(1)

Pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, the application from Cambodia to register the name ‘ស្ករត្នោតកំពង់ស្ពឺ’ (Skor Thnot Kampong Speu) as protected geographical indication (PGI) was published on 3 October 2017 in the Official Journal of the European Union (2).

(2)

On 22 December 2017 the Commission received the notice of opposition and the related reasoned statement of opposition from the sugar company Sucre Suisse SA based in Switzerland. The Commission forwarded the notice of opposition and the reasoned statement of opposition submitted by Sucre Suisse SA to Cambodia on 9 January 2018.

(3)

On 3 January 2018 the Commission received also the notice of opposition and the related reasoned statement of opposition from Belgium. The Commission forwarded the notice of opposition and the reasoned statement of opposition sent by Belgium to Cambodia on 9 January 2018. On 8 March 2018 Belgium informed the Commission of the withdrawal of its opposition to the application for registration of ‘ស្ករត្នោតកំពង់ស្ពឺ’ (Skor Thnot Kampong Speu).

(4)

Sucre Suisse SA opposed to the registration of the name ‘ស្ករត្នោតកំពង់ស្ពឺ’ (Skor Thnot Kampong Speu) because the description of the product ‘palm sugar’ is unspecific and the product does not fulfil definition of sugars as established in Council Directive 2001/111/EC (3) relating to certain sugars intended for human consumption.

(5)

Finding such opposition admissible, pursuant to Article 51(3) first subparagraph of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 the Commission invited Cambodia and Sucre Suisse SA by letter dated 3 April 2018 to engage in appropriate consultations for a period of three months to seek agreement among themselves in accordance with their internal procedures.

(6)

On 29 June 2018 Cambodia requested the extension of the deadline for the consultations. In accordance with Article 51(3) last subparagraph of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 the Commission extended the deadline for the consultations for additional three months starting on 4 July 2018.

(7)

Following consultations an agreement was reached between the interested parties. Cambodia communicated the results of the agreement to the Commission on 3 October 2018.

(8)

Cambodia and Sucre Suisse SA agreed that there is no need to modify the Single Document published under Article 50(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012. The interested parties consider also as useful to clarify what ‘ស្ករត្នោតកំពង់ស្ពឺ’ (Skor Thnot Kampong Speu) is by stating that ‘“Skor Thnot Kampong Speu” is a sugar that comes from palm trees. Palm sugar is not defined in the Directives 2001/111/EC relating to certain sugars intended for human consumption but it may be marketed in EU subject to the general legal requirements. Palm sugar has been used for human consumption across the world for centuries.’

(9)

As the agreement complies with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 and EU legislation, the content of the agreement concluded between Cambodia and Sucre Suisse SA should be taken into account.

(10)

In the light of the above, the name ‘ស្ករត្នោតកំពង់ស្ពឺ’ (Skor Thnot Kampong Speu) should be entered in the Register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications,