# Official Journal C 344/2015

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 344 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 5817 October 2015 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 344

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 5817 October 2015

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| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | II   Information |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 344/01 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7754 — Blackstone/Corsair Capital/First Eagle) (
  1
  ) | 1 |
| 2015/C 344/02 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7715 — BNP Paribas/GE Capital (European Fleet Leasing Business)) (
  1
  ) | 1 |

Notice No

Contents

page

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2015/C 344/01

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7754 — Blackstone/Corsair Capital/First Eagle) (
  1
  )

1

1

2015/C 344/02

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7715 — BNP Paribas/GE Capital (European Fleet Leasing Business)) (
  1
  )

1

1

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| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 344/03 | Euro exchange rates | 2 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2015/C 344/03

Euro exchange rates

2

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| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 344/04 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.7775 — BTPS/CPPIB/Haymarket House) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 3 |
| | OTHER ACTS |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 344/05 | 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 | 4 |

V   Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

2015/C 344/04

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.7775 — BTPS/CPPIB/Haymarket House) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

3

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

2015/C 344/05

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

4

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

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(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

| 17.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 344/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 344/1

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.7754 — Blackstone/Corsair Capital/First Eagle)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 344/01)

On 12 October 2015, 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 the 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 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 32015M7754. EUR-Lex is the online access to European law. |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32015M7754. EUR-Lex is the online access to European law.

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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| 17.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 344/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 344/1

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.7715 — BNP Paribas/GE Capital (European Fleet Leasing Business))

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 344/02)

On 9 October 2015, 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 the 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 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 32015M7715. EUR-Lex is the online access to European law. |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32015M7715. EUR-Lex is the online access to European law.

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 17.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 344/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 344/2

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Euro exchange rates (1)

16 October 2015

(2015/C 344/03)

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,1360 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 135,25 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4597 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,73560 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,3557 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,0809 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 9,2005 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 27,081 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 309,68 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,2383 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,4167 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 3,2972 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,5654 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,4685 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 8,8041 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,6737 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,5714 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 284,80 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 14,9339 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 7,2159 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,6285 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 15 359,84 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,7462 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 52,250 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 70,2640 |
| THB | Thai baht | 40,108 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 4,3792 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 18,7145 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 73,6891 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,1360

JPY

Japanese yen

135,25

DKK

Danish krone

7,4597

GBP

Pound sterling

0,73560

SEK

Swedish krona

9,3557

CHF

Swiss franc

1,0809

ISK

Iceland króna

NOK

Norwegian krone

9,2005

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

27,081

HUF

Hungarian forint

309,68

PLN

Polish zloty

4,2383

RON

Romanian leu

4,4167

TRY

Turkish lira

3,2972

AUD

Australian dollar

1,5654

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,4685

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

8,8041

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,6737

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,5714

KRW

South Korean won

1 284,80

ZAR

South African rand

14,9339

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,2159

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,6285

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

15 359,84

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,7462

PHP

Philippine peso

52,250

RUB

Russian rouble

70,2640

THB

Thai baht

40,108

BRL

Brazilian real

4,3792

MXN

Mexican peso

18,7145

INR

Indian rupee

73,6891

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

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V Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

| 17.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 344/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 344/3

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7775 — BTPS/CPPIB/Haymarket House)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 344/04)

| 1. | On 9 October 2015, 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 Britel Fund Nominees Limited as corporate trustee of BT Pension Scheme (‘BTPS’, United Kingdom) and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (‘CPPIB’, Canada) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Haymarket House (the ‘Target Property’), a commercial property in London (United Kingdom) by way of purchase of assets. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 9 October 2015, 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 Britel Fund Nominees Limited as corporate trustee of BT Pension Scheme (‘BTPS’, United Kingdom) and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (‘CPPIB’, Canada) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the undertaking Haymarket House (the ‘Target Property’), a commercial property in London (United Kingdom) by way of purchase of assets.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for BTPS: occupational pension scheme established for the benefit of employees of BT Group plc. The activities of BTPS include real-estate investment and its broader group is active in bond and equity investment, both in the United Kingdom and overseas,
  —   for CPPIB: investment management organisation that invests the funds of the Canada Pension Plan. CPPIB principally invests in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed-income investments,
  —   for the Target Property: a tenanted commercial property, located near Piccadilly Circus in London. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for BTPS: occupational pension scheme established for the benefit of employees of BT Group plc. The activities of BTPS include real-estate investment and its broader group is active in bond and equity investment, both in the United Kingdom and overseas,

—   for CPPIB: investment management organisation that invests the funds of the Canada Pension Plan. CPPIB principally invests in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed-income investments,

—   for the Target Property: a tenanted commercial property, located near Piccadilly Circus in London.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in this notice. |
| --- | --- |

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the 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 Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in this 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 M.7775 — BTPS/CPPIB/Haymarket House, 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 M.7775 — BTPS/CPPIB/Haymarket House, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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

(2)  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.

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OTHER ACTS

European Commission

| 17.10.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 344/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

17.10.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 344/4

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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 344/05)

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

‘TERNERA DE LOS PIRINEOS CATALANES’/‘VEDELLA DELS PIRINEUS CATALANS’/‘VEDELL DES PYRÉNÉES CATALANES’

EU No: MULTI-PGI-0005-01042 — 23.04.2010

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

1.   Name

‘Ternera de los Pirineos Catalanes’/‘Vedella dels Pirineus Catalans’/‘Vedell des Pyrénées Catalanes’

2.   Member State or Third Country

Spain

France

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

Class 1.1. Fresh meat (and offal)

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

Veal obtained from the hardy Pyrenean Brown, Aubrac or Gascon breeds or from the cross-breeding of dams of these hardy breeds with males of the Charolais, Limousin or Blonde d'Aquitaine breeds.

The extensively reared calves remain with their dams for the first few months of their life. They are slaughtered when they are between eight and 12 months old with a minimum carcass weight of 160 kg.

The meat can be sold as a whole carcass, half-carcass, quarter-carcass (hindquarter/forequarter) or as cuts of meat (including minced meat).

The eligible carcasses are classified as E, U or R on the EUROP grid, with profiles ranging from ‘super-convex’ to ‘straight’ and with muscle development that ranges from ‘exceptional’ to ‘good’.

The fat cover of the carcasses is graded 2-3-4 on the EUROP grid and intramuscular fat is observable.

The meat colour ranges from pink to bright red. The fat is white to cream in colour.

The pH value of the carcasses, measured at most 24 hours after slaughter, must be less than 6.

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

The calves feed on maternal milk and fresh fodder for at least the first four months of life.

After weaning and during the growth and fattening stages, the livestock is fed on dried fodder and a well-balanced mix of ground cereals and pulses.

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

The meat covered by the PGI comes from animals of the breeds set out in point 3.2, which are born, reared and fattened in the geographical area defined for this protected geographical indication.

The meat-production steps that must take place in the defined geographical area are:

| — | Birth. |
| --- | --- |

—

Birth.

| — | Rearing: extensive grazing on farm pastures or summer mountain pastures for at least the first four months of life. |
| --- | --- |

—

Rearing: extensive grazing on farm pastures or summer mountain pastures for at least the first four months of life.

| — | Weaning: from the age of four months. |
| --- | --- |

—

Weaning: from the age of four months.

| — | Growth and fattening: the facilities must be enclosed or semi-enclosed, provide each animal with at least 3 m2 and a rest area separate from the feeding zone. Lots comprise a maximum of 20 animals. |
| --- | --- |

—

Growth and fattening: the facilities must be enclosed or semi-enclosed, provide each animal with at least 3 m2 and a rest area separate from the feeding zone. Lots comprise a maximum of 20 animals.

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

It is not compulsory for slaughtering and butchering to take place in the area.

Transport time prior to slaughter is limited to three hours so that stress to the animals is kept to a minimum, thereby guaranteeing the quality of the finished product.

The carcasses must be left to rest to age for at least six days before sale to the public.

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

The name of the protected geographical indication ‘Ternera de los Pirineos Catalanes’, ‘Vedella dels Pirineus Catalans’ or ‘Vedell des Pyrénées Catalanes’ must feature prominently on labels, along with the EU protected geographical indication symbol and any other information required by the legislation in force.

Given the linguistic specificities of the area, the product may be referred to in any of the three languages used in the geographical area defined for this protected geographical indication (Spanish, Catalan or French).

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The area of the protected geographical indication, the Catalan Pyrenees, is a culturally and geographically homogeneous area, despite belonging to two different states.

In the Catalan Pyrenees (Spain):

The geographical area includes all the municipalities in the following districts: Alta Ribagorça, Alt Urgell, Berguedà, Cerdanya, Garrotxa, Pallars Jussà, Pallars Sobirà, Solsonès, Ripollès and Val d'Aran, as well as municipalities in the districts of Alt Empordà (Albanyà, Maçanet de Cabrenys and La Vajol), Bages (Aguilar de Segarra, Castellfollit del Boix, L'Estany, Moià, Mura, Sant Feliu Sasserra, Sant Mateu de Bages and Talamanca), Noguera (Àger, Alòs de Balaguer, Les Avellanes i Santa Linya, La Baronia de Rialb, Camarasa, Os de Balaguer and Vilanova de Meià), Osona (Alpens, Balenyà, El Brull, Centelles, Collsuspina, Espinelves, Folgueroles, Lluçà, Montesquiu, Muntanyola, Olost, Orís, Oristà, Perafita, Prats de Lluçanès, Rupit i Pruit, Sant Agustí de Lluçanès, Sant Bartomeu del Grau, Sant Boi de Lluçanès, Sant Julià de Vilatorta, Sant Martí d'Albars, Sant Martí de Centelles, Sant Pere de Torelló, Sant Quirze de Besora, Sant Sadurní d'Osormort, Sant Vicenç de Torelló, Santa Eulàlia de Riuprimer, Santa Maria de Besora, Santa Maria de Corcó, Seva, Sobremunt, Sora, Tavèrnoles, Tavertet, Tona, Vidrà, Viladrau and Vilanova de Sau) and Pla de l'Estany (Sant Miquel de Campmajor).

In the Catalan Pyrenees (France):

In the Pyrénées-Orientales department, the geographical area includes all the municipalities that are part of the cantons of Vinça, Sournia, Arles sur Tech, Prats-de-Mollo, Prades, Olette, Mont Louis and Saillagouse, as well as some of the municipalities in the cantons of Perpignan (Perpignan), Millas (Corbère and Corbère les Cabanes), Thuir (Thuir, Castelnou, Camelas, Caixas, Sainte Colombe de la Commanderie, Fourques, Tordères, Llauro and Passa), Latour-de-France (Belesta and Caramany), Céret (Montauriol, Calmeilles, Oms, Taillet, Reynes, Céret, Vivès, Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts, Maureillas las Illas, Les Cluses, Le Perthus and l'Albère), Argelès (Montesquieu des Albères, Villelongue dels Monts, Laroque des Albères, Sorède and Argelès sur Mer) and Saint Paul de Fenouillet (Vira, Fenouillet, Caudiès de Fenouillèdes, Prugnanes, Fosse and Saint Martin).

In the Aude department, the geographical area includes municipalities that border the Pyrénées-Orientales department and are located in the Pyrenean mountain range, namely all the municipalities that are part of the cantons of Axat, Belcaire, Mouthoumet and Quillan, as well as some of the municipalities in the cantons of Couiza (Arques, Bugarach, Camps-sur-l'Agly, Cassaignes, Couiza, Coustaussa, Cubières-sur-Cinoble, Fourtou, Luc-sur-Aude, Missègre, Peyrolles, Rennes-le-Château, Rennes-les-Bains, Serres, Sougraigne, Terroles and Valmigère), Lagrasse (Mayronnes and Saint-Martin-des-Puits), Limoux (Alet-les-Bains, Bouriège, Bourigeole, Castelreng, Festes-et-Saint-André, La Bezole, Saint-Couat-du-Razès and Véraza), Saint Hilaire (Belcastel-et-Buc, Caunette-sur-Lauquet, Clermont-sur-Lauquet, Greffeil, Ladern-sur-Lauquet, Villardebelle and Villefloure), and Tuchan (Cucugnan, Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse, Maisons, Montgaillard, Padern and Rouffiac-des-Corbières).

5.   Link with the geographical area

The geography of the Catalan Pyrenees is favourable to extensive cattle rearing. It is characterised by paths and mountain pastures at high and low altitude, with extensive natural pasture land for the animals for much of the year, until the weather conditions become difficult. The area is influenced by the Mediterranean (humid, sub-Mediterranean climate), which means that the animals can spend longer in the summer pastures and mountain meadows.

The abundance of water and good exposure to sunlight favour the development of the rich and characteristic flora (particularly Festuca pratensis, Festuca alpina, Poa pratensis, Dactylis glomerata, Sesleria caerulea, Bromus erectus and Arrhenatherum elatius), which creates excellent grazing areas for the cattle. It also allows farmers to sow mixtures of grasses and legumes in the meadows in the mid-mountain zone to feed the cattle during periods when the high-altitude mountain pastures are inaccessible. The most common forage crops are clover, ryegrass, lucerne (alfalfa), sainfoin and fescue.

The specific character of this protected geographical indication comes from the breeds used (Pyrenean Brown, Aubrac and Gascon), which are suited to this environment and reared in the open air. These are all hardy breeds that are typical of the region and possess qualities that are useful given the traditional farming methods used in mountain areas, as the cattle can handle extreme weather conditions, require little food to survive thanks to their ability to use reserves built up when food is plentiful (transhumance) and are well suited to the climate and relief of the land.

The calves' feed, linked to the system of rearing, gives the meat its distinctive colour and tenderness, the carcass conformation and the intramuscular fat. Maternal milk helps calves grow well, as it supplies a significant amount of calcium. This favours good skeletal development, which helps the calves develop a conform carcass. Feeding the cattle dried fodder and a well-balanced mix of ground cereals and pulses during the fattening phase helps to improve carcass development and conformation.

Over the centuries, the inhabitants of the Catalan Pyrenees have made arable and livestock farming their main sources of livelihood. Cattle rearing was already practised in the area in the Middle Ages, but it was not until the mid-19th century that it overtook sheep-breeding as a result of the construction of irrigation canals. These enabled the expansion of forage zones (and concomitantly the size of cattle herds). The history of the Catalan Pyrenees since the beginning of the 20th century has inevitably been marked by gradual depopulation, successive waves of abandonment of the land and livestock farming, or changes in economic activity. Between 1933 and 1947, the number of sheep declined by half (owing to war, rural flight, and sheep farming's labour-intensiveness). A corollary of this, since the Second World War, has been the rise to predominance of beef production.

Historically, the small farms of the Catalan Pyrenees had few livestock (between two and five animals). These were used as beasts of burden or for household consumption. In summer, the animals went up to the summer pastures with their spring-born calves. This made it possible to preserve the fodder reserves at lower altitudes and keep workers free for other seasonal activities on the farm. Currently, despite an increase in farm sizes, they are still small (fewer than 25 calves are born each year on 80 % of farms) and livestock farmers are using traditional breeding techniques which result in high-yield carcasses valued by butchers, of a colour much appreciated by the consumer.

In the Catalan Pyrenees, a number of festivals, fairs and markets are held; these events have a strong agricultural feel and the region's cattle feature prominently. They include the Fira de Sant Ermengol de la Seu d'Urgell (which dates back to the 11th century), the ferias in Olette, Prats-de-Mollo and Vinça, as well as treks through the mountain pastures of the Catalan Pyrenees Regional Nature Park. The large influx of tourists to the region has helped promote the excellent qualities of this meat, meaning that in recent decades the meat has gained a good reputation with consumers and professionals from outside the production area. A survey carried out 15 years ago concluded that veal produced in the area was well known and highly regarded, as 60 % of Catalan consumers knew of it (compared to 16 % of consumers throughout Spain) and 45 % declared the beef from the geographical area to be the best.

All of this has given rise to coverage in various publications, such as Cuina amb denominació d'origen (Coessetània Edicions, 2014), Regió7 (article in the edition of 3 May 2009) and Bondia Andorra (article in the edition of 7 April 2014), for example, and the following online references: http://www.lleidatur.com, http://www.laseu.cat and http://www.gastroteca.cat

This Protected Geographical Indication, linked to tradition and drawing on the know-how of livestock farmers in the area, is not only recognised by the public, but has also been approved by the relevant authorities. The Generalitat de Catalunya (Autonomous Government of Catalonia) approved the Denominación de Calidad (Quality Designation) ‘Vedella dels Pirineus Catalans’/‘Ternera de los Pirineos Catalanes’ in 1994 (Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya No 1999 of 18.1.1995) and in 2006 included it in the Inventario de Productos de la Tierra (Inventory of Products of the Land), which codifies the typical and traditional agri-food products of Catalonia.

In summary, the difficult living conditions in these mountainous areas are actually irrefutable advantages thanks to the quality product that is closely linked with the land. Hardy breeds are able to make best use of the upper and lower mountain areas, which helps manage the natural environment. Farmers value their produce (recognition and reputation with consumers and distributors, and higher prices), which enables them to maintain the farming system (also benefiting the rest of the chain), remain in difficult areas and maintain the rural way of life in mountain villages.

Reference to publication of the product specification

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

http://www.gencat.cat/alimentacio/pliego-ternera-pirineos-catalanes

https://www.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/CDC-Vedell-des-Pyreenes-Catalanes-FR-24-03-2015.pdf

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

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