ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 410

European flag  

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 57
18 November 2014


Notice No

Contents

page

 

II   Information

 

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

 

European Commission

2014/C 410/01

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7411 — TDR Capital/Lakeside 1 Limited) ( 1 )

1

2014/C 410/02

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7284 — Siemens/John Wood Group/Rolls-Royce Combined ADGT Business/RWG) ( 1 )

1

 

IV   Notices

 

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

 

European Commission

2014/C 410/03

Euro exchange rates

2

2014/C 410/04

Commission Implementing Decision of 17 November 2014 concerning the amendment of the work programme 2014 covered by Commission Implementing Decision 2014/C 166/05 and the adoption of a work programme and a financing for year 2015 in the food and feed area to ensure the application of the food and feed legislation

3

2014/C 410/05

New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

10

2014/C 410/06

New national sides of euro circulation coins

11

 

V   Announcements

 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

 

European Commission

2014/C 410/07

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

12

 

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

 

European Commission

2014/C 410/08

Notice of initiation of a partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of steel ropes and cables originating in Ukraine

15

 


 

(1)   Text with EEA relevance

EN

 


II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

18.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 410/1


Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.7411 — TDR Capital/Lakeside 1 Limited)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2014/C 410/01

On 10 November 2014, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). The full text of the decision is available only in English language and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32014M7411. EUR-Lex is the online access to the European law.


(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.


18.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 410/1


Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.7284 — Siemens/John Wood Group/Rolls-Royce Combined ADGT Business/RWG)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2014/C 410/02

On 4 August 2014, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). The full text of the decision is available only in English language and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32014M7284. EUR-Lex is the online access to the European law.


(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.


IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

18.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 410/2


Euro exchange rates (1)

17 November 2014

2014/C 410/03

1 euro =


 

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,2496

JPY

Japanese yen

145,30

DKK

Danish krone

7,4434

GBP

Pound sterling

0,79890

SEK

Swedish krona

9,2449

CHF

Swiss franc

1,2013

ISK

Iceland króna

 

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,4440

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

27,701

HUF

Hungarian forint

306,01

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

PLN

Polish zloty

4,2238

RON

Romanian leu

4,4280

TRY

Turkish lira

2,7854

AUD

Australian dollar

1,4312

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,4133

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

9,6899

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,5775

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,6217

KRW

South Korean won

1 370,14

ZAR

South African rand

13,8937

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,6523

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,6740

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

15 240,70

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,1874

PHP

Philippine peso

56,189

RUB

Russian rouble

59,2177

THB

Thai baht

40,943

BRL

Brazilian real

3,2631

MXN

Mexican peso

16,9539

INR

Indian rupee

77,2603


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


18.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 410/3


COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 17 November 2014

concerning the amendment of the work programme 2014 covered by Commission Implementing Decision 2014/C 166/05 and the adoption of a work programme and a financing for year 2015 in the food and feed area to ensure the application of the food and feed legislation

2014/C 410/04

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (1), and in particular Article 84 thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 laying down provisions for the management of expenditure relating to the food chain, animal health and animal welfare, and relating to plant health and plant reproductive material, amending Council Directives 98/56/EC, 2000/29/EC and 2008/90/EC, Regulations (EC) No 178/2002, (EC) No 882/2004 and (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Decisions 66/399/EEC, 76/894/EEC and 2009/470/EC (2), and in particular Articles 6(3) and (5), 32, 33, 35, 36 (1) and (4) and 43 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

With the Commission Implementing Decision 2014/C 166/05 of 27 May 2014 (3) a work programme for year 2014 and the financing thereof was adopted. It is necessary to update above mentioned decision in order to include additional actions identified after the adoption of that decision.

(2)

In order to ensure the implementation of activities starting early in 2015 in the food and feed area and to ensure the application of the food and feed and plant health legislation, it is necessary to adopt a work programme constituting a financial decision.

(3)

Article 94 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 (4) establishes detailed rules on financing decisions.

(4)

It is appropriate to authorise award of grants without a call for proposals to the bodies identified in the work programme and for the reasons provided therein.

(5)

This Decision should allow for the payment of interest due for late payment on the basis of Article 92 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 and Article 111(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012.

(6)

For the application of this Decision, it is appropriate to define the term ‘substantial change’ within the meaning of Article 94(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Amending Commission Implementing Decision 2014/C 166/05

The amendment of the work programme mentioned in Commission Implementing Decision 2014/C 166/05, as set out in the Annex, is adopted.

Article 2

Approval of a work programme for 2015

The work programme for the implementation of Articles 6, 32, 33, 35, 43 of Regulation (EU) No 652/2014, as set out in the Annex, is adopted.

Article 3

Financing decision

The annual work programmes mentioned in Article 1 and 2 constitute a financing decision within the meaning of Article 84 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012.

Article 4

Union contribution

The maximum contribution for the implementation of the programme for the year 2014 is set at EUR 4 820 000 and shall be financed from the following lines of the general budget of the European Union for 2014:

 

budget 2014 — 17 04 01 — 4 600 000 EUR

 

budget 2014 — 17 04 03 — 220 000 EUR

The maximum contribution for the implementation of the programme for the year 2015 is set at EUR 4 050 000 and shall be financed from the following line of the general budget of the European Union for 2015:

 

budget 2015 — 17 04 03 — 3 930 000 EUR

The implementation of this Decision is subject to the availability of the appropriations after the adoption of the budget 2015 by the budgetary authority or as provided for in the system of provisional twelfths.

The appropriations mentioned above may also cover interest due for late payment.

Article 5

Flexibility clause

Cumulated changes to the allocations to specific actions within each work programme not exceeding 20 % of the maximum contribution set in Article 4 of this Decision shall not be considered to be substantial within the meaning of Article 94(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012, where those changes do not significantly affect the nature of the actions and objective of the work programme.

The authorising officer responsible may adopt the changes referred to in the first paragraph in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and proportionality.

Article 6

Grants

Grants may be awarded without a call for proposals to the bodies identified in the Annex, in accordance with the conditions specified therein.

Done at Brussels, 17 November 2014.

For the Commission

Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS

Member of the Commission


(1)  OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1.

(2)  OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 1.

(3)  Decision 2014/C 166/05 of 27 May 2014 concerning the adoption of the work programme and the financing for the year 2014 of activities in the food and feed area to ensure the application of the food and feed legislation (OJ C 166, 3.6.2014, p. 5).

(4)  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L 362, 31.12.2012, p. 1).


ANNEX

2014 and 2015 Work Programmes in the Food and Feed Area

1.   INTRODUCTION

The goal of these work programmes is to update the needs laid down in Commission Implementing Decision 2014/C 166/05 and to have a financing decision for actions starting early in year 2015.

These work programmes contain implementing measures for the years 2014 and 2015, with the budget breakdown as follows:

Indicative actions (2014)

Indicative amount

Grants (2)

170 000 EUR

Procurements (2)

4 650 000 EUR

Other action (0)

0 EUR

TOTAL (4 actions in 2014)

4 820 000 EUR


Indicative actions (2015)

Indicative amount

Grants (3)

2 325 000 EUR

Procurements (4)

1 205 000 EUR

Other action (1)

400 000 EUR

TOTAL (8 actions in 2015)

3 930 000 EUR

2.   GRANTS

The overall budgetary allocation reserved for grants:

 

in 2014 amounts to EUR 170 000,

 

in 2015 amounts to EUR 2 325 000.

2.1.   Legal basis

Articles 6(3), 33, 35 of Regulation (EU) No 652/2014.

2.2.   Budget lines

 

budget 2014 — 17 04 03 — 170 000 EUR

 

budget 2015 — 17 04 03 — 2 325 000 EUR

2.3.   Indicative list of envisaged actions

Actions

(budget 2014 — 17 04 03)

Estimated no of actions

Indicative date of launch

Indicative amount

(in EUR)

Cumulative risk assessment tool for pesticides residues

1 grant

4th Q 2014

70 000

Additional grant to OIE for Regional meetings and activities of the Animal Welfare Platform

1 grant

4th Q 2014

100 000


Actions

(budget 2015 — 17 04 03)

Estimated no of actions

Indicative date of launch

Indicative amount

(in EUR)

Coordination the authorisation requests for minor uses of plant protection products

1 grant

1st Q 2015

350 000

Coordinated Control Plan to establish the prevalence of fraudulent practices in the marketing of certain foods

28 grants

1st Q 2015

600 000

Coordinated Control Plan for antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

28 grants

1st Q 2015

1 375 000

2.4.   Descriptions, objectives and foreseen results of the implementing measures

Cumulative risk assessment tool for pesticides residues

The EU funded research project ACROPOLIS has delivered an IT tool accessible to all stakeholders involved in the pesticide risk assessment. The IT tool is based on probabilistic modelling of exposure. The Commission intends to upgrade this project.

Objective: Upgrading the ACROPOLIS tool, towards specific needs of the Commission, as well as support to risk managers in developing the criteria used in risk management by assessing the possible impact on risk management decisions of different choices of parameters used in the modelling.

The initial project was conducted by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), to whom an additional grant should be awarded in order to upgrade the work and provide the necessary support to the Commission needed for taking the appropiate risk management decisions.

Expected results: Tool upgraded to the specific needs requested by the Commission and support (test cases and instructions) given to the Commission with a view of taking risk mangement decisions regarding the calculation parameters.

Additional grant to OIE for regional seminars in the Animal Welfare area

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/C 166/05 sets up a direct grant to OIE for actions such as global conferences, regional seminars and regional meetings and activities on animal health and welfare.

The Commission intends to award an additional direct grant to OIE for organising additional seminars in the animal welfare area.

Objective: To increase the awareness on animal welfare issues and the degree of application of OIE animal welfare standards (transport, slaughter, control of stray dogs).

Expected result: Increased awareness of the standards on animal welfare issues.

Coordination of the authorisation requests for minor uses of plant protection products

As regards minor uses of plant protection products, it is necessary to ensure an effective coordination and information sharing among Member States and stakeholders. This would require a project of setting up a dedicated platform of EU experts on minor uses in the field of plant health. The Commission submitted a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the establishment of a European fund for minor uses in the field of plant protection products (1). The report concluded that the Commission is ready to assist and to financially contribute in the short and medium term to the creation of such a project.

Objective: Co-financing with an action grant of an EU coordination facility run by some Member States or an international organisation with the objective to get a coordinated approach in finding solutions for minor uses gaps in the European Union.

Expected result: Coordinated activities leading to reduced minor uses gaps in plant protection products, in order to ensure that the European farmer continues to be able to produce high quality crops, by providing sufficient means and methods.

Coordinated Control Plan to establish the prevalence of fraudulent practices in the marketing of certain foods

Coordinated Control Plans have a view to establishing the prevalence of fraudulent practices in the marketing of certain foods, through targeted controls including laboratory analysis by Member States. Similar exercises had been carried out for horse meat in 2013 and in 2014.

Objective: Detecting and quantifying some fraudulent practices.

Expected result: Harmonized control plans for monitoring food fraud in order to increase consumers confidence. In this respect the European Commission will ask all Member States to implement such plans.

Coordinated Control Plan for antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) provides that Member States shall ensure that monitoring provides comparable data on the occurrence of AMR in zoonotic agents and, in so far as they present a threat to public health, other agents. A similar exercise has been carried out in 2014, and it is still ongoing.

In 2011, the Commission had introduced a 5 year action plan against AMR (3). One of the actions is to strengthen surveillance systems on AMR and antimicrobial consumption on animal medicine.

Objective: Co-financing of the coordinated control plan for antimicrobial resistance monitoring which will include all the Member States.

Expected result: Harmonized control plan for monitoring resistance in the food chain in order to increase consumers confidence and assess evolution of resistance in the food chain. In this respect, the Commission will ask all Member States to implement such a plan.

2.5.   Implementation

Cumulative risk assessment tool for pesticides residues

Implementation: directly by DG SANCO.

Maximum EU co-financing rate: 50 % of the eligible costs.

Award criteria:

Quality and relevance of the tools proposed;

Overall quality, coherence and clarity of the proposed objectives.

Additional grant to OIE for regional meetings and activities of the Animal Welfare Platform

Implementation: directly by DG SANCO.

Maximum EU co-financing rate: 50 % of the eligible costs.

Award criteria:

Contribution to the achievements of the policy objectives for Animal Welfare;

Quality of the events proposed.

Coordination the authorisation requests for minor uses of plant protection products

Implementation: directly by DG SANCO.

Maximum EU co-financing rate: 50 % of the eligible costs.

Award criteria:

Relevance of the proposal to the objectives of the action;

Consistency and adequacy of resources allocated.

EU Coordinated Control Plan to establish the prevalence of fraudulent practices in the marketing of certain foods

Implementation: directly by DG SANCO.

Maximum EU co-financing rate: 50 % of the eligible costs.

Award criteria:

Relevance of the proposal to the objectives of the action;

Number of tests in the proposal compared with the number of tests recommended.

Coordinated Control Plan for antimicrobial resistance

Implementation: directly by DG SANCO.

Maximum EU co-financing rate: 50 % of the eligible costs.

Award criteria:

Relevance of the proposal to the objectives of the action;

Number of tests in the proposal compared with the number of tests recommended.

3.   PROCUREMENTS

The overall budgetary allocation reserved for procurement contracts:

 

in 2014 amounts to EUR 4 650 000,

 

in 2015 amounts to EUR 1 205 000.

3.1.   Legal Basis

Articles 6(5), 34, 35, 43 of Regulation (EU) No 652/2014.

3.2.   Budget line

 

budget 2014 — 17 04 01 — 4 600 000 EUR

 

budget 2014 — 17 04 03 — 50 000 EUR

 

budget 2015 — 17 04 03 — 1 205 000 EUR

3.3.   Indicative list of envisaged contracts

Action

(budget 2014 — 17 04 01)

Type of contracts

Estimated nr of contracts

Indicative date

Amount

(in EUR)

Renewal of stocks of FMD virus antigens in the EU antigen and vaccine bank

Call of tender

1

4th Q 2014

4 600 000


Action

(budget 2014 — 17 04 03)

Type of contracts

Estimated nr of contracts

Indicative date

Amount

(in EUR)

Communication on eradication programmes

Specific/service with existing framework contract

2

4th Q 2014

50 000


Actions

(budget 2015 — 17 04 03)

Type of contracts

Estimated nr of contracts

Indicative date

Amount

(in EUR)

Study — Risk assessment of quality pests

Negotiated procedure with the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO)

Service/Negotiated procedure

1

1st Q 2015

300 000

Development of a prototype instrument for detecting boar taint to be used in slaughterhouses

Specific/service with existing framework contract

1

1st Q 2015

170 000

Events as part of EXPO Milan 2015

Specific/service with a future framework contract

15

1st Q 2015

500 000

Evaluate criteria options for identifying endocrine disruptors in the context of an Impact Assessment (screening)

Specific/service with existing framework contract

1

1st Q 2015

235 000

3.4.   Implementation

The actions will be implemented directly by DG SANCO.

4.   OTHER ACTIONS

4.1.   Reimbursements of accommodation and travel costs of national experts carrying out audits together with the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO)

4.2.   Legal Basis

Article 32 of Regulation (EU) No 652/2014.

4.3.   Budget line

 

budget 2015 — 17 04 03 — 400 000 EUR.

4.4.   Indicative list of envisaged other actions

Action

(budget 2015 — 17 04 03)

Estimated no of other actions

Indicative date

Indicative amount

(in EUR)

Reimbursements of accommodation and travel costs of experts carrying out audits together with the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO)

130

Throughout 2015

400 000


(1)  COM(2014) 82 final, Brussels, 18.2.2014.

(2)  Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the monitoring of zoonotic agents, amending Council Decision 90/424/EEC and repealing Council Directive 92/117/EEC (OJ L 325, 12.12.2003, p. 31).

(3)  COM(2011) 748 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, Action plan against the rising threats from Antimicrobial Resistance.


18.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 410/10


New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

2014/C 410/05

Image

National side of the new commemorative 2-euro coin intended for circulation and issued by Slovenia

Euro coins intended for circulation have legal tender status throughout the euro area. For the purpose of informing the public and all parties who handle the coins, the Commission publishes a description of the designs of all new coins (1). In accordance with the Council conclusions of 10 February 2009 (2), euro-area Member States and countries that have concluded a monetary agreement with the European Union providing for the issuing of euro coins are allowed to issue commemorative euro coins intended for circulation, provided that certain conditions are met, particularly that only the 2-euro denomination is used. These coins have the same technical characteristics as other 2-euro coins, but their national face features a commemorative design that is highly symbolic in national or European terms.

Issuing country : Slovenia

Subject of commemoration : Emona-Ljubljana

Description of the design : The central image of the coin is the composition of letters that form the word ‘EMONA’ or ‘AEMONA’ and a stylised design of Emona. At the bottom, in circular sense, the inscription ‘EMONA LJUBLJANA SLOVENIJA 2015’.

The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Number of coins to be issued : 1 million

Date of issue : January 2015


(1)  See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1 for the national faces of all the coins issued in 2002.

(2)  See the conclusions of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 10 February 2009 and the Commission Recommendation of 19 December 2008 on common guidelines for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation (OJ L 9, 14.1.2009, p. 52).


18.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 410/11


New national sides of euro circulation coins

2014/C 410/06

Euro circulation coins have legal tender status throughout the euro area. The Commission publishes all new euro coin designs (1) with a view to informing all parties required to handle coins in the course of their work as well as the public at large.

Spain has updated the design of the Spanish national face of the 1 and 2 euro coins to be produced from 2015 in order to illustrate the change in the position of the Head of State. 1 and 2 euro coins from previous years featuring the old Spanish national face will remain valid. The designs on the other denominations remain unchanged.

Image

Image

Issuing country : Spain

Date of issue : January 2015

Description of the designs : The design on the Spanish 1 and 2 euro coins feature the effigy of the new Head of State, His Majesty King Felipe VI, in profile to the left. At the left of the effigy, in circular sense and with capital letters, the name of the issuing country and the year of issuance ‘ESPAÑA 2015’ and at the right the mint mark.

The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

The edge lettering of the 2 euro coin: 2Image Image, repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.


(1)  See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1, OJ C 254, 20.10.2006, p. 6 and OJ C 248, 23.10.2007, p. 8 for a reference to the other euro coins.


V Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

18.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 410/12


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 410/07

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

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs  (2)

‘FRÄNKISCHER GRÜNKERN’

EC No: DE-PDO-0005-01144 — 7.8.2013

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Name

‘Fränkischer Grünkern’

2.   Member State or Third Country

Germany

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

‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ is grains of spelt (Triticum spelta), a type of wheat, which are harvested when unripe and dried. The spelt is harvested at the beginning of the ‘dough-ripe’ stage. ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ is then preserved and given its typical aroma by drying, traditionally over a beechwood fire. All ‘Grünkern’ batches are classified in one of three possible quality grades. Class I with at least 80 %, Class II with at least 70 % and Class III with at least 60 % olive-green grains. In addition to the taste, the quality criteria include an olive-green colour, the grain structure and no impurities in the form of other types of cereal, wild oats or weed seeds. The moisture content is a maximum of 13 %.

3.3.   Raw materials (for processed products only)

Only spelt of the ‘Bauländer Spelz’ variety may be used for the production of ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’.

3.4.   Feed (for products of animal origin only)

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

The entire production process for the cultivation, production and processing of ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’, i.e. sowing, harvesting and drying, must take place in the identified geographical area.

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

3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling

‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ must be labelled together with the appropriate Union symbol as ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ at all stages of marketing. Labels must also bear the name and address of the manufacturer. Optionally, the registration number in the protection association may be indicated.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area covers the rural districts of Hohenlohekreis, Main-Tauber-Kreis and Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis in Baden-Württemberg and the rural districts of Miltenberg and Würzburg in Bavaria.

5.   Link with the geographical area

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area

Large parts of the area in which the product is cultivated are on land with little precipitation in the rain shadow of the Odenwald region, mainly on slopes and shallow-soil arable land not yet suitable for wheat growing, with indices from 20/25, which in part must be regarded as ‘areas with a natural handicap’. The geographical area is made up mainly of weathered limestone soils. The annual average temperature in the geographical area is 8,4 °C, and annual precipitation is 770 mm. From time immemorial, farmers have been growing spelt here on the shallow, stony soils where cultivating winter wheat is no longer a proposition. The ‘Bauland’ in the Baden region forming the core of the geographical area is the main traditional ‘Grünkern’-growing area in the world. Nowhere else has spelt been continuously cultivated for centuries for making ‘Grünkern’, right up to the present day. For generations farmers in the geographical area have been harvesting spelt, which is particularly vulnerable to unfavourable weather, at the dough stage under trees, in field margins and along tracks, and then drying it out.

Producing ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ from dough-ripe spelt involves a great deal of effort and hard work. It requires a high degree of specialist knowledge, heavy manual labour and extreme care and is thus only possible on small farms using traditional working methods. Traditional drying over a beechwood fire has been preserved right up to the present day. The harvested crop is dried by passing air through it at about 120 °C to 150 °C. It is important that the hardwood smoke fully penetrates the grain to give it its traditional taste. Traditional manually operated kilns with a perforated plate are now only seldom used. The protected heritage site of a group of ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ kilns along a track on the southern edge of the town of Walldürn-Altheim (in the Neckar-Odenwald district) shows the importance which ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ had for the local population in the past. To the present day, drying is not just a matter of temperature – it requires a fine touch and the necessary level of experience. The local population’s ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ cultivation and production know-how has been passed on from one generation to the next.

Also, southern Germany is the traditional market for ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’. The earliest historical references to ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ date back to the 17th century and are to be found in storage accounts and village and town tax and rate records. ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ has been cultivated and sold as ‘green corn’ in the geographical area from as early as the middle of the 18th century. Increasingly, ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ began to be commercially traded from the middle of the 19th century. ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ production was promoted by Jewish merchants in the region, but this development was also aided by the availability of large markets. The ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ economy was given a major boost by regional customers such as the Knorr company founded in the nearby town of Heilbronn, which has been using ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ meal since the 1870s.

5.2.   Specificity of the product

‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ is characterised by its even, glassy structure and colour, its strong, flavoursome beechwood taste and its nutty aroma. The slender grains of ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ have ‘hard gluten properties’, producing a nutty aroma during drying. The ‘Bauländer Spelz’ variety was made compulsory for members of the Association of Franconian ‘Grünkern’ Producers in 1960, because it has the best aroma and the highest glassiness. ‘Bauländer Spelz’ has been authorised since 1958 and is thus one of the oldest authorised spelt varieties. According to scientific studies, this variety native to and widely spread throughout the geographical area is particularly well-suited for the production of ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ as a result of its firm husk and grains, which are of benefit at the sensitive dough-ripe stage during the drying process. This robust, undemanding variety is ideally adapted to the special local and climatic conditions and still produces average yields in the agronomically disadvantaged geographical area, even without costly or complicated cultivation measures. Scientific studies by the national cereal research institute into the impact of variety, time of harvest and drying on the quality of ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ confirm that, both as regards the drying process to produce an even, glassy structure and colour and the aromatic taste and ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ yields obtained, the ‘Bauländer Spelz’ variety has the advantage over other varieties for the production of ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ in the defined geographical area (Zwingelberg & Münzing: ‘Grünkern – Einfluss von Sorte, Erntezeitpunkt und Darre auf die Qualitätseigenschaften’, 1991, p. 21). In addition, this native variety produces highly compact grains with a generally below-average thousand-grain weight, which benefits uniform drying and helps to achieve an even, glassy structure and colour, and which have proved their worth given their high yields, particularly in the production of ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’.

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

The quality and characteristic properties of ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ are due mainly to the geographical conditions, including natural and human factors, in the area of origin. The specific interaction of soil conditions and climatic conditions in the geographical area in conjunction with the ‘Bauländer Spelz’ variety produce the distinct characteristics unique to the product.

The local know-how, the centuries-old tradition of production, processing and preparation of ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’, in particular the skills required for harvesting and processing on the farm, help to bring out the acclaimed organoleptic characteristics inherent to ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’. In order to preserve the culinary cultural heritage of farmers in the Bauland region, in 2010 the Slow Food foundation for biodiversity added ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ to the international ‘Presidio’ community.

‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ is also used in fine restaurants and catering in the region and beyond. The large number of recipes with ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ passed on down the generations, the oldest dating back to 1821, attest to its importance in Franconian cuisine. Activities linked to the ‘Bauland gold’, as it is known, such as the ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ festival in Kupprichhausen, which has been held since 1978, or the ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ cycle route, which is approximately 100 km long, enrich the cultural life of the region.

Both natural conditions and human factors, such as the time of harvest and the drying process, affect the characteristics of the product in a way which would not be possible in other regions. The special climatic and soil conditions in the geographical area, in conjunction with the ‘Bauländer Spelz’ variety native to the geographical area and the method for drying ‘Fränkischer Grünkern’ developed in the geographical area, thus make it possible to produce this high-quality product and build a viable industry in locations which are naturally handicapped and apply human ingenuity to adapt to the geographical conditions.

Reference to publication of the specification

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (3))

https://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/geo/detail.pdfdownload/40685


(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.


PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

European Commission

18.11.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 410/15


Notice of initiation of a partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of steel ropes and cables originating in Ukraine

2014/C 410/08

The European Commission (‘the Commission’) received a request for a partial interim review pursuant to Article 11(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (1) (‘the basic Regulation’).

1.   Request for review

The request for review was lodged by PJSC ‘PA’‘Stalkanat-Silur’ (‘the applicant’), an exporting producer from Ukraine (‘the country concerned’).

The partial interim review is limited in scope to the examination of dumping as far as the applicant is concerned.

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 Ukraine (‘the product under review’), currently falling within CN code(s) ex 7312 10 81, ex 7312 10 83, ex 7312 10 85, ex 7312 10 89 and ex 7312 10 98.

3.   Existing measures

The measures currently in force are a definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 102/2012 (2).

4.   Grounds for the review

The request pursuant to Article 11(3) is based on prima facie evidence, provided by the applicant, that, as far as the applicant is concerned, and as far as dumping is concerned, the circumstances on the basis of which the existing measures were imposed have changed and that these changes are of a lasting nature. The existing measures were based on the level of dumping previously established.

The applicant provides prima facie evidence that the changes to its current structure, based on the merger of two unrelated exporting producers in the country concerned (only one of which was previously investigated individually), are of a lasting nature.

Furthermore, it is claimed that on the basis of the applicant’s own domestic prices, or if these prices are not available, on the basis of its constructed normal value (manufacturing costs, selling, general and administrative costs (SG&A) and profit), instead of the analogue country’s normal value used previously, the dumping margin of the applicant is significantly lower than the current level of the measures.

Therefore, the applicant claims that the continued imposition of the measures at the existing level is no longer necessary to offset the effects of injurious dumping as previously established.

5.   Procedure

Having determined, after informing the Member States, that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of a partial interim review limited to the examination of dumping as far as the applicant is concerned, the Commission hereby initiates a review in accordance with Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation.

The investigation will assess the need for the amendment, maintaining or repealing of the existing measures in respect of the applicant.

If it is determined that measures should be amended for the applicant, it may be necessary to amend the rate of duty currently applicable to imports of the product under review produced by all other companies in Ukraine.

5.1.   Investigating exporting producer

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation with regard to the applicant, the Commission will send a questionnaire to the applicant.

The applicant must submit the completed questionnaire within 37 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

5.2.   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.

5.3.   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.

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

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’ (3).

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 e-mail 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 e-mail, 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 e-mail address and they should ensure that the provided e-mail address is a functioning official business e-mail which is checked on a daily basis. Once contact details are provided, the Commission will communicate with interested parties by e-mail 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 e-mail, 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

1040 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

E-mail: TRADE-SWR-R609@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 for 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 dumping.

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/commission_2010-2014/degucht/contact/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.   Processing of personal data

Any personal data collected in this investigation will be treated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (4).


(1)  OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 51.

(2)  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).

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

(4)  OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.