# Official Journal C 247/2013

| | ISSN 1977-091X
  doi:10.3000/1977091X.C_2013.247.eng |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 247 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 5628 August 2013 |

ISSN 1977-091X

doi:10.3000/1977091X.C_2013.247.eng

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 247

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 5628 August 2013

---

| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | II   Information |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2013/C 247/01 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.6969 — Valeant Pharmaceuticals International/Bausch & Lomb Holdings) (
  1
  ) | 1 |

Notice No

Contents

page

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2013/C 247/01

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.6969 — Valeant Pharmaceuticals International/Bausch & Lomb Holdings) (
  1
  )

1

1

| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2013/C 247/02 | Euro exchange rates | 2 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2013/C 247/02

Euro exchange rates

2

| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY |
| | European Commission |
| 2013/C 247/03 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.7025 — Oiltanking/Macquarie/Chemoil Storage) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 3 |
| 2013/C 247/04 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.6924 — Refresco Group/Pride Foods) (
  1
  ) | 5 |
| 2013/C 247/05 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.7027 — Bregal Fund III/ISG) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 6 |
| | OTHER ACTS |
| | European Commission |
| 2013/C 247/06 | 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 | 7 |

V   Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

2013/C 247/03

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.7025 — Oiltanking/Macquarie/Chemoil Storage) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

3

2013/C 247/04

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.6924 — Refresco Group/Pride Foods) (
  1
  )

1

5

2013/C 247/05

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.7027 — Bregal Fund III/ISG) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

6

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

2013/C 247/06

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

7

| | |
| --- | --- |
| | (1)   Text with EEA relevance |

---

(1)   Text with EEA relevance

1

| EN | |
| --- | --- |

EN

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II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 28.8.2013 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 247/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.8.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 247/1

---

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.6969 — Valeant Pharmaceuticals International/Bausch & Lomb Holdings)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 247/01

On 5 August 2013, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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

—

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

| — | in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) under document number 32013M6969. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to the European law. |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) under document number 32013M6969. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to the European law.

---

IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 28.8.2013 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 247/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.8.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 247/2

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Euro exchange rates (1)

27 August 2013

2013/C 247/02

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,3338 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 130,07 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4597 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,86090 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 8,6894 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,2293 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 8,0290 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 25,758 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 300,28 |
| LTL | Lithuanian litas | 3,4528 |
| LVL | Latvian lats | 0,7024 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,2460 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,4435 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 2,7082 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,4877 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,4040 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 10,3458 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,7136 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,7135 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 490,42 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 13,8661 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 8,1651 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,5565 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 15 113,86 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,4429 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 59,508 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 44,2743 |
| THB | Thai baht | 42,935 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 3,2176 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 17,8049 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 89,7850 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,3338

JPY

Japanese yen

130,07

DKK

Danish krone

7,4597

GBP

Pound sterling

0,86090

SEK

Swedish krona

8,6894

CHF

Swiss franc

1,2293

ISK

Iceland króna

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,0290

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

25,758

HUF

Hungarian forint

300,28

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,7024

PLN

Polish zloty

4,2460

RON

Romanian leu

4,4435

TRY

Turkish lira

2,7082

AUD

Australian dollar

1,4877

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,4040

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

10,3458

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,7136

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,7135

KRW

South Korean won

1 490,42

ZAR

South African rand

13,8661

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

8,1651

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,5565

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

15 113,86

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,4429

PHP

Philippine peso

59,508

RUB

Russian rouble

44,2743

THB

Thai baht

42,935

BRL

Brazilian real

3,2176

MXN

Mexican peso

17,8049

INR

Indian rupee

89,7850

---

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

---

V Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

| 28.8.2013 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 247/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.8.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 247/3

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.7025 — Oiltanking/Macquarie/Chemoil Storage)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 247/03

| 1. | On 19 August 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Oiltanking GmbH (‘Oiltanking’, Germany) ultimately controlled by Marquard & Bahls AG and Macquarie Financial Holdings Limited (‘Macquarie FHL’, Australia) ultimately controlled by Macquarie Group Limited acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Chemoil Storage Limited (‘Chemoil’, Marshall Islands) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 19 August 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings Oiltanking GmbH (‘Oiltanking’, Germany) ultimately controlled by Marquard & Bahls AG and Macquarie Financial Holdings Limited (‘Macquarie FHL’, Australia) ultimately controlled by Macquarie Group Limited acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of Chemoil Storage Limited (‘Chemoil’, Marshall Islands) by way of purchase of shares.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | for Oiltanking: storage services for petroleum products, vegetable oils, chemicals and other liquids and gases on a world-wide basis, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Oiltanking: storage services for petroleum products, vegetable oils, chemicals and other liquids and gases on a world-wide basis,

| — | for Macquarie FHL: holding company for the non-banking operations of Macquarie, |
| --- | --- |

—

for Macquarie FHL: holding company for the non-banking operations of Macquarie,

| — | for Chemoil: operation of a storage terminal for bulk liquid oil products through a fully owned subsidiary, relating services, such as blending and mooring in Singapore. |
| --- | --- |

—

for Chemoil: operation of a storage terminal for bulk liquid oil products through a fully owned subsidiary, relating services, such as blending and mooring in Singapore.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
| --- | --- |

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.7025 — Oiltanking/Macquarie/Chemoil Storage, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

4.

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

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.7025 — Oiltanking/Macquarie/Chemoil Storage, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

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

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32 (‘Notice on a simplified procedure’).

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| 28.8.2013 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 247/5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.8.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 247/5

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.6924 — Refresco Group/Pride Foods)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 247/04

| 1. | On 16 August 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Refresco Group BV (‘Refresco’, Netherlands) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Pride Foods Ltd (‘Pride Foods’, UK) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 16 August 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Refresco Group BV (‘Refresco’, Netherlands) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Pride Foods Ltd (‘Pride Foods’, UK) by way of purchase of shares.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | Refresco: active in the production and bottling of non-alcoholic beverages, such as fruit and vegetable juices, carbonated soft drinks, fruit drinks, sports drinks, sparkling and still mineral water, ready-to-drink teas, and energy drinks, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

Refresco: active in the production and bottling of non-alcoholic beverages, such as fruit and vegetable juices, carbonated soft drinks, fruit drinks, sports drinks, sparkling and still mineral water, ready-to-drink teas, and energy drinks,

| — | Pride Foods: active, through its soft drink holding company Gerber EMIG Group Ltd, in the production and bottling of various non-alcoholic beverages, mainly fruit juices and still drinks, flavoured water and ready-to-drink teas. |
| --- | --- |

—

Pride Foods: active, through its soft drink holding company Gerber EMIG Group Ltd, in the production and bottling of various non-alcoholic beverages, mainly fruit juices and still drinks, flavoured water and ready-to-drink teas.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. |
| --- | --- |

3.

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

| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6924 — Refresco Group/Pride Foods, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

4.

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

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.6924 — Refresco Group/Pride Foods, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

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

---

| 28.8.2013 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 247/6 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.8.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 247/6

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.7027 — Bregal Fund III/ISG)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

2013/C 247/05

| 1. | On 19 August 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Bregal Fund III (‘Bregal’, Jersey), ultimately controlled by Avenia AG (‘Avenia’, Switzerland) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of ISG Holdings 1 Limited (‘ISG’, UK) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 19 August 2013, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Bregal Fund III (‘Bregal’, Jersey), ultimately controlled by Avenia AG (‘Avenia’, Switzerland) acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of ISG Holdings 1 Limited (‘ISG’, UK) by way of purchase of shares.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | for Avenia: holding company of a group of companies operating in different sectors (retail, real estate, educational services, renewable energies and insurance) and of private equity funds, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Avenia: holding company of a group of companies operating in different sectors (retail, real estate, educational services, renewable energies and insurance) and of private equity funds,

| — | for Bregal: private equity fund, |
| --- | --- |

—

for Bregal: private equity fund,

| — | for ISG: the manufacture of heating boilers and radiators. |
| --- | --- |

—

for ISG: the manufacture of heating boilers and radiators.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
| --- | --- |

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the EC Merger Regulation (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.7027 — Bregal Fund III/ISG, to the following address:





  European Commission |
| --- | --- |
| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

4.

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

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.7027 — Bregal Fund III/ISG, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

---

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

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32 (‘Notice on a simplified procedure’).

---

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

| 28.8.2013 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 247/7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

28.8.2013

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 247/7

---

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

2013/C 247/06

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)

‘PAPRIKA ŽITAVA’/‘ŽITAVSKÁ PAPRIKA’

EC No: SK-PDO-0005-01024-10.08.2012

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Name

‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’

The product takes its name from Slovakia's Žitava river valley where it was first grown. Although the area in which the peppers are grown and processed has gradually spread across the Danubian Lowland, the name has been retained and is used to this day. The product used to be called just ‘Paprika Žitava’, but for linguistic and export-related reasons, it also came to be referred to as ‘Žitavská paprika’. Both names continue to be used, whether in a commercial context in accordance with customary usage in the trade, or in everyday language, such as in recipes for meat products and dishes.

2.   Member State or Third Country

Slovak Republic

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

| Class 1.8. | Other products of Annex I to the Treaty (spices, etc.) |
| --- | --- |

Class 1.8.

Other products of Annex I to the Treaty (spices, etc.)

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

‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ is a sweet paprika made by grinding the dried fruits of the Capsicum chilli pepper grown in the Danubian Lowland; the fruits are picked intact when ripe and then undergo a special post-harvest treatment process.

‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ gets its characteristic intense colour from the final stage in the grinding process on what is known as the ‘colouring stone’; as pressure is applied, the temperature rises and the oil contained in the seeds is released, which is what imparts the characteristic orange-red colour.

Organoleptic characteristics

Aroma: pleasant vegetable aroma, fresh, with capsicum notes

Flavour: distinctly sweet, with no bitterness, reminiscent of fresh capsicums/sweet peppers

Physical and chemical characteristics

Appearance: homogeneous powder, with minimum microparticle content, ground finely enough to completely pass through a sieve with a mesh aperture diameter of 0,5 mm.

Colour: bright, orange-red, (pigment at least 3,6 g/kg–1 or 120 ASTA units in the dry matter of the chilli)

Dry matter: minimum 90 %

Fat content: 9-11 %

Ash: not more than 7,00 %

Ash insoluble in HCl: not more than 0,70 %

Capsaicin in dry matter expressed as percentage by weight: 0,01-0,029 %

The paprika may not contain any additives. All the moisture is naturally contained in the intracellular space of the chillies.

3.3.   Raw materials (for processed products only)

‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ may be produced only from a mixture of the following pepper varieties: Dvorská, Kolora, Kora Zel, Žitavská, Karkulka, Hodonínska sladká vzpriamená, Irokez, Rubin, Czárdás, Kármin and Szegedi 80. All the varieties used in the production of ‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ are from the specified geographical area. The mixture used to make the product may contain all or just some of these varieties.

Growers declare on their sales contracts that they grow only the pepper varieties in question, and this can be verified from their seed purchases. The quality of the peppers, which are harvested by hand, is checked visually to ensure that the required fruit quality is not impaired. Only fully ripe fruits with a high pigment content are harvested. The harvesting of the ripe fruits begins in September and runs up until the end of October. It is important to prevent any mechanical damage to the fruits during harvesting. Paprika producers regularly monitor and record the quality of the raw materials before, during and after the production process.

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 chillies used to produce ‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ must be grown, harvested and processed in the geographical area referred to in point 4, so that the origin of the product is guaranteed and the production monitored.

The whole production process takes place exclusively in the defined geographical area, involving the following stages:

| | Cultivation |
| --- | --- |

Cultivation

| | Harvesting and post-harvest treatment |
| --- | --- |

Harvesting and post-harvest treatment

| | Drying |
| --- | --- |

Drying

| | Grinding |
| --- | --- |

Grinding

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

‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ must be prepared for sale and packaged in the geographical area referred to in point 4, so that the origin of the product is guaranteed and the production monitored, and to ensure that, when transported loose, it is not exposed to moisture that might impair its quality and special characteristics. ‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ comes in paper, polyethylene, polyester and aluminium packaging, with oxygen permeability of less than 10 cm3/m2.d.0,1MPa and water vapour permeability of less than 10 g/m2.d. to maintain the quality and special characteristics of the product during its shelf-life.

3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling

Producers who make the product in accordance with the specification may use the name ‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ for labelling, promoting and marketing the product. The labels on the product must include the words ‘chránené označenie pôvodu’ (protected designation of origin) or the acronym ‘CHOP’ (PDO) with the associated EU logo.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area where ‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ is grown and processed is located in the Danubian Lowland, at the Váh, Hron and Nitra river mouths and in the Little Danube and Žitava river valleys. It is bordered by the Danubian Hills to the east and to the north, by the Little Carpathians to the west and by the river Danube to the south. The area basically covers the Danubian Lowland.

5.   Link with the geographical area

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area

The Danubian Lowland is the most northerly area where heat-loving fruits, such as sweet peppers and chillies, can be grown cost-effectively. The area enjoys 70 days a year when the temperature tops 25 °C. The areas under cultivation are located at between 150 and 250 metres above sea level and the average temperature from May to September is 17,4 °C. Rainfall is 500-600 mm a year. The climate is characterised by hot and dry summers. The subsoil is made up of Neogene clays, gravels and sands. The fertility of the soil is optimal.

Method of cultivation: Regional varieties have been developed by growers on the basis of their know-how and experience accumulated over the years since peppers were first cultivated. As heat-loving plants, peppers have a long vegetation period and die if the temperature drops to – 2 °C. In Slovakia they are sown directly outside or grown from seedlings raised in greenhouses or coldframes and then planted out around the middle of May, 30 cm apart in rows 60 cm apart. In dry years when the soil moisture drops below 55 % the plants are irrigated.

Post-harvest handling the chilli peppers are put in mesh bags or perforated crates, which are placed on top of each other and arranged in such a way as to maximise ventilation and prevent damage to the peppers.

Post-harvest ripening is extremely important, since for 2-5 weeks after harvesting there are enzymatic processes at work which intensify the colour in the peppers and give them their characteristic flavour and aroma.

Drying: The chillies are washed in a rotary drum and sorted on a conveyor belt, to ensure that only clean unblemished peppers go into the next stage of the process. Each pepper is cut in half lengthways. The drying process uses a current of hot air, the temperature of which is reduced as the peppers dry. Correct cutting, drying and storage minimises the risk of mould forming in the product.

Grinding: The dried chillies are ground in two stages using a traditional method on a fine-grain rotating millstone. The first-stage millstone has a sieve to sift the ground paprika. The finely ground paprika falls through onto a spiralled conveyor, which feeds it into the homogeniser. The paprika that is not finely ground enough is returned back onto the rollers. The paprika then moves onto the second stage from the homogeniser to the ‘colouring stone’, which presses out the pigment-bearing oils to give the optimum colour. To maintain the taste properties and the vitamins B and C content, the stones rotate slowly, so that the temperature does not rise too much. The whole process is completed by sifting the powder through a sieve with a mesh aperture diameter of less than 0,5 mm, ensuring homogeneity.

5.2.   Specificity of the product

The pepper varieties obtained through selection and breeding are characterised by their relatively low fat content and relatively high sugar content, which gives ‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ its pronounced flavour and orange-red colour. The chillies must be ground using the traditional ‘colouring stone’ and properly transported and stored in order to preserve all the organoleptic properties.

The typical orange-red colour of ‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ depends on the special properties of the raw material (the peppers) and the traditional grinding method that does not impair the product.

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 specific characteristics of the product are imparted by the specific characteristics of the geographical area in terms of its soil, climate and human potential. The natural conditions in this region, which is the most northerly region suitable for pepper cultivation, the specially selected and bred traditional varieties and the traditional cultivation and processing techniques are what makes ‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ the product it is. The elevation, abundant water, permeable soil and relatively low number of sunny days in summer mean that the high saccharide content in the peppers is not transformed into pigment to the same extent as it is when peppers are grown in hotter areas, but is retained in terms of flavour. This is what gives ‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ its uniquely sweet aroma and flavour. This combination of factors makes it possible to grow regional varieties of peppers that give ‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ its distinctive colour, aroma and flavour.

The post-harvest handling, drying and grinding also reflect know-how and skills accumulated over generations. The climatic conditions in the growing area have shaped the post-harvest handling procedures. One of the key elements in this is the post-harvest ripening, which affects the quality of the paprika and increases the pigment content. In order to be ground the peppers need to be dried so that they have a 90 % dry matter content.

‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ was first grown and processed in the defined geographical area as far back as the 18th century. When cultivation turned large-scale, varieties were imported from Spain and Hungary. The Spanish varieties proved unsuccessful, but using Hungarian varieties and drawing on the know-how of Hungarian growers, in particular from the Szeged and Kalocsa regions, Slovak growers developed local varieties adapted to the soil and climate of the region. New local varieties were created simply by selecting from the best growers. At first they were named after the village or producer, with names like Močenská hrubostenná, Branovská Fekete and Branovská Ďurica. Later on they were named after rivers in the regions where they grew well, with names like Považská hrubostenná sladká, Nitrianska tenkostenná sladká, Dunajská hrubostenná sladká, Žitavská hrubostenná sladká and Hodonínska sladká vzpriamená.

The first industrial paprika mill, which belonged to the Šmigura family, began operating in 1928. In 1934 a high-performance mill was also constructed in Diakovce by a Mr Holub, the administrator of the assets of the archdiocese of Esztergom. Further mills were gradually built in Hurbanovo, Nové Zámky and Dvory nad Žitavou.

More intensive plant-breeding activity to select varieties suitable for the region began in the 1950s. The first genetically determined regional varieties, such as Karkulka and Agronomka, went into cultivation. Breeding, with the emphasis on using proven regional varieties, created the wide range of varieties that continue to be cultivated to this day. The main varieties are Dvorská, Kolora, Kora Zel, Žitavská, Karkulka, Hodonínska sladká vzpriamená, Irokez, Rubin, Czárdás, Kármin and Szegedi 80.

Although paprika production has been affected by social changes in the country, with production carried out in different factories and by different companies, the specific characteristics of the product and the traditional production method have been maintained to this day.

Despite the huge influx of peppers from other regions, the chillies used to make ‘Paprika Žitava’/‘Žitavská paprika’ continue to be grown in the Danube Lowland, constituting a significant source of income and employment in the region, particularly for small growers, as well as being a symbol of their culture and tradition.

Reference to publication of the specification

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

http://www.upv.sk/swift_data/source/pdf/specifikacie_op_oz/SPECIFIKACIA_Paprika_Zitava.pdf

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(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.

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