection of bulbs, making it possible to create presentations that are uniform in colour, size and shape,

—

careful manual positioning of the bulbs so that they can be packaged in a manner that will limit impacts between them during the marketing process: bunching together the foliage of the braids, sheaves and bouquets in order to obtain a rigid ensemble, ensuring that the bags, nets and punnets are sealed as close to the bulbs as possible, and tightly packing the bulbs in the crates and baskets.

3.6. Specific rules concerning labelling of the product to which the registered name refers

In addition to the compulsory information required by law, the labelling must include:

—	the name of the packer,

—	the year of harvest,

—	the identification and traceability system specific to ‘Ail violet de Cadours’.

In packaging that allows the sale of single bulbs, each bulb should be identified as ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ by means of a sticker.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area is located around the point where the departments of Haute-Garonne, Gers and Tarn-et-Garonne meet.

Department of Haute-Garonne: Bellegarde-Sainte-Marie, Belleserre, Bragayrac, Brignemont, Cabanac-Séguenville, Cadours, Le Castéra, Caubiac, Cox, Drudas, Empeaux, Garac, Le Grès, Lagraulet-Saint-Nicolas, Laréole, Lasserre, Menville, Mérenvielle, Pelleport, Pradère-les-Bourguets, Puysségur, Saint-Thomas, Sainte-Livrade, Thil, Vignaux.

Department of Tarn-et-Garonne: Auterive, Beaumont-de-Lomagne, Beaupuy, Bouillac, Le Causé, Escazeaux, Faudoas, Gariès, Goas, Marignac, Maubec, Sérignac.

Department of Gers: Ansan, Ardizas, Aubiet, Augnax, Auradé, Aurimont, Avensac, Bajonnette, Beaupuy, Bédéchan, Bézéril, Blanquefort, Castillon-Savès, Catonvielle, Cazaux-Savès, Clermont-Savès, Cologne, Encausse, Endoufielle, Escorneboeuf, Estramiac, Frégouville, Gimont, Giscaro, Homps, L'Isle-Arné, L'Isle-Jourdain, Juilles, Labastide-Savès, Labrihe, Lahas, Lias, Mansempuy, Maravat, Marestaing, Maurens, Mauvezin, Monbrun, Monferran-Savès, Monfort, Montiron, Noilhan, Pessoulens, Pompiac, Puycasquier, Razengues, Roquelaure-Saint-Aubin, Saint-André, Saint-Antonin, Saint-Brès, Saint-Caprais, Saint-Cricq, Saint-Georges, Saint-Germier, Saint-Orens, Saint-Sauvy, Sainte-Anne, Sainte-Gemme, Sainte-Marie, Sarrant, Ségoufielle, Sérempuy, Seysses-Savès, Sirac, Solomiac, Thoux, Tirent-Pontejac, Touget, Tourrenquets.

5. Link with the geographical area

Specificity of the geographical area

Natural factors:

The production area of ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is located in the Midi-Pyrénées region, between Haute-Garonne, Gers and Tarn-et-Garonne. It has a distinctive climate, which comes under oceanic influence during winter and spring, and Mediterranean influence during summer and especially autumn. Winter is relatively short and mild. Spring is characterised by regularly rising temperatures and high rainfall peaking in May. Summer is hot and dry. Autumn is relatively mild, with little rain. Particularly in summer and autumn, the area is exposed to the Autan wind, a warm dry south-easterly wind.

The land is hilly and moderately rugged. The soils, which lie on a foundation of Oligocene-Miocene molasse, are clay-limestone and clay-lime in nature, with a high clay content (at least 30 %), which ensures good available water capacity. These soils also have good natural drainage assured by the slope of the land and their structure.

Human factors:

Garlic, which originated in the east, was probably introduced to the region by Roman colonisation in the early centuries.

The steady development of the garlic trade led to the establishment of a weekly market specifically for purple garlic. This market is still held in Cadours every Wednesday from mid-July to mid-December.

The know-how of ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ producers is evident at all stages, from cultivation to preparation for sale.

The Germidour and Valdour varieties were isolated from the local purple garlic population and registered in the official catalogue of varieties in 1991 and 2006 respectively. These varieties are distinguished in particular by a short dormancy period and early germination, the absence of a rigid flowering stem, and a large bulb with violet striations on its white outer skin.

Planting takes place in autumn, from mid-October to mid-December, on plots which have not been used for alliums for three years, nor for maize or sorghum the previous year. The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium inputs are calculated according to the needs of the crop and the availability of these elements in the soil.

Harvesting takes place when the crop has reached maturity.

Monitored drying makes it possible to guarantee a water loss of at least 20 % of the mass of the harvested product.

Farms in the geographical area are small to medium in acreage. They are mixed-crop operations where cereals predominate and garlic production is a valuable side activity. The availability of family labour has facilitated the development of garlic farming.

Many steps are still carried out by hand in order to obtain a clean, well-presented product: peeling, which consists of removing damaged layers of outer skin while preserving at least one clean, intact layer, the cutting of the roots, and packing and presenting for sale. The operators' know-how is particularly evident during these steps, and the bulbs are meticulously hand-sorted by size, shape and colour to create an aesthetically pleasing ensemble.

Specificity of the product

‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is a dried garlic. It is chiefly distinguished by the violet striations on its outer tunics. The bulbs are 45 mm or larger in size, regular in shape, unburst — meaning that the cloves are not visible (at least one of the outer skin layers is intact). The root disc is cut flush with the bulb.

‘Ail violet de Cadours’ possesses specific visual, olfactory and gustatory traits which clearly distinguish it from dried purple garlic of the Germidour variety grown outside the geographical area. ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is distinguished by its visual characteristics: the larger size of the bulb, the more pronounced purple colour and more regular shape; and by its olfactory characteristics: a more intense garlic smell and a more pronounced sharpness to the nose. Furthermore, when cooked, ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is distinguished by a more intense aromatic persistence and a stronger piquancy on the palate.

Both the cloves and the root disc of the bulbs are firm to the touch. They remain in sound condition from harvest to marketing.

‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is marketed in presentations that are uniform in size, shape and colour.

When ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is sold untrimmed, there is a certain rigidity to the presentation due to the bunching together of the foliage. When ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is sold trimmed, the bulbs are packed tightly within their packaging.

Causal link

All the favourable conditions for the development of ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ are found in the production area.

Firstly, ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is distinguished by its colour, which results from the use of local varieties developed from local populations with violet striations on the outer skin layers. These are linked to the practice of planting on clay-rich plots of land and the rainfall peak in May.

The production of ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ on clay-rich soils, with a good available water capacity favours the growth of bulbs that are regular in shape. Controlled fertiliser application prevents the bulbs from bursting, so ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ possesses at least one intact outer skin layer.

It is during the basic stage of physiological development known as bulbing that the plant's need for water is at its highest. This is a rapid growth phase which directly impacts the size and shape of the bulb and the development of its violet colour. The rainfall peak in May, which satisfies the water and mineral needs of the plant during this crucial stage, enables the production of bulbs with the characteristic features of ‘Ail violet de Cadours’: a size of 45 mm or more, with a round, regular shape and violet colouring.

The firmness of ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ bulbs is due to the way in which they are prepared for sale, which avoids impacts between bulbs, and the short marketing process, which ends before early germination can occur.

The sound condition of ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is due to numerous factors:

—	limiting the spread of cryptogamic and bacterial diseases in the soil via crop rotation and planting on naturally well-drained plots of land,

—	limiting the development of these diseases while the crop is in the field through the supervision of planting dates and controlled application of fertiliser,

—	harvesting when the crop has reached maturity, followed by drying and the effect of the Autan wind, which favour the preservation of garlic.

The use of garlic varieties that do not have a rigid flowering stem makes it possible to present ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ for sale untrimmed: in braids, sheaves and bouquets.

Finally, ‘Ail violet de Cadours’ is distinguished by the care brought to its peeling, which is done by hand, preserving the outer skin layers intact and making it possible to cut the root disc flush with the bulb. The series of steps carried out by hand make it possible to create presentations that are uniform in size, shape and colour. The operators' traditional know-how, which extends to preparation of the product for sale, enhances and preserves the quality of ‘Ail violet de Cadours’.

Thus, the characteristics of the geographical area and natural and human factors all contribute to the specificity of ‘Ail violet de Cadours’.

Publication reference of the specification

(the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of this Regulation)

https://www.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/CDCAilVioletCadoursV2016.doc

(1) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.

		ISSN 1977-091X
Official Journal of the European Union		C 41

English edition	Information and Notices	Volume 60 8 February 2017

Notice No	Contents	page
	II Information
	INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
	European Commission
2017/C 41/01	Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.8339 — Macquarie/Prédica/Pisto) ( 1 )	1
2017/C 41/02	Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.8321 — Centerbridge/Alpha Bank/Kaican) ( 1 )	1

	IV Notices
	NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
	European Commission
2017/C 41/03	Euro exchange rates	2

	Corrigenda
2017/C 41/11	Corrigendum to List of competent authorities referred to in Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EU) No 389/2012 (administrative cooperation in the field of excise duties) ( OJ C 484, 24.12.2016 )	26

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USD	US dollar	1,0675
JPY	Japanese yen	119,94
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GBP	Pound sterling	0,86330
SEK	Swedish krona	9,4810
CHF	Swiss franc	1,0658
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	V Announcements
	ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
	European Commission
2017/C 41/04	Call for proposals under the multiannual work programme for financial assistance in the field of Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) — Transport sector for the period 2014-2020: Blending call (Commission Implementing Decision C(2017) 164 of 20 January 2017)	3
	PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY
	European Commission
2017/C 41/05	Notice of the expiry of certain anti-dumping measures	4
2017/C 41/06	Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the People's Republic of China	5
	PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY
	European Commission
2017/C 41/07	Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8318 — Samsung Electronics/Harman International Industries) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )	16
2017/C 41/08	Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8380 — CPPIB/Apax/GL) — Candidate case for simplified procedure ( 1 )	17
	OTHER ACTS
	European Commission
2017/C 41/09	Application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs	18
2017/C 41/10	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	22