# Official Journal C 222/2015

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 222 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 587 July 2015 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 222

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 587 July 2015

---

| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | IV   Notices |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | Council |
| 2015/C 222/01 | Council Act of 4 December 2014 extending the term of office of a Deputy Director of Europol | 1 |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 222/02 | Euro exchange rates | 3 |
| | NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES |
| 2015/C 222/03 | Notification of Lithuania’s national regulatory authority — National Commission for Energy Control and Prices (hereinafter NCC) — pursuant to Article 10(2) of Directive 2009/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas and repealing Directive 2003/55/EC regarding the designation of AB Amber Grid as natural gas transmission system operator in Lithuania | 4 |

Notice No

Contents

page

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

Council

2015/C 222/01

Council Act of 4 December 2014 extending the term of office of a Deputy Director of Europol

1

European Commission

2015/C 222/02

Euro exchange rates

3

NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

2015/C 222/03

Notification of Lithuania’s national regulatory authority — National Commission for Energy Control and Prices (hereinafter NCC) — pursuant to Article 10(2) of Directive 2009/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas and repealing Directive 2003/55/EC regarding the designation of AB Amber Grid as natural gas transmission system operator in Lithuania

4

---

| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | OTHER ACTS |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 222/04 | 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 | 5 |

V   Announcements

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

2015/C 222/04

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

5

---

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

EN

---

IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

Council

| 7.7.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 222/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

7.7.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222/1

---

COUNCIL ACT

of 4 December 2014

extending the term of office of a Deputy Director of Europol

(2015/C 222/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Council Decision 2009/371/JHA establishing the European Police Office (Europol) (1), and in particular Article 38 paragraphs 1 to 3 thereof,

Having regard to the Decision of the Management Board of Europol of 4 June 2009 establishing the rules on the selection, extension of the term of office and dismissal of the Director and Deputy Directors of Europol (2), and in particular Article 12 paragraph 1 thereof,

Acting as the authority vested with the power to appoint the Director and Deputy Directors of Europol,

Having regard to the opinion of the Management Board,

WHEREAS:

| (1) | The term of office of a Deputy Director of Europol appointed by Council Act of 20 October 2011 (3), is due to expire on 31 October 2015. |
| --- | --- |

(1)

The term of office of a Deputy Director of Europol appointed by Council Act of 20 October 2011 (3), is due to expire on 31 October 2015.

| (2) | The Deputy Directors of Europol are appointed for a 4-year period extendable once in accordance with Article 38(2) of the Council Decision establishing the European Police Office (Europol). |
| --- | --- |

(2)

The Deputy Directors of Europol are appointed for a 4-year period extendable once in accordance with Article 38(2) of the Council Decision establishing the European Police Office (Europol).

| (3) | The Management Board presented the Council with an opinion proposing that the term of office of the present Deputy Director of Europol, Mr Oldřich MARTINŮ, be extended. |
| --- | --- |

(3)

The Management Board presented the Council with an opinion proposing that the term of office of the present Deputy Director of Europol, Mr Oldřich MARTINŮ, be extended.

| (4) | On the basis of the opinion provided by the Management Board, the Council wishes to extend the term of office of Mr Oldřich MARTINŮ as Deputy Director, |
| --- | --- |

(4)

On the basis of the opinion provided by the Management Board, the Council wishes to extend the term of office of Mr Oldřich MARTINŮ as Deputy Director,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The term of office of Mr Oldřich MARTINŮ is hereby extended from 1 November 2015 to 31 October 2019 at grade AD 14, step 1.

Article 2

This Act shall take effect on the day of its adoption.

It shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 4 December 2014.

For the Council

The President

A. ORLANDO

---

(1)  OJ L 121, 15.5.2009, p. 37.

1

(2)  OJ L 348, 29.12.2009, p. 3.

2

(3)  OJ C 310, 22.10.2011, p. 5.

3

---

European Commission

| 7.7.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 222/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

7.7.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222/3

---

Euro exchange rates (1)

6 July 2015

(2015/C 222/02)

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,1008 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 135,11 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4610 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,70800 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,3699 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,0422 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 8,9095 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 27,135 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 316,13 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,2005 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,4863 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 2,9622 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,4688 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,3914 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 8,5338 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,6440 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,4876 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 241,95 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 13,6731 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 6,8337 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,5750 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 14 700,08 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,2018 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 49,651 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 62,1340 |
| THB | Thai baht | 37,257 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 3,4659 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 17,4537 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 69,8398 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,1008

JPY

Japanese yen

135,11

DKK

Danish krone

7,4610

GBP

Pound sterling

0,70800

SEK

Swedish krona

9,3699

CHF

Swiss franc

1,0422

ISK

Iceland króna

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,9095

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

27,135

HUF

Hungarian forint

316,13

PLN

Polish zloty

4,2005

RON

Romanian leu

4,4863

TRY

Turkish lira

2,9622

AUD

Australian dollar

1,4688

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,3914

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

8,5338

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,6440

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,4876

KRW

South Korean won

1 241,95

ZAR

South African rand

13,6731

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

6,8337

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,5750

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

14 700,08

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,2018

PHP

Philippine peso

49,651

RUB

Russian rouble

62,1340

THB

Thai baht

37,257

BRL

Brazilian real

3,4659

MXN

Mexican peso

17,4537

INR

Indian rupee

69,8398

---

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

---

NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

| 7.7.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 222/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

7.7.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222/4

---

Notification of Lithuania’s national regulatory authority — National Commission for Energy Control and Prices (hereinafter NCC) — pursuant to Article 10(2) of Directive 2009/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas and repealing Directive 2003/55/EC regarding the designation of AB Amber Grid as natural gas transmission system operator in Lithuania

(2015/C 222/03)

Following Lithuania’s regulatory authority’s final decision regarding the certification of AB Amber Grid as Ownership Unbundled Transmission System Operator (Article 9 of the Directive 2009/73/EC) of 10 April, 2015 (NCC’s resolution as of 10 April 2015 No O3-242 on Designation of the Natural Gas Transmission Operator and Issuing the Licence for the Natural Gas Transmission Activity), Lithuania has notified to the European Commission the official designation of this company as a Natural Gas Transmission System Operator operating in Lithuania in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 2009/73/EC.

Any additional information can be obtained at the following address:

| — | Rimgailė Baliūnaitė, the Head of Electricity Division of NCC Gas and Electricity Department, Tel. +370 52190710, e-mail: rimgaile.baliunaite@regula.lt |
| --- | --- |

—

Rimgailė Baliūnaitė, the Head of Electricity Division of NCC Gas and Electricity Department, Tel. +370 52190710, e-mail: rimgaile.baliunaite@regula.lt

| — | Rimas Valungevičius, the Chief Specialist of NCC Gas and Electricity Department Gas Division, Tel. +370 52506185, e-mail: rimas.valungevicius@regula.lt |
| --- | --- |

—

Rimas Valungevičius, the Chief Specialist of NCC Gas and Electricity Department Gas Division, Tel. +370 52506185, e-mail: rimas.valungevicius@regula.lt

NCC’s website regarding certification of AB Amber Grid:

http://www.regula.lt/en/Pages/TSO-unbundling-gas.aspx

---

V Announcements

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

| 7.7.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 222/5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

7.7.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222/5

---

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

(2015/C 222/04)

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

‘KNACK D’ALSACE’

EU No: FR-PGI-0005-1247 — 23.07.2014

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

1.   Name(s)

‘Knack d’Alsace’

2.   Member State or Third Country

Member State or Third Country

France

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

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

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

‘Knack d’Alsace’ is a cooked sausage made from a fine paste and encased in a natural skin (sheep’s casings). It is hot smoked over beech wood (sawdust, shavings, logs or chips).

The paste is made from:

| — | lean pork and pork fat without rind, |
| --- | --- |

—

lean pork and pork fat without rind,

| — | beef |
| --- | --- |

—

beef

| — | and the following ingredients: crushed ice, sugars, blood plasma (pork or beef), salt, spirits, spices, spice extracts, aromatic plants, aromatic plant extracts, natural aromas and additives authorised in the specification. |
| --- | --- |

—

and the following ingredients: crushed ice, sugars, blood plasma (pork or beef), salt, spirits, spices, spice extracts, aromatic plants, aromatic plant extracts, natural aromas and additives authorised in the specification.

The fine paste (excluding the natural casing) consists of:

| — | a minimum of 70 % meat raw materials (beef and pork), |
| --- | --- |

—

a minimum of 70 % meat raw materials (beef and pork),

| — | a minimum of 7 % beef, |
| --- | --- |

—

a minimum of 7 % beef,

| — | a minimum of 30 % pork (lean meat and fat). |
| --- | --- |

—

a minimum of 30 % pork (lean meat and fat).

These percentages are expressed as a proportion of the total weight of the mixture during processing.

Physical properties:

Physical properties:

The ‘knack d’Alsace’ is slightly curved and has a length of 2 to 30 cm and a diameter of 20-28 mm.

It is soft and smooth with a well stretched casing. The colour of the outer skin varies:

| — | if it is only smoked, it is of an even brownish colour, |
| --- | --- |

—

if it is only smoked, it is of an even brownish colour,

| — | sometimes natural colouring agents or colouring agents obtained from natural raw materials are added after smoking, in which case it is of a pink to orangey colour. |
| --- | --- |

—

sometimes natural colouring agents or colouring agents obtained from natural raw materials are added after smoking, in which case it is of a pink to orangey colour.

On cutting, the ‘knack d’Alsace’ displays a light pink-coloured filling with a firm and elastic texture.

On biting, it is crispy (‘knackant’) to the tooth.

Natural smoking gives it a delicate smoky flavour.

Chemical properties (without casing):

Chemical properties (without casing):

| — | moisture content of the product with fat removed 80 % |
| --- | --- |

—

moisture content of the product with fat removed 80 %

| — | fat content 26 % |
| --- | --- |

—

fat content 26 %

For a moisture content of 80 % with fat removed

For a moisture content of 80 % with fat removed

| — | total soluble sugar content 1 % |
| --- | --- |

—

total soluble sugar content 1 %

| — | collagen/protide ratio 18 % |
| --- | --- |

—

collagen/protide ratio 18 %

| — | nitrite content 150 mg/kg |
| --- | --- |

—

nitrite content 150 mg/kg

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

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

With the exception of trimmings, which may be frozen for health reasons, the meat used is fresh.

It is prohibited to use meat from males that are uncastrated or with cryptorchidism whose testicles have not descended into the scrotum and mechanically separated meat.

The lean pork meat comes from the following cuts: ham, shoulders, belly, loins and trimmings.

The fat used is a hard fat taken from the back, underneath the shoulder, the ham and the throat. Frozen or deep-frozen fat may not be used, and rind may not be added.

Offal, with the exception of the thymus present in the throat, may also not be used.

The beef used has a fat content of 15 to 20 %.

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

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

The following steps are carried out in the geographical area: chopping/mincing, filling, smoking/cooking, refrigeration.

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

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

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

Labelling must indicate the name of the product (‘Knack d’Alsace’) and display the European Union’s PGI logo.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area in which the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ is produced comprises the entire Alsace region, i.e. the French Departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin.

5.   Link with the geographical area

Link with the geographical area

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area

Specificity of the geographical area

Natural factors

Natural factors

The geographical area is characterised by a predominance of beech trees in Alsatian forests. Beech wood is therefore preponderant and widely available in the region.

Human factors

Human factors

Alsace has a long tradition of making charcuterie. The ‘Knackwurst’, an ancestor of the ‘Knack d’Alsace’, is mentioned in texts from the beginning of the 16th century and is cited in a work by Jean Fischart entitled ‘Geschichtklitterung’ (1575).

—   A region marked by its history

Alsace’s location on the border with Germany has strongly influenced its history and the development of know-how in charcuterie-making. Over its history, Alsace has sometimes been part of France and sometimes part of Germany.

Before the war of 1870, Alsatian charcuterie was largely produced manually, although there was a degree of mechanisation.

After Alsace was annexed by Germany in 1871, thousands of Germans settled in the region. These included some thirty charcuterie-makers from Württemberg, who settled in Strasbourg. They introduced improved production methods and better equipment. Their more mechanised methods improved meat processing, enabling a finer meat filling to be produced, and beef was already widely used. In particular, they introduced a mincer powered by an electric motor, which was even used by small craft businesses. These businesses employed a local workforce and trained apprentices, and technological improvements and modern methods gradually spread to other firms.

After the First World War, new tax rules indirectly contributed to the development of Alsatian charcuterie, and in particular the ‘Knack d’Alsace’. The introduction of a tax on retail sales of meat considerably reduced the profits of butchers who only sold meat. As charcuterie was untaxed, butchers started to sell it alongside fresh meat.

Since then, all of the craft businesses in the Alsatian meat sector offer both meat and charcuterie.

—   A specific know-how

The production process for the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ relies on the genuine know-how of charcuterie-makers. Even though some stages in the process are mechanised, the human element remains crucial at certain key stages, such as mincing and filling.

The mincing stage, which is performed by a mincer, involves the preparation of an emulsion (fine paste). At this stage, the mincer adds the ingredients needed to produce the paste, including crushed ice, which prevents the temperature from rising and destabilising the emulsion. The quantity of ice added by the mincer depends on the appearance of the mixture and its temperature, which he continually monitors. He also adjusts the duration and speed of mincing and monitors how the mixture is evolving both visually and by touch. His skill allows a stable emulsion to be obtained. The paste must be sticky, smooth, even and consistent and should not contain any small pieces. This vital stage, which requires specific skills that are acquired with experience, is often carried out by the owner of the small business or a specialised employee.

The filling stage involves pushing the fine paste into a natural skin. This also requires know-how on the part of the operator, who must be able to assess by touch how the natural skin is being filled whilst taking account of its fragility.

5.2.   Specificity of the product

Specificity of the product

The ‘Knack d’Alsace’ is characterised by its firm and crispy texture, its pork and beef composition and its delicate smoky flavour.

Its crispy texture is so characteristic that the term ‘knackant’ [crispy] is used as a name for it. The word ‘knack’ is onomatopoeic and imitates the sound which the sausage makes when it is bitten into.

The use of beef, which contains different fibres to those of pork, affects the firmness of the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ and helps give it its crispy texture.

Natural smoking over beech wood gives the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ its delicate smoky flavour.

5.3.   Causal link between the geographical origin and, where appropriate, a given quality, the reputation or other characteristics of the product

Causal link between the geographical origin and, where appropriate, a given quality, the reputation or other characteristics of the product

The causal link with the geographical area of the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ is founded on its specific quality and reputation.

Alsace has a long tradition of charcuterie-making, as testified by written references from the 16th century.

The history of Alsace, and in particular its annexation by Germany in 1871 and the imposition after the First World War of a specific tax on retail sales of meat, contributed to technical improvements in the preparation of the fine paste used to make the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ and the development of the profession of butcher/charcuterie-maker. This historical context has been crucial to Alsatian charcuterie-makers acquiring the know-how that determines the specific characteristics of the ‘Knack d’Alsace’, i.e. its crispy texture, its pork and beef composition and its delicate smoky flavour.

The crispy texture of the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ results from the know-how of a specialised operator, the mincer, who is able to obtain a fine, sticky, even and consistent paste, and from the filling of the natural skin, which requires experience in controlling the rate at which the paste is pushed into the skin in order to obtain a well-stretched casing despite its fragility. The operator ensures by touch that the skin is being properly filled, this being a vital element of the crispiness of the finished product.

The incorporation of beef is linked to the fact that Alsatian charcuterie-makers have traditionally sold fresh meat and charcuterie alongside each other. They thus have access to a varied raw material, which they take best advantage of by using cuts of beef to produce sausages. This particularity also results from the influence of the production methods of charcuterie-makers from Württemberg, who very early on mastered the method of producing sausages containing beef.

Finally, natural smoking over beech wood, which is traditional in Alsace, gives the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ its distinctive smoky flavour. Beech wood is used to smoke the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ because it is widely available in Alsace and allows the slow and incomplete combustion of the wood which is necessary to produce smoke without the disadvantages of the coniferous species that also exist in Alsace but which soot up smokehouses.

Alsatian charcuterie-makers have thus been able to take advantage of their natural environment and, even more so, historical circumstances to acquire their own know-how, which has given the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ its specific characteristics and made it an emblematic product of Alsatian charcuterie-making.

The ‘Knack d’Alsace’ does indeed enjoy a high reputation acquired over many years since the 17th century, when it became a key element of popular festivities. For example, when festivities were held to celebrate the convalescence of Louis XV in September 1744, large quantities of the product were offered to the population of Strasbourg. The ‘Knack d’Alsace’ was also presented at the World Exhibition of 1867 in Paris, in particular by the charcuterie-maker Frick.

It is served at all village festivities in Alsace and with cocktails or on buffets. It is served in pairs on a paper plate together with bread and a mild mustard. It is also one of the main meat products served to accompany sauerkraut.

Today, the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ is a symbol of Alsatian gastronomy and popular culture, but its reputation has spread beyond the region. It is mentioned in every publication dealing with Alsatian cooking, including ‘La gastronomie alsacienne’ published in 1969 by the publishers Saisons d’Alsace, which states that the ‘Knack d’Alsace’ is ‘the most famous sausage in Alsace’, and in the ‘Inventaire du patrimoine culinaire de la France’ in its edition devoted to Alsace, published by Albin Michel SA.

the most famous sausage in Alsace

Reference to publication of the specification

Reference to publication of the specification

(the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of this Regulation (2))

2

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-3bb491ee-d1a8-433d-8da0-f8dca23e1b08

---

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

1

(2)  See footnote 1.

2

---