# Official Journal C 74/2015

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 74 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 583 March 2015 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 74

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 583 March 2015

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| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | II   Information |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 074/01 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7464 — Bladt Industries/EEW Special Pipe Constructions/TAG Energy Solutions Limited’s Assets) (
  1
  ) | 1 |

Notice No

Contents

page

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2015/C 074/01

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.7464 — Bladt Industries/EEW Special Pipe Constructions/TAG Energy Solutions Limited’s Assets) (
  1
  )

1

1

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| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 074/02 | Euro exchange rates | 2 |
| 2015/C 074/03 | Opinion of the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Agreements and dominant position given at its meeting of 8 December 2014 regarding a draft decision relating to Case AT.39780 — Envelopes — Rapporteur: Cyprus | 3 |
| 2015/C 074/04 | Final Report of the Hearing Officer — Envelopes (AT.39780) | 4 |
| 2015/C 074/05 | Summary of Commission Decision of 10 December 2014 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case AT.39780 — Envelopes) (notified under document C(2014) 9295 final) | 5 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2015/C 074/02

Euro exchange rates

2

2015/C 074/03

Opinion of the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Agreements and dominant position given at its meeting of 8 December 2014 regarding a draft decision relating to Case AT.39780 — Envelopes — Rapporteur: Cyprus

3

2015/C 074/04

Final Report of the Hearing Officer — Envelopes (AT.39780)

4

2015/C 074/05

Summary of Commission Decision of 10 December 2014 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case AT.39780 — Envelopes) (notified under document C(2014) 9295 final)

(notified under document C(2014) 9295 final)

5

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| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 074/06 | Addendum to the calls for proposals under the multi-annual work programme for grants in the field of the trans-European transport infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility for the period 2014-2020 ( OJ C 308, 11.9.2014 ) | 8 |
| 2015/C 074/07 | Addendum to the call for proposals under the annual work programme for grants in the field of the trans-European transport infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility for the period 2014-2020 ( OJ C 308, 11.9.2014 ) | 8 |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 074/08 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.7501 — China Shipbuilding Power Engineering Institute/Wärtsilä Technology/CSSC Wärtsilä Engine) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 9 |
| 2015/C 074/09 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.7476 — Holtzbrinck Publishing Group/Springer Science+Business Media GP Acquisition SCA/JV) (
  1
  ) | 10 |
| | OTHER ACTS |
| | European Commission |
| 2015/C 074/10 | Publication of an amendment 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 | 11 |

V   Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

2015/C 074/06

Addendum to the calls for proposals under the multi-annual work programme for grants in the field of the trans-European transport infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility for the period 2014-2020 ( OJ C 308, 11.9.2014 )

8

2015/C 074/07

Addendum to the call for proposals under the annual work programme for grants in the field of the trans-European transport infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility for the period 2014-2020 ( OJ C 308, 11.9.2014 )

8

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

2015/C 074/08

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.7501 — China Shipbuilding Power Engineering Institute/Wärtsilä Technology/CSSC Wärtsilä Engine) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

9

2015/C 074/09

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.7476 — Holtzbrinck Publishing Group/Springer Science+Business Media GP Acquisition SCA/JV) (
  1
  )

1

10

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

2015/C 074/10

Publication of an amendment 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

11

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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

| 3.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 74/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

3.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/1

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Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case M.7464 — Bladt Industries/EEW Special Pipe Constructions/TAG Energy Solutions Limited’s Assets)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 74/01)

On 20 January 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 32015M7464. 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 32015M7464. 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

| 3.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 74/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

3.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/2

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Euro exchange rates (1)

2 March 2015

(2015/C 74/02)

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,1227 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 134,47 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4633 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,72940 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,3436 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,0724 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 8,6085 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 27,488 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 303,58 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,1563 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,4418 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 2,8211 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,4433 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,4025 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 8,7060 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,4907 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,5303 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 235,65 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 13,1442 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 7,0456 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,6755 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 14 561,42 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,0771 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 49,528 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 70,0036 |
| THB | Thai baht | 36,297 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 3,2133 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 16,7816 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 69,5415 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,1227

JPY

Japanese yen

134,47

DKK

Danish krone

7,4633

GBP

Pound sterling

0,72940

SEK

Swedish krona

9,3436

CHF

Swiss franc

1,0724

ISK

Iceland króna

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,6085

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

27,488

HUF

Hungarian forint

303,58

PLN

Polish zloty

4,1563

RON

Romanian leu

4,4418

TRY

Turkish lira

2,8211

AUD

Australian dollar

1,4433

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,4025

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

8,7060

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,4907

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,5303

KRW

South Korean won

1 235,65

ZAR

South African rand

13,1442

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,0456

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,6755

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

14 561,42

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,0771

PHP

Philippine peso

49,528

RUB

Russian rouble

70,0036

THB

Thai baht

36,297

BRL

Brazilian real

3,2133

MXN

Mexican peso

16,7816

INR

Indian rupee

69,5415

---

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

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| 3.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 74/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

3.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/3

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Opinion of the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Agreements and dominant position given at its meeting of 8 December 2014 regarding a draft decision relating to Case AT.39780 — Envelopes

Rapporteur: Cyprus

(2015/C 74/03)

| 1. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the anticompetitive behaviour covered by the draft decision constitutes agreements and/or concerted practices between undertakings within the meaning of Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement. |
| --- | --- |

1.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the anticompetitive behaviour covered by the draft decision constitutes agreements and/or concerted practices between undertakings within the meaning of Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement.

| 2. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the undertakings concerned by the draft decision have participated in a single and continuous infringement of Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the undertakings concerned by the draft decision have participated in a single and continuous infringement of Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement.

| 3. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the object of the agreements and/or concerted practices was to restrict competition within the meaning of Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement. |
| --- | --- |

3.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the object of the agreements and/or concerted practices was to restrict competition within the meaning of Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement.

| 4. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the agreements and/or concerted practices have been capable of appreciably affecting trade between the Member States of the EU and EEA. |
| --- | --- |

4.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the agreements and/or concerted practices have been capable of appreciably affecting trade between the Member States of the EU and EEA.

| 5. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission as regards the addressees of the decision. |
| --- | --- |

5.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission as regards the addressees of the decision.

| 6. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission’s assessment as regards the duration of the infringement for each addressee. |
| --- | --- |

6.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission’s assessment as regards the duration of the infringement for each addressee.

| 7. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that a fine should be imposed on the addressees of the draft decision. |
| --- | --- |

7.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that a fine should be imposed on the addressees of the draft decision.

| 8. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission on the basic amounts of the fines. |
| --- | --- |

8.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission on the basic amounts of the fines.

| 9. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the determination of the duration for the purpose of calculating the fines. |
| --- | --- |

9.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the determination of the duration for the purpose of calculating the fines.

| 10. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that there are no aggravating circumstances applicable in this case. |
| --- | --- |

10.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that there are no aggravating circumstances applicable in this case.

| 11. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that there are mitigating circumstances applicable in this case to one undertaking for its lesser involvement in the infringement. |
| --- | --- |

11.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that there are mitigating circumstances applicable in this case to one undertaking for its lesser involvement in the infringement.

| 12. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission on the adaptation of the fines based on point 37 of the 2006 Guidelines on Fines. |
| --- | --- |

12.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission on the adaptation of the fines based on point 37 of the 2006 Guidelines on Fines.

| 13. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission as regards the reduction of the fines based on the 2006 Leniency Notice. |
| --- | --- |

13.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission as regards the reduction of the fines based on the 2006 Leniency Notice.

| 14. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission as regards the reduction of the fines based on the 2008 Settlement Notice. |
| --- | --- |

14.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission as regards the reduction of the fines based on the 2008 Settlement Notice.

| 15. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission as regards the reduction of the fines based on Point 35 of the Guidelines on Fines (‘inability to pay’). |
| --- | --- |

15.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission as regards the reduction of the fines based on Point 35 of the Guidelines on Fines (‘inability to pay’).

| 16. | The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission on the final amounts of the fines. |
| --- | --- |

16.

The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission on the final amounts of the fines.

| 17. | The Advisory Committee recommends the publication of its Opinion in the Official Journal of the European Union. |
| --- | --- |

17.

The Advisory Committee recommends the publication of its Opinion in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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| 3.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 74/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

3.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/4

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Final Report of the Hearing Officer (1)

Envelopes

(AT.39780)

(2015/C 74/04)

On 10 December 2013, the European Commission (‘Commission’) initiated proceedings pursuant to Article 11(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (2) against Bong AB, Bong Sverige AB, Bong Belgium SA, Bong U.K. Ltd, Bong GmbH (‘Bong’); GPV France SAS, Heritage Envelopes Ltd (‘GPV’); Holdham SA (‘Hamelin’); Edlef Bartl Holding GmbH, mayer-network GmbH, Mayer-Kuvert-network GmbH (‘Mayer-Kuvert’); Printeos, SA, Tompla Sobre Expres, S.L., Tompla Scandinavia AB, Tompla France SARL, and Tompla Druckerzeugnisse Vertriebs GmbH (‘Tompla’) (together the ‘Parties’).

Following settlement discussions and settlement submissions in accordance with Article 10a(2) of Regulation (EC) No 773/2004 (3), the Commission adopted a Statement of Objections (‘SO’), on 18 November 2014, stating that the Parties had participated in a single and continuous infringement of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement.

The infringement consisted of customer allocation, price coordination and exchanges of commercially sensitive information relating to stock/catalogue and special printed (transactional and/or bespoke) envelopes of all colours, shapes and sizes. The infringement lasted from 8 October 2003 (or, for Hamelin, from 5 November 2003) until 22 April 2008.

The Parties' respective replies to the SO confirmed that the SO addressed to them reflected the contents of their settlement submissions.

Pursuant to Article 16 of Decision 2011/695/EU, I have examined whether the draft decision addressed to the Parties deals only with objections in respect of which the Parties have been afforded the opportunity of making known their views, and I have come to a positive conclusion.

In view of the above, and taking into account that the Parties have not addressed any requests or complaints to me (4), I consider that the effective exercise of procedural rights in this case has been respected.

Brussels, 8 December 2014.

Wouter WILS

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(1)  Pursuant to Article 16 and 17 of Decision 2011/695/EU of the President of the European Commission of 13 October 2011 on the function and terms of reference of the hearing officer in certain competition proceedings (OJ L 275, 20.10.2011, p. 29) (‘Decision 2011/695/EU’).

1

(2)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty (OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1).

2

(3)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 773/2004 of 7 April 2004 relating to the conduct of proceedings by the Commission pursuant to Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty (OJ L 123, 27.4.2004, p. 18).

3

(4)  Under Article 15(2) of Decision 2011/695/EU, parties to the proceedings in cartel cases which engage in settlement discussions pursuant to Article 10a of Regulation (EC) No 773/2004 may call upon the hearing officer at any stage during the settlement procedure in order to ensure the effective exercise of their procedural rights. See also paragraph 18 of Commission Notice on the conduct of settlement procedures in view of the adoption of Decisions pursuant to Article 7 and Article 23 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 in cartel cases (OJ C 167, 2.7.2008, p. 1).

4

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| 3.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 74/5 |
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3.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/5

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Summary of Commission Decision

of 10 December 2014

relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement

(Case AT.39780 — Envelopes)

(notified under document C(2014) 9295 final)

(Only the English text is authentic)

(2015/C 74/05)

On 10 December 2014, the Commission adopted a decision relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement. In accordance with the provisions of Article 30 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003
   (1)
  , the Commission herewith publishes the names of the parties and the main content of the decision, including any penalties imposed, having regard to the legitimate interest of undertakings in the protection of their business secrets.

1.   INTRODUCTION

| (1) | The Decision relates to a single and continuous infringement of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement concerning stock/catalogue envelopes and special printed (transactional and/or bespoke) envelopes of all shapes, colours and sizes. Standard/catalogue envelopes are envelopes of different sizes without print (branded/private label or no label), which are usually acquired in bulk on the basis of manufacturers' catalogues. Special printed (transactional and/or bespoke) envelopes are printed envelopes specifically designed and produced according to customers' specifications. The Decision is addressed to: (i) Bong (2); (ii) GPV (3); (iii) Hamelin (4); (iv) Mayer-Kuvert (5) and (v) Tompla (6). |
| --- | --- |

(1)

The Decision relates to a single and continuous infringement of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement concerning stock/catalogue envelopes and special printed (transactional and/or bespoke) envelopes of all shapes, colours and sizes. Standard/catalogue envelopes are envelopes of different sizes without print (branded/private label or no label), which are usually acquired in bulk on the basis of manufacturers' catalogues. Special printed (transactional and/or bespoke) envelopes are printed envelopes specifically designed and produced according to customers' specifications. The Decision is addressed to: (i) Bong (2); (ii) GPV (3); (iii) Hamelin (4); (iv) Mayer-Kuvert (5) and (v) Tompla (6).

2.   CASE DESCRIPTION

2.1.   Procedure

| (2) | Following the information received from an informant, the Commission carried out targeted inspections on 14 September 2010 at the premises of various envelopes producers in several Member States. Further inspections took place between 1 October 2010 and 31 January 2011. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

Following the information received from an informant, the Commission carried out targeted inspections on 14 September 2010 at the premises of various envelopes producers in several Member States. Further inspections took place between 1 October 2010 and 31 January 2011.

| (3) | Following the inspections, several undertakings applied for a reduction of the fine under the Leniency Notice, including Tompla, Hamelin and Mayer-Kuvert (also on behalf of GPV France SAS and Heritage Envelopes Ltd). |
| --- | --- |

(3)

Following the inspections, several undertakings applied for a reduction of the fine under the Leniency Notice, including Tompla, Hamelin and Mayer-Kuvert (also on behalf of GPV France SAS and Heritage Envelopes Ltd).

| (4) | During the investigation, the Commission also sent several requests for information under Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003. |
| --- | --- |

(4)

During the investigation, the Commission also sent several requests for information under Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003.

| (5) | On 10 December 2013, the Commission initiated proceedings pursuant to Article 11(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 against the addressees of the Decision with a view of engaging in settlement discussions with them. Settlement meetings took place between January and October 2014. Subsequently, Bong, Hamelin, Mayer-Kuvert/GPV and Tompla submitted to the Commission their formal requests to settle pursuant to Article 10a(2) of Regulation (EC) No 773/2004 (7). |
| --- | --- |

(5)

On 10 December 2013, the Commission initiated proceedings pursuant to Article 11(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 against the addressees of the Decision with a view of engaging in settlement discussions with them. Settlement meetings took place between January and October 2014. Subsequently, Bong, Hamelin, Mayer-Kuvert/GPV and Tompla submitted to the Commission their formal requests to settle pursuant to Article 10a(2) of Regulation (EC) No 773/2004 (7).

| (6) | On 18 November 2014, the Commission adopted a Statement of Objections and all the parties unequivocally confirmed that it corresponded to the contents of their settlement submissions and that they therefore remained committed to following the settlement procedure. The Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions issued a favourable opinion on 8 December 2014. The Commission adopted the Decision on 10 December 2014. |
| --- | --- |

(6)

On 18 November 2014, the Commission adopted a Statement of Objections and all the parties unequivocally confirmed that it corresponded to the contents of their settlement submissions and that they therefore remained committed to following the settlement procedure. The Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions issued a favourable opinion on 8 December 2014. The Commission adopted the Decision on 10 December 2014.

2.2.   Addressees and duration

| (7) | The following undertakings have infringed Article 101 of the Treaty and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement, by participating, during the periods indicated below, in anti-competitive practices in respect to the supply of paper envelopes.






  Undertaking | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bong | 8 October 2003 - 22 April 2008 |
| GPV group (8) | 8 October 2003 - 22 April 2008 |
| Hamelin | 5 November 2003 - 22 April 2008 |
| Mayer-Kuvert | 8 October 2003 - 22 April 2008 |
| Tompla | 8 October 2003 - 22 April 2008 |

(7)

The following undertakings have infringed Article 101 of the Treaty and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement, by participating, during the periods indicated below, in anti-competitive practices in respect to the supply of paper envelopes.

Undertaking

Duration

Bong

8 October 2003 - 22 April 2008

GPV group (8)

8 October 2003 - 22 April 2008

Hamelin

5 November 2003 - 22 April 2008

Mayer-Kuvert

8 October 2003 - 22 April 2008

Tompla

8 October 2003 - 22 April 2008

2.3.   Summary of the infringement

| (8) | The overall aim of the cartel was to allocate customers and coordinate prices in several Member States and Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement. Through a series of collusive contacts, the participating undertakings:






  (a) | Allocated customers and agreed on sales volumes. |
| --- | --- | --- |

(8)

The overall aim of the cartel was to allocate customers and coordinate prices in several Member States and Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement. Through a series of collusive contacts, the participating undertakings:

(a)

Allocated customers and agreed on sales volumes.

| (b) | Agreed on customer specific and non-customer specific price increases and shared customer reactions following such increases. Non-customer specific increases often aimed at passing-on the rising cost of paper. |
| --- | --- |

(b)

Agreed on customer specific and non-customer specific price increases and shared customer reactions following such increases. Non-customer specific increases often aimed at passing-on the rising cost of paper.

| (c) | Coordinated their responses to tenders launched by major pan-European customers. In this context, they aimed at fixing actual tender prices and protecting their existing supplies. |
| --- | --- |

(c)

Coordinated their responses to tenders launched by major pan-European customers. In this context, they aimed at fixing actual tender prices and protecting their existing supplies.

| (d) | Put in place mechanisms aimed at maintaining the status quo by compensating the cartel participants for the loss of sales volumes and/or individual customers to another cartel participant. |
| --- | --- |

(d)

Put in place mechanisms aimed at maintaining the status quo by compensating the cartel participants for the loss of sales volumes and/or individual customers to another cartel participant.

| (e) | Exchanged commercially-sensitive information, in particular on commercial strategies, customers and sales volumes. |
| --- | --- |

(e)

Exchanged commercially-sensitive information, in particular on commercial strategies, customers and sales volumes.

| (9) | The geographic scope of the conduct as regards all parties covered Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. |
| --- | --- |

(9)

The geographic scope of the conduct as regards all parties covered Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

2.4.   Remedies

| (10) | The Decision applies the 2006 Guidelines in Fines (9). The Decision imposes fines on the relevant entities of the undertakings listed under point (1) above. |
| --- | --- |

(10)

The Decision applies the 2006 Guidelines in Fines (9). The Decision imposes fines on the relevant entities of the undertakings listed under point (1) above.

2.4.1.   Basic amount of the fine

| (11) | In setting the fines, the Commission took into account the undertakings' sales of stock/catalogue and special printed envelopes in the last full business year prior to the end of the cartel, the fact that price coordination arrangements are amongst the most harmful restrictions of competition, the duration of the cartel and an additional amount to deter undertakings from entering into price coordination practices. |
| --- | --- |

(11)

In setting the fines, the Commission took into account the undertakings' sales of stock/catalogue and special printed envelopes in the last full business year prior to the end of the cartel, the fact that price coordination arrangements are amongst the most harmful restrictions of competition, the duration of the cartel and an additional amount to deter undertakings from entering into price coordination practices.

2.4.2.   Adjustments to the basic amount

| (12) | The Commission did not apply any aggravating circumstances. However, the Commission considered that mitigating circumstances applied for Mayer-Kuvert due to its limited involvement in the infringement. |
| --- | --- |

(12)

The Commission did not apply any aggravating circumstances. However, the Commission considered that mitigating circumstances applied for Mayer-Kuvert due to its limited involvement in the infringement.

2.4.3.   Adaption of the adjusted basic amount

| (13) | In view of the specific circumstances of this case, the Commission exercised its discretion in accordance with point 37 of the 2006 Fines Guidelines and adapted the fines in a way that takes into account the proportion of the sales of the cartelised product in relation to the total turnover and the differences between the parties in view of their individual participation in the infringement. |
| --- | --- |

(13)

In view of the specific circumstances of this case, the Commission exercised its discretion in accordance with point 37 of the 2006 Fines Guidelines and adapted the fines in a way that takes into account the proportion of the sales of the cartelised product in relation to the total turnover and the differences between the parties in view of their individual participation in the infringement.

2.4.4.   Application of the 10 % turnover limit

| (14) | In this case, none of the fines exceeded 10 % of an undertaking's total turnover for 2013. |
| --- | --- |

(14)

In this case, none of the fines exceeded 10 % of an undertaking's total turnover for 2013.

2.4.5.   Application of the 2006 Leniency Notice

| (15) | The Commission granted a 50 % reduction of the fine to Tompla, a 25 % reduction of the fine to Hamelin and a 10 % reduction to Mayer-Kuvert (including a 10 % reduction of the separate fine imposed on GPV France SAS and Heritage Envelopes Ltd). |
| --- | --- |

(15)

The Commission granted a 50 % reduction of the fine to Tompla, a 25 % reduction of the fine to Hamelin and a 10 % reduction to Mayer-Kuvert (including a 10 % reduction of the separate fine imposed on GPV France SAS and Heritage Envelopes Ltd).

2.4.6.   Application of the Settlement Notice

| (16) | As a result of the application of the Settlement Notice, the amount of the fine for all addressees was reduced by 10 %. |
| --- | --- |

(16)

As a result of the application of the Settlement Notice, the amount of the fine for all addressees was reduced by 10 %.

2.4.7.   Inability to pay

| (17) | Two undertakings invoked their inability to pay under point 35 of the 2006 Fines Guidelines. Based on the Commission analysis of the undertakings' individual financial situations and the specific and economic context, the fines were reduced for both undertakings. |
| --- | --- |

(17)

Two undertakings invoked their inability to pay under point 35 of the 2006 Fines Guidelines. Based on the Commission analysis of the undertakings' individual financial situations and the specific and economic context, the fines were reduced for both undertakings.

3.   CONCLUSION

| (18) | The following fines were imposed pursuant to Article 23(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003:






  (a) | Bong AB, Bong Sverige AB, Bong Belgium SA, Bong UK Ltd and Bong GmbH, jointly and severally liable: EUR 3 118 000; |
| --- | --- | --- |

(18)

The following fines were imposed pursuant to Article 23(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003:

(a)

Bong AB, Bong Sverige AB, Bong Belgium SA, Bong UK Ltd and Bong GmbH, jointly and severally liable: EUR 3 118 000;

| (b) | Holdham SA: EUR 4 996 000; |
| --- | --- |

(b)

Holdham SA: EUR 4 996 000;

| (c) | Edlef Bartl Holding GmbH, mayer-network GmbH and Mayer-Kuvert-network GmbH, jointly and severally liable: EUR 4 991 000; |
| --- | --- |

(c)

Edlef Bartl Holding GmbH, mayer-network GmbH and Mayer-Kuvert-network GmbH, jointly and severally liable: EUR 4 991 000;

| (d) | GPV France SAS and Heritage Envelopes Ltd, jointly and severally liable: EUR 1 651 000; |
| --- | --- |

(d)

GPV France SAS and Heritage Envelopes Ltd, jointly and severally liable: EUR 1 651 000;

| (e) | Printeos, SA, Tompla Sobre Expres, S.L., Tompla Scandinavia AB, Tompla France SARL and Tompla Druckerzeugnisse Vertriebs GmbH, jointly and severally liable: EUR 4 729 000. |
| --- | --- |

(e)

Printeos, SA, Tompla Sobre Expres, S.L., Tompla Scandinavia AB, Tompla France SARL and Tompla Druckerzeugnisse Vertriebs GmbH, jointly and severally liable: EUR 4 729 000.

---

(1)  OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 411/2004 (OJ L 68, 6.3.2004, p. 1).

(2)  Bong AB, Bong Sverige AB, Bong Belgium SA, Bong UK Ltd and Bong GmbH.

(3)  GPV France SAS and Heritage Envelopes Ltd.

(4)  Holdham SA.

(5)  Edlef Bartl Holding GmbH, mayer-network GmbH, Mayer-Kuvert-network GmbH.

(6)  Printeos, SA, Sobre Expres, S.L., Tompla Scandinavia AB, Tompla France SARL and Tompla Druckerzeugnbisse Vertriebs GmbH.

(7)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 773/2004 of 7 April 2004 relating to the conduct of proceedings by the Commission pursuant to Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty (OJ L 123, 27.4.2004, p. 18).

(8)  In the present Decision, the term ‘GPV group’ refers to [non-addressee], [non-addressee] and Heritage Envelopes Ltd On 27 September 2011, Mayer-Kuvert-network GmbH acquired the entire share capital of Heritage Envelopes Ltd and most of [non-addressee]'s and [non-addressee]'s envelopes production assets which were transferred to GPV France SAS, a Mayer-Kuvert subsidiary.

(9)  OJ C 210, 1.9.2006, p. 2.

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V Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

| 3.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 74/8 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

3.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/8

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Addendum to the calls for proposals under the multi-annual work programme for grants in the field of the trans-European transport infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility for the period 2014-2020

(Official Journal of the European Union C 308 of 11 September 2014)

(2015/C 74/06)

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport is announcing an addendum to the calls for proposals under the multi-annual work programme 2014 for grants in the field of the trans-European transport infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility for the period 2014-2020, as published in the Official Journal (2014/C 308/07).

The addendum to the calls for proposals is available on:

http://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef_transport/apply_for_funding/cef_transport_call_for_proposals_2014.htm

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| 3.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 74/8 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

3.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/8

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Addendum to the call for proposals under the annual work programme for grants in the field of the trans-European transport infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility for the period 2014-2020

(Official Journal of the European Union C 308 of 11 September 2014)

(2015/C 74/07)

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport is announcing an addendum to the call for proposals under the annual work programme 2014 for grants in the field of the trans-European transport infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility for the period 2014-2020, as published in the Official Journal (2014/C 308/06).

The addendum to the call for proposals is available on:

http://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef_transport/apply_for_funding/cef_transport_call_for_proposals_2014.htm

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PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

| 3.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 74/9 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

3.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/9

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7501 — China Shipbuilding Power Engineering Institute/Wärtsilä Technology/CSSC Wärtsilä Engine)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 74/08)

| 1. | On 23 February 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 China Shipbuilding Power Engineering Institute Co., Ltd (‘CSPI’, China), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (‘CSSC’, China) ultimately controlled by the Chinese state, and Wärtsilä Technology Oy Ab (Finland), a subsidiary of Wärtsilä Corporation (‘Wärtsilä’, Finland), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the newly created undertaking CSSC Wärtsilä Engine (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (‘JV’, China) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 23 February 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 China Shipbuilding Power Engineering Institute Co., Ltd (‘CSPI’, China), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (‘CSSC’, China) ultimately controlled by the Chinese state, and Wärtsilä Technology Oy Ab (Finland), a subsidiary of Wärtsilä Corporation (‘Wärtsilä’, Finland), acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the newly created undertaking CSSC Wärtsilä Engine (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (‘JV’, China) by way of purchase of shares.

| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:
  —   for CSSC: CSSC is active in shipbuilding and in the production of marine-related equipment, as well as in non-marine related activites such as aerospace, construction and power generation,
  —   for Wärtsilä: Wärtsilä supplies ship power for builders, owers and operators of vessels and offshore installations. It has a global service network for customers' ship machinery at every lifecycle stage and it is a provider of power plants, operations and lifetime care services in decentralised power generation,
  —   for JV: the JV will manufacture and sell in China 4-stroke medium speed diesel and dual fuel engines. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for CSSC: CSSC is active in shipbuilding and in the production of marine-related equipment, as well as in non-marine related activites such as aerospace, construction and power generation,

—   for Wärtsilä: Wärtsilä supplies ship power for builders, owers and operators of vessels and offshore installations. It has a global service network for customers' ship machinery at every lifecycle stage and it is a provider of power plants, operations and lifetime care services in decentralised power generation,

—   for JV: the JV will manufacture and sell in China 4-stroke medium speed diesel and dual fuel engines.

| 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 the 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 the 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 e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number Case M.7501 — China Shipbuilding Power Engineering Institute/Wärtsilä Technology/CSSC Wärtsilä Engine 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 Case M.7501 — China Shipbuilding Power Engineering Institute/Wärtsilä Technology/CSSC Wärtsilä Engine 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 ‘Merger Regulation’).

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

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| 3.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 74/10 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

3.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/10

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7476 — Holtzbrinck Publishing Group/Springer Science+Business Media GP Acquisition SCA/JV)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2015/C 74/09)

| 1. | On 24 February 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 Holtzbrinck Publishing Group (‘HPG’, Germany), controlled by Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH & Co. KG (‘Holtzbrinck’, Germany), and Springer Science+Business Media G.P. Acquisition SCA (‘SSBM SCA’, The Netherlands), controlled by BC Partners Holdings Limited (UK), acquire joint control within the meaning of Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation of a newly created joint venture (the ‘Joint Venture’) by way of purchase of shares. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 24 February 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 Holtzbrinck Publishing Group (‘HPG’, Germany), controlled by Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH & Co. KG (‘Holtzbrinck’, Germany), and Springer Science+Business Media G.P. Acquisition SCA (‘SSBM SCA’, The Netherlands), controlled by BC Partners Holdings Limited (UK), acquire joint control within the meaning of Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation of a newly created joint venture (the ‘Joint Venture’) by way of purchase of shares.

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






  — | HPG is an international media company active in trade publishing, education and science, newspaper and magazines, as well as electronic media and services. HPG offers publishing services under three operational divisions ‘Macmillan Science and Education’ (science and education), Macmillan Publishers (fiction and non-fiction) and ‘Holtzbrink Digital, Information & Services’ (internet companies, news media and services), |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

HPG is an international media company active in trade publishing, education and science, newspaper and magazines, as well as electronic media and services. HPG offers publishing services under three operational divisions ‘Macmillan Science and Education’ (science and education), Macmillan Publishers (fiction and non-fiction) and ‘Holtzbrink Digital, Information & Services’ (internet companies, news media and services),

| — | SSBM SCA is the parent company of SSBM Group, active mainly in the publishing of academic journals and books, primarily in the science, technology and medical fields, and with some operations in the area of online databases and workflow tools and local language professional publishing, amongst other, in Germany and the Netherlands, |
| --- | --- |

—

SSBM SCA is the parent company of SSBM Group, active mainly in the publishing of academic journals and books, primarily in the science, technology and medical fields, and with some operations in the area of online databases and workflow tools and local language professional publishing, amongst other, in Germany and the Netherlands,

| — | The Joint Venture will combine all activities of SSBM SCA and most of the activities of HPG’s business unit ‘Macmillan Science and Education’. It will be primarily active in academic publishing. |
| --- | --- |

—

The Joint Venture will combine all activities of SSBM SCA and most of the activities of HPG’s business unit ‘Macmillan Science and Education’. It will be primarily active in academic publishing.

| 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. |
| --- | --- |

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.

| 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.7476 — HPG/SSBM SCA/JV, 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.7476 — HPG/SSBM SCA/JV, 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 ‘Merger Regulation’).

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OTHER ACTS

European Commission

| 3.3.2015 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 74/11 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

3.3.2015

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/11

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Publication of an amendment 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 74/10)

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).

AMENDMENT APPLICATION

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

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

AMENDMENT APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 9

‘ABONDANCE’

EC No: FR-PDO-0117-01088 – 7.12.2012

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Sections of the specification affected by the amendments

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

2.   Type of amendments

—

—

—

—

3.   Amendments

3.1.   Amendment to point (2), ‘Description of product’

This amendment makes it clear that ‘Abondance’ is a pressed cheese, as this aspect had been omitted from the file sent when registering the PDO.

In order to bring all parts of the description of the cheese together in one place, the parts specifying that the cheese is made from raw, whole and renneted cow’s milk, and the parts describing the rind, both of which previously formed part of the chapter entitled ‘Method of production’ (rough-textured appearance and golden yellow to brown in colour), have been moved to the chapter entitled ‘Description of product’.

The overall shape of the cheese has also been specified (that of a flat cylindrical millstone).

The definition of the diameter of the cheese has been deleted, given that the shape of the cheese (that of a flat cylindrical millstone), the height of the round and its weight are sufficient to define the cheese’s appearance.

The lower limit of the weight range of the cheese has been reduced from 7 to 6 kg to take better account of variability in the cheese’s shape, which stems particularly from seasonal factors and the limited size of producers’ herds on farms. This is also consistent with the increased minimum ripening period.

The description also states that the cheese may have a number of fine horizontal slit eyes as such slit eyes may be found in the course of organoleptic testing.

3.2.   Amendment to point (4), ‘Evidence that the product originates from the geographical area’

The text under the heading ‘Evidence that the product originates from the geographical area’ has been consolidated to bring together, in particular, the requirements relating to declaration and those on the keeping of registers for tracing the product and monitoring production conditions.

Moreover, this section has been extended and supplemented to add several provisions on registers and declarative documents enabling the cheeses’ traceability to be guaranteed.

Information on identifying the cheeses, which previously formed part of the chapter on ‘Labelling’, has been moved to the chapter entitled ‘Evidence that the product originates from the geographical area’.

The term ‘casein plate’ has been replaced by the term ‘identification plate’, thus permitting the labels to be made of various edible materials and not just casein.

The term ‘blue colour’ has been replaced by the colours ‘red’ and ‘green’. These colours form part of a colour code and denote dairy-based or farm production respectively. In addition, the shape of the plates has been specified.

The plate must bear the term ‘fermier’ (‘farm’) for cheeses produced on a farm, and the month and day of production are given on the heel near the identification plate in numbers or letters made of casein or food-grade ink.

The amended description also specifies that the plates are ‘made available to operators by the group of producers’ and ‘if authorisation is withdrawn, the manufacturer returns them to the group’. Every producer is a full member of the group, so the operator automatically receives as many identification marks as it requests.

3.3.   Amendment to point (5) ‘Description of product’

With regard to breeds, the name ‘Tarine’ has been replaced by ‘Tarentaise’, the official name. With regard to breeds, the name ‘Tarine’ has been replaced by ‘Tarentaise’, the official name. ‘Tarine’ is merely a local name for the Tarentaise breed.

The precise classification of the animals forming part of a dairy herd (lactating cows, dry cows, heifers), their mandatory registration in the État Civil bovin and clarification of the codes corresponding to authorised breeds is to make it easier to check that the requirement with regard to breeds on holdings is being met.

To strengthen the contribution of the historic Abondance breed which is associated with this cheese and is particularly well adapted to the topographical and climatic conditions of the geographical area, a minimum percentage of cattle of the Abondance breed has been stipulated. Since changes have to be made to the working arrangements on the farms and to ensure the proper management of the Abondance breed, which has traditionally been managed collectively, an adjustment period and implementing measures are needed to promote continued collective management. Hence the following paragraph has been added:

‘All herds to which a declaration of identification for the “Abondance” designation of origin applied on 7 December 2012 must be made up of:

| — | at least 35 % of livestock of the Abondance breed until 31 December 2015, |
| --- | --- |

—

at least 35 % of livestock of the Abondance breed until 31 December 2015,

| — | at least 45 % of livestock of the Abondance breed from 1 January 2016 onwards. |
| --- | --- |

—

at least 45 % of livestock of the Abondance breed from 1 January 2016 onwards.

Should it not be possible to comply with this requirement, at least 45 % of the herd of each milk producer must be made up of animals of the Abondance breed from 1 January 2016 onwards.

The herd of each milk producer that has signed a declaration of identification for the “Abondance” designation of origin after 7 December 2012 must be made up of:

| — | at least 35 % of livestock of the Abondance breed until 31 December 2015, |
| --- | --- |

—

at least 35 % of livestock of the Abondance breed until 31 December 2015,

| — | at least 45 % of livestock of the Abondance breed from 1 January 2016 onwards.’ |
| --- | --- |

—

at least 45 % of livestock of the Abondance breed from 1 January 2016 onwards.’

To ensure traditional pasturing practices and maintain the link with the geographical area, it is specified that at least 50 % (gross weight) of the herd’s basic ration must be made up of grass collected in the summer, and that this basic ration must consist primarily of hay which may be distributed without restrictions during the winter.

With a view to regulating the total amount of feed supplied from outside the geographical area, and given the considerable pressure on land resources, the share of total feed sourced from outside the geographical area is limited to 35 % of the dry matter consumed by the herd annually.

As excessive livestock density does not enable each cow to obtain enough fodder for its milk to express all its aromatic potential, the average annual livestock density per hectare of forage area on the holding is restricted to 1,4 livestock units per hectare of principal forage area.

The measures prohibiting the use of GMOs permit the link with the geographical area and traditional livestock feeding methods to be maintained.

A minimum annual grazing period of 150 days has been set for the dairy cows. A list of authorised feed has been added and the conditions for using and distributing some of this feed have been made explicit.

Provision has been made for bringing in dry fodder from outside the geographical area, but this is restricted to no more than 30 % of the herd’s annual dry fodder requirement (gross weight), and is counted within the previously mentioned limit of 35 % of dry matter consumed by the herd annually.

To prevent the risk of contamination, particularly by butyric acid bacteria spores, and to promote rumination, ‘Any addition of mixtures of supplementary feed to the dairy herd’s chopped forage is prohibited’.

The traditional practice of watering the herd with whey from the holding is regulated in order to reduce the potential risk of contamination: ‘Watering the herd with whey from the holding and from a single process is permitted. This whey cannot be mixed with whey produced in another process and must be consumed within 24 hours.’

A list of authorised supplementary feedingstuffs has been added and the amount that can be distributed is restricted to 1 800 kg per dairy cow per annum, and to 500 kg/livestock unit of heifers per annum. This is to regulate both the size and nature of the contribution of supplementary feedingstuffs, and to make them easier to check.

The conditions under which fertiliser is applied have been defined, because restricting the use of organic fertiliser helps restrict the amount that can be applied and therefore helps preserve the characteristics of the soil and maintain the diversity of the natural flora, enabling the link with the geographical area to be maintained. Furthermore, the requirements relating to inputs of non-agricultural origin help prevent the risk of contamination from polluting substances: ‘Only the following organic fertilisers are authorised:

| — | organic agricultural fertilisers from the geographical area of production of the “Abondance” designation of origin: compost, manure, slurry or liquid manure (of agricultural origin) and effluent from the cheese-making plant, |
| --- | --- |

—

organic agricultural fertilisers from the geographical area of production of the “Abondance” designation of origin: compost, manure, slurry or liquid manure (of agricultural origin) and effluent from the cheese-making plant,

| — | organic fertilisers of non-agricultural origin, such as sewage sludge (or by-products) and green waste. |
| --- | --- |

—

organic fertilisers of non-agricultural origin, such as sewage sludge (or by-products) and green waste.

Each application of fertiliser must be followed by batch-wise analytical monitoring for pathogens, heavy metals and organic trace compounds covered by legislation.

Fertiliser may be applied on areas of the holding, but must be worked into the soil immediately, and current regulations laying down certain restrictions (dates, protected areas) and amounts must be complied with.’

Milking conditions have been defined: a dry period between two calvings of at least 45 days, milking twice in 24 hours with an interval between each milking of at least 8 hours, udders pre-soaked only in the event of contamination by staphylococci. These measures permit the preservation of practices which combine animal welfare with the production high-quality milk, because they have a favourable impact on the natural microflora of the milk.

The conditions under which milk is stored after milking and the time limits for using it in further production processes have been defined to preserve the inherent characteristics of the milk which are conducive to producing high-quality cheese:

| — | the milk is stored and matured on the farm at temperatures of between 4 and 14 °C, |
| --- | --- |

—

the milk is stored and matured on the farm at temperatures of between 4 and 14 °C,

| — | for dairy-based production, the milk collected from the two milkings must be renneted before midday on the day following the earliest of the two milkings. If, when milk production is completed, the volume of milk remaining in the milk tank is less than half the volume of the production vat, use of the milk may be deferred until the next round of production. In the case of farm-based production, the milk must be renneted within 14 hours of completing the earliest milking. |
| --- | --- |

—

for dairy-based production, the milk collected from the two milkings must be renneted before midday on the day following the earliest of the two milkings. If, when milk production is completed, the volume of milk remaining in the milk tank is less than half the volume of the production vat, use of the milk may be deferred until the next round of production. In the case of farm-based production, the milk must be renneted within 14 hours of completing the earliest milking.

To make checking easier, if the cheese-making plant is located in a dairy manufacturing plant, the milk for the production of ‘Abondance’ is collected and stored separately from the rest of the milk. The milk transfer and storage facilities must be clearly separated and, if the milk is transported by a truck with compartments, the pumping system must prevent any mixing of milk.

To make sure that raw milk is used, some dairy treatments are specified as prohibited: heat treatment of milk at a temperature of more than 40 °C, bactofugation, ultrafiltration, microfiltration or any other treatment having equivalent effect. With the exception of cheese-making cauldrons, possession of any apparatus or installation enabling the above treatments to be carried out is also prohibited in the rooms where ‘Abondance’ is manufactured. The milk may only be heated once, and only before renneting, to a temperature of between 30 and 35 °C.

To ensure that cheeses with the protected designation of origin ‘Abondance’ retain a diversity of tastes and aromas, this being one of the characteristics expected by consumers who know the product, it is explicitly stated that ‘dairy-based’ manufacturing plants may not produce more than 5 million kg of milk and farm-based manufacturing plants not more than 500 000 kg of milk annually.

To make sure that full-cream milk is utilised, the addition or removal of cream is prohibited.

Leavening agents are specified; this helps preserve the biodiversity of the cheese dairies’ microflora: raw and full-cream milk may be supplemented with lactic starters derived from a culture obtained from a previous round of production or from commercial starters contained in a ‘starter bank’.

The use of copper enables benefit to be derived from its capacity to better distribute heat around the vat and within the mass of liquid being processed. This characteristic is of particular significance when manufacturing pressed cooked or half-cooked cheeses. Therefore it is specified that the cheese is made in an open copper vat. Nevertheless, the stainless steel vats used for making ‘Abondance’ prior to 7 December 2012 may by way of derogation be used until 1 September 2017.

To prevent the use of unwanted additives, cheese and rind colouring agents are prohibited. Aside from dairy raw materials, salt, calf rennet and selected starter cultures are the only other ingredients, production aids or additives authorised. All other additives are prohibited.

The curd must be cut using a wire, bladed or fir-wood curd cutter to obtain pieces smaller than 1 cm3, and then heated gradually. The time from the beginning of cutting of the coagulum until the cheese is shaped, during which the mass is worked in the vat, may not be less than 40 minutes. These requirements make explicit and help preserve the traditional cheese-making expertise associated with ‘Abondance’ cheese.

Details of the hooping and bandaging phases are provided because these are of key importance for the cheese’s subsequent development. An error made in the previous product specification with regard to the pressing time (which is actually at least 7 hours rather than around 20 hours) has been corrected. Furthermore, the evolution of the techniques has led to wood not being the only material used in pressing: ‘The cheese is kept in a circular mould, with at least both faces covered by one or two pieces of plant-fibre or synthetic cloth, for at least 5 hours in order to give it its form and a rough-textured exterior. This enables surface microflora specific to the “Abondance” designation to implant themselves. The mould that is used is circular and 7 to 8,5 cm high. The difference in thickness between the central internal part of the cheese round, which is the thickest part of the cheese, and the edges, where the cheese is the least thick, may not be less than 1 cm. The circular mould is made of wood or synthetic material adapted for contact with food. The cheese must be pressed for at least 7 hours.’

The minimum ripening period has been extended from 90 to 100 days, enabling better expression of the organoleptic characteristics of the cheese, and the pre-ripening and ripening stages have been more clearly defined so as to specify and preserve the cheese-ripening expertise associated with the making of ‘Abondance’ cheese. This stage is crucial for bringing out the characteristics of ‘Abondance’: ‘The pre-ripening period may not exceed 10 days from the date of manufacture. The temperature during the pre-ripening phase is between 7 and 16 °C. The cheeses are ripened on unplaned spruce boards, except when in transport. The cheeses are ripened in a cellar for at least 100 days, starting from the date on which they are renneted, at a temperature of between 10 and 13 °C and at 90 % humidity. The aim of the process is to obtain a smear-ripened and clean-looking rind, with a rough-textured appearance and a colour ranging from golden-yellow to brown. Changing cheese-making plants during ripening is permitted, on the condition that the ripening process is not halted for more than 12 hours. The cheese is rubbed with cheese smear or dry salt using a brush or piece of cloth. The frequency of turning over the cheeses depends on the appearance of the rind, the age of the cheeses and the particularities of the cellars used. The cheese must be rubbed and turned over at least three times every 10 days during the first month, and at least once every 10 days thereafter. After 100 days, the cheeses may either be wrapped in packaging which permits the properties of the product to be preserved and kept at a positive temperature of less than 10 °C, or left unpackaged on spruce boards, on the proviso that they are treated as specified in the previous paragraph. Ripening continues under the same conditions as before.’

It is explicitly stated that the cheeses must be individually wrapped to protect the cheese smear. This is done in order to better preserve the characteristics of ‘Abondance’. However, this requirement may be waived if the cheeses are to be transferred to a cheese-cutting workshop, packaging plant or another ripening plant, on condition that the means of transportation permits changes to the rind to be avoided.

To uphold and more clearly define the traditional know-how associated with farm-based production of ‘Abondance’, the following are stated as special features of its production: ‘Only holdings complying with the following conditions may use the words “fabrication fermière” (“farm produced”) or “fromage fermier” (“farm cheese”) or any other words on their labels implying that their product comes from a farm. Renneting is carried out within 14 hours of completion of the first milking. Each producer has at least one manufacturing plant; collective use of a plant is prohibited. During the manufacturing process, some operations are performed manually and may not be mechanised. These are:

| — | cutting of the coagulum by means of a wireframe or fir-wood curd knife, |
| --- | --- |

—

cutting of the coagulum by means of a wireframe or fir-wood curd knife,

| — | racking and shaping of the cheese, which must be done in line with trustworthy and uninterrupted local practice. Each cheese must be extracted from the vats used to produce the cheese using a piece of cloth and a rod, and placed directly within the hoop used for shaping. The maximum size of the vats is 1 500 litres. Bigger vats used for making “Abondance” prior to 7 December 2012 may by way of derogation be used until 1 September 2017, |
| --- | --- |

—

racking and shaping of the cheese, which must be done in line with trustworthy and uninterrupted local practice. Each cheese must be extracted from the vats used to produce the cheese using a piece of cloth and a rod, and placed directly within the hoop used for shaping. The maximum size of the vats is 1 500 litres. Bigger vats used for making “Abondance” prior to 7 December 2012 may by way of derogation be used until 1 September 2017,

| — | the cheese must be turned over at least once in the half-hour following placement in the mould and at least twice during the following 12 hours.’ |
| --- | --- |

—

the cheese must be turned over at least once in the half-hour following placement in the mould and at least twice during the following 12 hours.’

3.4.   Amendment to point (8) ‘Specific rules on labelling’

To ensure that the consumer is better informed, including with regard to modern forms of distribution, the information on labelling has been supplemented as follows: ‘The labelling of cheeses with the designation of origin “Abondance” must include the designation of origin in characters at least two-thirds the size of the largest characters used on the label and display the European Union’s PDO symbol.

Any cheese offered for sale at a cheese counter must bear a label or bandaging on one of its faces.’

3.5.   Amendment to point (9) ‘National requirements’

Addition of the key points to check with regard to the Specification.

3.6.   Other amendment: ‘Packaging’

To adapt to marketing of the cheese as a pre-packaged product, details are given of the way it is to be displayed for sale when pre-packaged: ‘When on sale in pre-packaged form, three sides of each portion of the cheese must have a rind. However, this rind may be free of cheese smear.’ This requirement helps the consumer identify the cheese, because the rind is an important aspect of the cheese and also facilitates on-the-spot checks of the products offered for sale to the consumer.

Since ‘Abondance’ has begun to be used as an ingredient in cooking, the amended specification also states that pieces of the cheese intended for processing may be packaged without rind.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
   (3)

‘ABONDANCE’

EC No: FR-PDO-0117-01088 – 7.12.2012

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Name

‘Abondance’

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 1.3. Cheeses

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

Description of the product to which the name in 1 applies

‘Abondance’ is a pressed, semi-cooked and renneted cheese made from raw whole milk. It is ripened for at least 100 days.

Its shape is that of a flat cylindrical millstone 7 to 8 cm high, with a concave heel and weighing between 6 and 12 kg.

It has a smear-ripened rind with a rough-textured appearance and a colour ranging from golden-yellow to brown. The cheese itself is soft, with a melt-in-the-mouth texture and no springiness, and ranges from ivory to pale yellow in colour. It generally has a light scattering of small holes. It may have a number of fine horizontal slit eyes.

It contains a minimum of 48 g of fat per 100 g of cheese after total desiccation and its dry matter must not be less than 58 g per 100 g of cheese.

3.3.   Raw materials (for processed products only)

Raw materials (for processed products only)

The milk used for making the cheese comes exclusively from cows of the Abondance, Tarentaise or Montbéliarde breeds.

All herds to which a declaration of identification for the ‘Abondance’ designation of origin applied on 7 December 2012 must be made up of:

| — | at least 35 % of livestock of the Abondance breed until 31 December 2015, |
| --- | --- |

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at least 35 % of livestock of the Abondance breed until 31 December 2015,

| — | at least 45 % of livestock of the Abondance breed from 1 January 2016 onwards. |
| --- | --- |

—

at least 45 % of livestock of the Abondance breed from 1 January 2016 onwards.

Should it not be possible to comply with this requirement, at least 45 % of the herd of each milk producer must be made up of animals of the Abondance breed from 1 January 2016 onwards.

The herd of each milk producer that has signed a declaration of identification for the ‘Abondance’ designation of origin after 7 December 2012 must be made up of:

| — | at least 35 % of livestock of the Abondance breed until 31 December 2015, |
| --- | --- |

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at least 35 % of livestock of the Abondance breed until 31 December 2015,

| — | at least 45 % of livestock of the Abondance breed from 1 January 2016 onwards. |
| --- | --- |

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at least 45 % of livestock of the Abondance breed from 1 January 2016 onwards.

3.4.   Feed (for products of animal origin only)

Feed (for products of animal origin only)

To ensure the link with the area, the herd’s feed must essentially consist of fodder from the geographical area of origin. At least 50 % (gross weight) of the basic ration is made up of grass collected in the summer and of hay, which may be distributed without restriction throughout the winter.

The share of the feed sourced from outside the geographical area may not account for more than 35 % (dry weight) of the dry matter consumed by the herd annually.

During the winter period, the minimum grazing period for dairy cows is 150 consecutive or non-consecutive days.

Bringing in dried fodder from outside the geographical area is permitted only as a supplement to the locally sourced feed and may not exceed 30 % of the herd’s annual dry fodder requirement, expressed in terms of gross weight of the herd on the holding.

The basic feed ration may be supplemented with supplementary feedingstuffs, but these are restricted to 1 800 kg (gross weight) per dairy cow per annum and 500 kg/livestock unit of heifers per annum. Authorised straight or compound feedingstuffs are set out in a positive list.

The herd’s feed may not include silage products, fermented fodder, tied bales or feed that could have an adverse influence on the odour or taste of the milk or cheese or which present a risk of bacteriological contamination.

Transgenic crops are prohibited in all areas of farms producing milk intended for processing into ‘Abondance’. This prohibition applies to all types of plant likely to be given as feed to animals on the holding and all crops liable to contaminate such plants.

3.5.   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 milk must be produced and the cheese manufactured and ripened within the geographical area.

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

Specific rules on slicing, grating, packaging, etc.

The cheeses must be wrapped individually to protect the cheese smear. However, this requirement may be waived for cheeses that are to be transferred to a cheese-cutting plant, packaging plant or another ripening plant, provided that the means of transport used avoids any changes to the rind.

When on sale in pre-packaged form, three sides of each portion of the cheese must have a rind. However, the rind may be free of cheese smear.

Pieces of the cheese intended for processing may be packaged without rind.

3.7.   Specific rules on labelling

Specific rules on labelling

The labelling of cheeses with the designation of origin ‘Abondance’ must include the designation of origin in characters at least two-thirds the size of the largest characters used on the label and display the European Union’s PDO symbol.

Any cheese offered for sale at a cheese counter must bear a label or bandaging on one of its faces.

Each whole ‘Abondance’ cheese intended for marketing has its own individual plate, thus ensuring that it can be identified. The plate is affixed to the heel of each whole cheese during pressing.

The identification plate is square-shaped and red in the case of dairy-made cheeses and oval-shaped and green in the case of farm cheeses. It must bear at least the following inscriptions:

| — | the identification code of the production workshop, |
| --- | --- |

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the identification code of the production workshop,

| — | in the case of farm cheeses, the word ‘fermier’ (‘farm-made’). |
| --- | --- |

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in the case of farm cheeses, the word ‘fermier’ (‘farm-made’).

The month and day of production are given on the heel near the identification plate in numbers or letters made of casein or food-grade ink.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

Concise definition of the geographical area

Abondance, Alex, Allèves, Allonzier-la-Caille, Amancy, Andilly, Annecy-le-Vieux, Arâches-la-Frasse, Arbusigny, Arenthon, Armoy, Aviernoz, Ayse, (La) Balme-de-Thuy, (La) Baume, Beaumont, Bellevaux, Bernex, (Le) Biot, Bluffy, Boëge, Bogève, Bonnevaux, Bonneville, (Le) Bouchet, Brenthonne, Brizon, Burdignin, Cercier, Cernex, Cervens, Chainaz-les-Frasses, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Champanges, (La) Chapelle-d’Abondance, (La) Chapelle-Rambaud, (La) Chapelle-Saint-Maurice, Charvonnex, Châtel, Châtillon-sur-Cluses, Chevaline, Chevenoz, Choisy, (Les) Clefs, (La) Clusaz, Cluses, Collonges-sous-Salève, Combloux, Cons-Sainte-Colombe, Contamine-sur-Arve, (Les) Contamines-Montjoie, Copponex, Cordon, Cornier, (La) Côte-d’Arbroz, Cruseilles, Cusy, Cuvat, Demi-Quartier, Dingy-Saint-Clair, Domancy, Doussard, Duingt, Entremont, Entrevernes, Essert-Romand, Etaux, Évires, Faucigny, Faverges, Fessy, Féternes, Fillinges, (La) Forclaz, (Les) Gets, Giez, (Le) Grand-Bornand, Groisy, Gruffy, Habère-Lullin, Habère-Poche, Héry-sur-Alby, (Les) Houches, Larringes, Lathuile, Leschaux, Lucinges, Lugrin, Lullin, Lyaud, Magland, Manigod, Marcellaz, Marignier, Marlens, Marnaz, Megève, Mégevette, Meillerie, Menthon-Saint-Bernard, Menthonnex-en-Bornes, Mieussy, Mont-Saxonnex, Montmin, Montriond, Morillon, Morzine, (La) Muraz, Mûres, Nancy-sur-Cluses, Nâves-Parmelan, Novel, (Les) Ollières, Onnion, Orcier, Passy, Peillonnex, Pers-Jussy, (Le) Petit-Bornand-les-Glières, Praz-sur-Arly, Présilly, Quintal, (Le) Reposoir, Reyvroz, (La) Rivière-Enverse, (La) Roche-sur-Foron, Saint-André-de-Boëge, Saint-Blaise, Saint-Eustache, Saint-Ferréol, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, Saint-Gingolph, Saint-Jean-d’Aulps, Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, Saint-Jean-de-Tholome, Saint-Jeoire, Saint-Jorioz, Saint-Laurent, Saint-Martin-Bellevue, Saint-Paul-en-Chablais, Saint-Pierre-en-Faucigny, Saint-Sigismond, Saint-Sixt, Sallanches, Samoëns, (Le) Sappey, Saxel, Scionzier, Serraval, Servoz, Sévrier, Seythenex, Seytroux, Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Talloires, Taninges, Thollon-les-Mémises, Thônes, Thorens-Glières, Thyez, (La) Tour, Vacheresse, Vailly, Vallorcine, Verchaix, (La) Vernaz, Vers, Veyrier-du-Lac, Villard, (Les) Villards-sur-Thônes, Villaz, Ville-en-Sallaz, Villy-le-Bouveret, Villy-le-Pelloux, Vinzier, Viuz-en-Sallaz, Viuz-la-Chiésaz, Vougy, Vovray-en-Bornes.

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 of ‘Abondance’ was established on the basis of the area where production of the cheese originated: the Pays d’Abondance (including the Abondance Valley) in the Chablais region, in the northern part of the Department of Haute-Savoie between Lake Genera and the Giffre Valley. The geographical area has specific climatic conditions owing to its geographical location and topography, its proximity to Lake Geneva and its extensive woodlands.

The geological characteristics of its soils (essentially calcareous pre-Alpine and sub-Alpine massifs and the calcareous massifs of the northern Alps, where the alpine level is poorly developed), along with its particular climate (high rainfall in summer) and marked temperature differences have resulted in rolling landscapes and enabled clearing of mountain pastures with a very rich flora.

Human factors

Human factors

In these difficult living conditions, the most obvious way to use the land was by raising dairy cattle. Dairy farming, which has been practised in the area for centuries, is characterised by the use of specific breeds and a particular way of organising the use of mountain pastures.

The breeds used by the dairy farmers (Abondance, Tarentaise and Montbéliarde) are particularly well adapted to their natural environment. The ‘Abondance’ breed (its name comes from the ‘Abondance Valley’), which is accustomed to the difficult climatic and topographical conditions, produces particularly hardy and resilient dual-purpose cattle which are predominantly used for milk production. Its milk has characteristics which make it particularly suitable for cheese-making. The breed, which is historically associated with this cheese, has been a particular focus of attention for dairy farmers in their desire to preserve and strengthen its presence in the geographical area and its contribution to the production of the cheese.

‘Abondance’ has been produced in this region for several centuries. Starting in the 13th century, the monks of Abondance Abbey encouraged the making of this cheese, in particular by promoting the clearing of pastures. Even today, the feed given to the dairy cows is essentially derived from the local pastures and alpine meadows. The alpine meadows are exploited using a system known in French as ‘montagne individuelle’ (‘private mountain’). Under this system, herds are not grouped together. Rather, each family grazes their own herd separately. This grazing management method is characteristically employed in the alpine meadows of the region and historically associated with farm-based cheese production.

Nowadays, a considerable amount of ‘Abondance’ is produced on farms, but the production method has also been transferred to production in dairies. Nevertheless, the traditional know-how has been maintained, e.g. regarding the use of raw milk and the technology associated with semi-cooked cheese.

5.2.   Specificity of the product

Specificity of the product

‘Abondance’ is a pressed, semi-cooked cheese made exclusively from raw and whole cow’s milk and with a long ripening period.

‘Abondance’ distinguishes itself from other pressed cooked cheeses in particular by having a smaller size, a concave heel, a soft texture and a diverse range of aromas, generally accompanied by a slightly bitter taste.

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)

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 dairy cows, which are well adapted to the local environmental conditions, make good use of the rich flora of the geographical area. The flora of the meadows is the source of the aromatic precursors in ‘Abondance’. The cheese-makers promote the presence of these precursors in the cheese by using raw whole milk which is not treated in any way liable to affect the flora.

‘Abondance’ is a pressed, semi-cooked cheese. The use of technology for making pressed semi-cooked cheeses gives it a softer texture than pressed cooked cheeses. This softness of texture has led to the use of a type of mould enabling the characteristic shape of ‘Abondance’ to be obtained. This shape makes the cheese easier to handle, especially when bringing it down from alpine pastures.

The cheese is relatively small compared to others, especially pressed cooked cheeses. This is directly linked to the way the family herd is managed on alpine pastures and the processing of the milk into cheese, which historically took place on the farm.

Production of this cheese is an integral part of the local economy and recognition of the designation has enabled traditional agricultural activities in the region to be maintained.

Reference to publication of the specification

Reference to publication of the specification

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (4))

4

https://www.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/CdCAbondance.pdf

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

1

(2)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12. Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

2

(3)  Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

3

(4)  See footnote 3.

4

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