# Official Journal C 33/2017

| | ISSN 1977-091X |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 33 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 602 February 2017 |

ISSN 1977-091X

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 33

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 602 February 2017

---

| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | IV   Notices |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Commission |
| 2017/C 33/01 | Interest rate applied by the European Central Bank to its main refinancing operations: 0,00 % on 1 February 2017 — Euro exchange rates | 1 |
| 2017/C 33/02 | Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union | 2 |
| | Court of Auditors |
| 2017/C 33/03 | Special Report No 36/2016 — An assessment of the arrangements for closure of the 2007-2013 cohesion and rural development programmes | 3 |

Notice No

Contents

page

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2017/C 33/01

Interest rate applied by the European Central Bank to its main refinancing operations: 0,00 % on 1 February 2017 — Euro exchange rates

1

2017/C 33/02

Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union

2

Court of Auditors

2017/C 33/03

Special Report No 36/2016 — An assessment of the arrangements for closure of the 2007-2013 cohesion and rural development programmes

3

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| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES |
| | European Commission |
| 2017/C 33/04 | Specific call for proposals — EACEA/03/2017 — Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2014-2020 | 4 |
| | COURT PROCEEDINGS |
| | EFTA Court |
| 2017/C 33/05 | Order of the Court of 31 March 2016 in Case E-4/15 — Icelandic Financial Services Association v EFTA Surveillance Authority (Action for annulment of a decision of the EFTA Surveillance Authority — State aid — Admissibility — Locus standi — Status of an association) | 6 |
| 2017/C 33/06 | Judgment of the Court of 19 April 2016 in Case E-14/15 — Holship Norge AS v Norsk Transportarbeiderforbund (Articles 31, 53 and 54 EEA — Competition law — Collective agreements — Collective action — Freedom of establishment) | 7 |
| | OTHER ACTS |
| | European Commission |
| 2017/C 33/07 | 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 | 8 |

V   Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

2017/C 33/04

Specific call for proposals — EACEA/03/2017 — Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2014-2020

4

COURT PROCEEDINGS

EFTA Court

2017/C 33/05

Order of the Court of 31 March 2016 in Case E-4/15 — Icelandic Financial Services Association v EFTA Surveillance Authority (Action for annulment of a decision of the EFTA Surveillance Authority — State aid — Admissibility — Locus standi — Status of an association)

(Action for annulment of a decision of the EFTA Surveillance Authority — State aid — Admissibility — Locus standi — Status of an association)

6

2017/C 33/06

Judgment of the Court of 19 April 2016 in Case E-14/15 — Holship Norge AS v Norsk Transportarbeiderforbund (Articles 31, 53 and 54 EEA — Competition law — Collective agreements — Collective action — Freedom of establishment)

(Articles 31, 53 and 54 EEA — Competition law — Collective agreements — Collective action — Freedom of establishment)

7

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

2017/C 33/07

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

8

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

EN

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IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

| 2.2.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 33/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.2.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33/1

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Interest rate applied by the European Central Bank to its main refinancing operations (1):

0,00 % on 1 February 2017

Euro exchange rates (2)

1 February 2017

(2017/C 33/01)

1 euro =

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,0790 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 122,25 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4370 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,85418 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,4253 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,0680 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 8,8830 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 27,021 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 309,78 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 4,3186 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 4,5478 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 4,0581 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,4225 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,4097 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 8,3720 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,4817 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 1,5240 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 247,86 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 14,4837 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 7,4270 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,4645 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 14 424,00 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 4,7782 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 53,713 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 64,8674 |
| THB | Thai baht | 37,894 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 3,3918 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 22,3405 |
| INR | Indian rupee | 72,7540 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,0790

JPY

Japanese yen

122,25

DKK

Danish krone

7,4370

GBP

Pound sterling

0,85418

SEK

Swedish krona

9,4253

CHF

Swiss franc

1,0680

ISK

Iceland króna

NOK

Norwegian krone

8,8830

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

27,021

HUF

Hungarian forint

309,78

PLN

Polish zloty

4,3186

RON

Romanian leu

4,5478

TRY

Turkish lira

4,0581

AUD

Australian dollar

1,4225

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,4097

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

8,3720

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,4817

SGD

Singapore dollar

1,5240

KRW

South Korean won

1 247,86

ZAR

South African rand

14,4837

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

7,4270

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,4645

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

14 424,00

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

4,7782

PHP

Philippine peso

53,713

RUB

Russian rouble

64,8674

THB

Thai baht

37,894

BRL

Brazilian real

3,3918

MXN

Mexican peso

22,3405

INR

Indian rupee

72,7540

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(1)  Rate applied to the most recent operation carried out before the indicated day. In the case of a variable rate tender, the interest rate is the marginal rate.

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

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| 2.2.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 33/2 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.2.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33/2

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Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union

(2017/C 33/02)

Pursuant to the second indent of Article 9(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 (1), the Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union (2) are hereby amended as follows:

On page 235

The following text and image are inserted as second paragraph to General:

‘Textile fabrics, partially covered by plastic dots applied in a regular pattern, giving anti-slip properties to the fabric, are not considered “bearing designs” within the meaning of Note 2(a)(4) to Chapter 59. The fabric is considered to be merely coated or covered, provided that the objective characteristics of the article do not give the indication that the product was neither coated nor covered but treated differently (e.g. printed).

Image ’

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(1)  Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (OJ L 256, 7.9.1987, p. 1).

1

(2)  OJ C 76, 4.3.2015, p. 1.

2

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Court of Auditors

| 2.2.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 33/3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.2.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33/3

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Special Report No 36/2016

‘An assessment of the arrangements for closure of the 2007-2013 cohesion and rural development programmes’

(2017/C 33/03)

The European Court of Auditors hereby informs you that Special Report No 36/2016 ‘An assessment of the arrangements for closure of the 2007-2013 cohesion and rural development programmes’ has just been published.

The report can be accessed for consultation or downloading on the European Court of Auditors’ website: http://eca.europa.eu or on EU Bookshop: https://bookshop.europa.eu

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V Announcements

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

European Commission

| 2.2.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 33/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.2.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33/4

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SPECIFIC CALL FOR PROPOSALS — EACEA/03/2017

Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2014-2020

(2017/C 33/04)

1.   Introduction

This call for proposals is based on the Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing ‘Erasmus+’: the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport and repealing Decisions No 1719/2006/EC, No 1720/2006/EC and No 1298/2008/EC (
  Official Journal of the European Union L 347/50 of 20.12.2013).

2.   Objectives and description

The Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) provides the general quality framework for European and international cooperation activities a higher education institution (HEI) may carry out within the Erasmus+ Programme. The award of an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education is a pre-requisite for all HEIs located in one of the countries listed below and wanting to apply and participate in learning mobility of individuals and/or cooperation for innovation and good practices under the Programme. For HEIs located in other countries, the ECHE is not required, and the quality framework is established through inter-institutional agreements between HEIs. The Charter is awarded for the full duration of the Erasmus+ Programme. Implementation of the Charter will be monitored and violation of any of its principles and commitments may lead to its withdrawal by the European Commission.

3.   Eligible applicants

HEIs established in one of the following countries are eligible to apply for an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education:

| — | the Member States of the European Union, |
| --- | --- |

—

the Member States of the European Union,

| — | the EFTA-EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey. |
| --- | --- |

—

the EFTA-EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey.

The National Authorities will designate, among the applicants, the Higher Education Institutions (1) to be considered eligible to participate in learning mobility of individuals and/or cooperation for innovation and good practices under the Erasmus+ Programme, in their respective territories.

4.   Deadline for the submission of applications and indicative date of publishing selection results

The online application form duly completed must be submitted online by 12.00 (noon, Brussels time, Central European Time, CET) on 31 March 2017.

The indicative date of publishing the selection results is 1 October 2017.

5.   Full details

The information about the Erasmus+ Programme can be found at the following internet address: http://ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus

Applications must be submitted according to the guidelines provided by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency and available at the address:

https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/erasmus-charter-for-higher-education-2014-2020-selection-2018_en

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(1)  A ‘higher education institution’ as defined in Article 2 of the Erasmus+ legal base is:

| (a) | any type of higher education institution which, in accordance with national law or practice, offers recognised degrees or other recognised tertiary level qualifications, whatever such establishment may be called; |
| --- | --- |

(a)

any type of higher education institution which, in accordance with national law or practice, offers recognised degrees or other recognised tertiary level qualifications, whatever such establishment may be called;

| (b) | any institution which, in accordance with national law or practice, offers vocational education or training at tertiary level. |
| --- | --- |

(b)

any institution which, in accordance with national law or practice, offers vocational education or training at tertiary level.

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COURT PROCEEDINGS

EFTA Court

| 2.2.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 33/6 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.2.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33/6

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ORDER OF THE COURT

of 31 March 2016

in Case E-4/15

Icelandic Financial Services Association v EFTA Surveillance Authority

(Action for annulment of a decision of the EFTA Surveillance Authority — State aid — Admissibility — Locus standi — Status of an association)

(2017/C 33/05)

In Case E-4/15: Icelandic Financial Services Association v EFTA Surveillance Authority — APPLICATION for the annulment of EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 298/14/COL of 16 July 2014, notified in OJ C 400, 13.11.2014, p. 13 and EEA Supplement No 66, 13.11.2014, p. 1 (‘the contested decision’), to close the case concerning existing aid to the Icelandic Housing Financing Fund (Íbúðalánasjóður), the Court, composed of: Carl Baudenbacher, President and Judge-Rapporteur, Per Christiansen and Páll Hreinsson, Judges, gave order of 31 March 2016, the operative part of which is as follows:

| 1. | The application is dismissed as inadmissible; |
| --- | --- |

1.

The application is dismissed as inadmissible;

| 2. | Icelandic Financial Services Association is to bear its own costs and the costs incurred by the EFTA Surveillance Authority; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Icelandic Financial Services Association is to bear its own costs and the costs incurred by the EFTA Surveillance Authority;

| 3. | The Government of Iceland is to bear its own costs. |
| --- | --- |

3.

The Government of Iceland is to bear its own costs.

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| 2.2.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 33/7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.2.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33/7

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JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

of 19 April 2016

in Case E-14/15

Holship Norge AS v Norsk Transportarbeiderforbund

(Articles 31, 53 and 54 EEA — Competition law — Collective agreements — Collective action — Freedom of establishment)

(2017/C 33/06)

In Case E-14/15, Holship Norge AS v Norsk Transportarbeiderforbund — REQUEST to the Court under Article 34 of the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice by the Supreme Court of Norway (Norges Høyesterett) concerning the interpretation of the EEA Agreement, and in particular Articles 31, 53 and 54, the Court, composed of Carl Baudenbacher, President and Judge-Rapporteur, Per Christiansen and Páll Hreinsson, Judges, gave judgment on 19 April 2016, the operative part of which is as follows:

| 1. | The exemption from the EEA competition rules that applies to collective agreements does not cover the assessment of a priority of engagement rule, such as the one at issue, or the use of a boycott against a port user in order to procure acceptance of a collective agreement, when such acceptance entails that the port user must give preference to buying unloading and loading services from a separate company, such as the administrative office at issue, in place of using its own employees for the same work. |
| --- | --- |

1.

The exemption from the EEA competition rules that applies to collective agreements does not cover the assessment of a priority of engagement rule, such as the one at issue, or the use of a boycott against a port user in order to procure acceptance of a collective agreement, when such acceptance entails that the port user must give preference to buying unloading and loading services from a separate company, such as the administrative office at issue, in place of using its own employees for the same work.

| 2. | Articles 53 and 54 EEA may apply separately or jointly to a system such as the one at issue. |
| --- | --- |

2.

Articles 53 and 54 EEA may apply separately or jointly to a system such as the one at issue.

| 3. | Should a port, such as the one at issue, not be regarded as a substantial part of the EEA territory, identical or corresponding administrative office systems, which may exist in other ports, must be taken into account in order to determine whether a dominant position covers the territory of the EEA Agreement or a substantial part of it. |
| --- | --- |

3.

Should a port, such as the one at issue, not be regarded as a substantial part of the EEA territory, identical or corresponding administrative office systems, which may exist in other ports, must be taken into account in order to determine whether a dominant position covers the territory of the EEA Agreement or a substantial part of it.

| 4. | A boycott such as the one at issue, aimed at procuring acceptance of a collective agreement providing for a system which includes a priority clause, is likely to discourage or even prevent the establishment of companies from other EEA States and thereby constitutes a restriction on the freedom of establishment under Article 31 EEA. |
| --- | --- |

4.

A boycott such as the one at issue, aimed at procuring acceptance of a collective agreement providing for a system which includes a priority clause, is likely to discourage or even prevent the establishment of companies from other EEA States and thereby constitutes a restriction on the freedom of establishment under Article 31 EEA.

| 5. | It is of no significance for the assessment whether a restriction exists if the company’s need for unloading and loading services proved to be very limited and/or sporadic. |
| --- | --- |

5.

It is of no significance for the assessment whether a restriction exists if the company’s need for unloading and loading services proved to be very limited and/or sporadic.

| 6. | In a situation such as that in the main proceedings, it is of no significance for the assessment of the lawfulness of the restriction that the company, upon which the boycott is imposed, applies another collective agreement in relation to its own dockworkers. |
| --- | --- |

6.

In a situation such as that in the main proceedings, it is of no significance for the assessment of the lawfulness of the restriction that the company, upon which the boycott is imposed, applies another collective agreement in relation to its own dockworkers.

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OTHER ACTS

European Commission

| 2.2.2017 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 33/8 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

2.2.2017

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33/8

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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

(2017/C 33/07)

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

‘CHAROLAIS DE BOURGOGNE’

EU No: PGI-FR-02099 — 8.12.2015

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

1.   Title

‘Charolais de Bourgogne’

2.   Member State or Third Country

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

‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ is beef that is obtained from animals of the Charolais breed type (born to mothers and fathers of the Charolais breed type) and that has the following characteristics:

| CATEGORY and minimum and maximum age | Minimum weight of the carcass | Conformation | Fat cover |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bovine aged 14 to 24 months | 320 kg | E, U, R | 2-3-4 |
| Heifer aged not less than 24 months | 280 kg | E, U, R | 2-3-4 |
| Cow aged not more than 10 years | 330 kg | U, R | 2-3-4 |

CATEGORY and minimum and maximum age

Minimum weight of the carcass

Conformation

Fat cover

Bovine aged 14 to 24 months

320 kg

E, U, R

2-3-4

Heifer aged not less than 24 months

280 kg

E, U, R

2-3-4

Cow aged not more than 10 years

330 kg

U, R

2-3-4

‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ meat is pure red in colour, finely marbled, lean, lightly veined, tender and juicy.

It is presented fresh or frozen. The meat may not be marketed in chilled form once it has been thawed.

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

The animals are reared in accordance with traditional cycles of alternating between pasture (at least 6 months a year) and the cowshed during the entire rearing period, i.e. one cycle for bovines aged 14 to 24 months and at least two cycles for the females.

The holding's area under grass must account for at least 70 % of the principal forage area.

The feed of all the animals is based on grass and coarse fodder. The coarse forage, excluding straw, must come exclusively from the geographical area. This enables the traditional use of the significant presence in the geographical area of natural grasslands, which are characterised by their diversity and the quality of their flora.

The share of complete or complementary concentrated feed is limited to an average of 2 kilograms of raw material per day and per animal over the year, except during the finishing phase.

Urea is prohibited throughout the rearing period.

The finishing phase is carried out on pasture or by providing the feed in troughs.

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

The farrowing, rearing and fattening must take place in the geographical area.

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

—

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

The labelling of ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ includes, in particular:

| — | the name of the protected geographical indication; |
| --- | --- |

—

the name of the protected geographical indication;

| — | the national identification number of the animal or the batch number; |
| --- | --- |

—

the national identification number of the animal or the batch number;

| — | the category of the animal from which the meat comes; |
| --- | --- |

—

the category of the animal from which the meat comes;

| — | the date of slaughter; |
| --- | --- |

—

the date of slaughter;

| — | where applicable: the words ‘a minimum maturation time of 7 days for pieces to be grilled or roasted, except for the thin skirt, the thick skirt and the fillet’ or ‘a minimum maturation time of 7 days for vacuum-packed meat’. |
| --- | --- |

—

where applicable: the words ‘a minimum maturation time of 7 days for pieces to be grilled or roasted, except for the thin skirt, the thick skirt and the fillet’ or ‘a minimum maturation time of 7 days for vacuum-packed meat’.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area of the ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ PGI covers the following municipalities:

In the department of Ain:

Arbigny, Asnières-sur-Saône, Bagé-le-Châtel, Beaupont, Beny, Bey, Boz, Chavannes-sur-Reyssouze, Chevroux, Coligny, Cormoranche-sur-Saône, Cormoz, Courtes, Crottet, Curciat-Dongalon, Domsure, Feillens, Garnerans, Genouilleux, Gorrevod, Grièges, Guereins, Lescheroux, Mantenay-Montlin, Manziat, Marboz, Mogneneins, Montmerle-sur-Saône, Ozan, Peyzieux-sur-Saône, Pirajoux, Pont-de-Vaux, Pont-de-Veyle, Replonges, Reyssouze, Saint-André-de-Bagé, Saint-Bénigne, Saint-Didier-sur-Chalaronne, Saint-Etienne-sur-Reyssouze, Saint-Jean-sur-Reyssouze, Saint-Julien-sur-Reyssouze, Saint-Laurent-sur-Saône, Saint-Nizier-le-Bouchoux, Saint-Trivier-de-Courtes, Salavre, Sermoyer, Servignat, Thoissey, Valeins, Verjon, Vernoux, Vescours, Vesines and Villemotier.

In the department of Cher:

Apremont-sur-Allier, Argenvières, Bannay, Beffes, Belleville-sur-Loire, Boulleret, Bué, La Chapelle-Hugon, La Chapelle-Montlinard, Charentonnay, Le Chautay, Couargues, Cours-les-Barres, Couy, Crézancy-en-Sancerre, Cuffy, Feux, Gardefort, Garigny, Germigny-l'Exempt, Groises, La Guerche-sur-l'Aubois, Herry, Jalognes, Jouet-sur-l'Aubois, Jussy-le-Chaudrier, Lère, Lugny-Champagne, Marseilles-les-Aubigny, Ménetou-Ratel, Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre, Précy, Saint-Bouize, Sainte-Gemme-en-Sancerrois, Saint-Léger-le-Petit, Saint-Martin-des-Champs, Saint-Satur, Sancergues, Sancerre, Savigny-en-Sancerre, Sens-Beaujeu, Sevry, Sury-près-Lère, Sury-en-Vaux, Thauvenay, Torteron, Veaugues, Verdigny and Vinon.

In the department of Côte-d'Or:

The cantons of Arnay-le-Duc, Beaune, Ladoix-Serrigny and Semur-en-Auxois.

The municipalities of:

Agencourt, Agey, Alise-Sainte-Reine, Ancey, Argilly, Athié, Aubigny-en-Plaine, Aubigny-les-Sombernon, Auvillars-sur-Saône, Bagnot, Barbirey-sur-Ouche, Baulme-la-Roche, Benoisey, Bessey-les-Cîteaux, Blaisy-Bas, Blaisy-Haut, Bligny-le-sec, Bonnencontre, Boux-sous-Salmaise, Brazey-en-Plaine, Broin, Buffon, Bure-les-Templiers, Bussy-la-Pesle, Bussy-le-Grand, Chamblanc, Champagny, Champ-d'Oiseau, Chanceaux, Charencey, Charrey-sur-Saône, Chaugey, Chaume-les-Baigneux, Chivres, Comblanchien, Corcelles-lès-Cîteaux, Corgoloin, Corpoyer-la-Chapelle, Courcelles-les-Montbard, Crépand, Darcey, Detain-et-Bruant, Drée, Echalot, Echannay, Epernay-sous-Gevrey, Eringes, Esbarres, Etormay, Fain-les-Montbard, Fain-les-Moutiers, Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Fresnes, Frôlois, Fussey, Gerland, Gissey-sous-Flavigny, Glanon, Grenant-lès-Sombernon, Grésigny-Sainte-Reine, Grignon, Grosbois-en-Montagne, Hauteroche, Izeure, Jailly-les-Moulins, Jallanges, Jours-les-Baigneux, Labergement-les-Seurre, Labruyère, Lanthes, Lechâtelet, Magny-les-Aubigny, Magny-les-Villers, Mâlain, Marigny-le-Cahoüet, Menesble, Ménetreux-le-Pitois, Mesmont, Minot, Moitron, Montigny-Montfort, Montmain, Montoillot, Montot, Moutiers-Saint-Jean, Mussy-la-Fosse, Nogent-les-Montbard, Pagny-la-Ville, Panges, Pellerey, Poiseul-la-Grange, Poncey-sur-l'Ignon, Pouillenay, Pouilly-sur-Saône, Prâlon, Quincerot, Quincey, Quincy-le-Vicomte, Recey-sur-Ource, Remilly-en-Montagne, La Roche-Vanneau, Saint-Anthot, Saint-Bernard, Saint-Broing-les-Moines, Saint-Germain-les-Senailly, Saint-Jean-de-Bœuf, Saint-Nicolas-les-Cîteaux, Saint-Rémy, Saint-Seine-l'Abbaye, Saint-Victor-sur-Ouche, Salmaise, Savigny-sous-Mâlain, Savouges, Seigny, Senailly, Seurre, Sombernon, Source-Seine, Terrefondrée, Thénissey, Trouhaut, Trugny, Turcey, Vaux-Saules, Venarey-les-Laumes, Verrey-sous-Drée, Verrey-sous-Salmaise, Vieilmoulin, Villaines-les-Prévôtes, Villebichot, La Villeneuve-les-Convers, Villotte-Saint-Seine, Villy-le-Moutier and Viserny.

In the department of Loire:

Ambierle, Arcinges, Arçon, Belleroche, Belmont-de-la-Loire, La Bénisson-Dieu, Boyer, Briennon, Le Cergne, Chandon, Changy, Charlieu, Le Crozet, Cuinzier, Ecoche, La Gresle, Jarnosse, Mably, Maizilly, Mars, Nandax, Noailly and Les Nöés, La Pacaudière, Pouilly-sous-Charlieu, Renaison, Sail-les-Bains, Saint-Alban-les-Eaux, Saint-André-d'Apchon, Saint-Bonnet-des-Quarts, Saint-Denis-de-Cabanne, Saint-Forgeux-Lespinasse, Saint-Germain-la-Montagne, Saint-Germain-Lespinasse, Saint-Haon-le-Châtel, Saint-Haon-le-Vieux, Saint-Hilaire-sous-Charlieu, Saint-Martin-d'Estreaux, Saint-Nizier-sous-Charlieu, Saint-Pierre-la-Noaille, Saint-Rirand, Saint-Romain-la-Motte, Sevelinges, Urbise, Villers and Vivans.

In the department of Nièvre:

All municipalities except Annay, Dornecy and Neuvy-sur-Loire.

In the department of Rhône:

The canton of Belleville.

The municipalities of:

Aigueperse, Azolette, Monsols, Ouroux, Propières, Saint-Bonnet-des-Bruyères, Saint-Christophe, Saint-Clément-de-Vers, Saint-Etienne-des-Oullières, Saint-Igny-de-Vers, Saint-Jacques-des-Arrêts, Saint-Mamert and Trades.

In the department of Saône-et-Loire:

All municipalities except Beauvernois, Bosjean, Champagnat and Cuiseaux.

In the department of Yonne:

The canton of Avallon.

The municipalities of:

Andryes, Angely, Asquins, Bierry-les-Belles-Fontaines, Blacy, Chamoux, Cisery, Coutarnoux, Diges, Dissangis, Domecy-sur-Cure, Dracy, Foissy-les-Vézelay, Fontaines, Fontenay-près-Vézelay, Fontenoy, Givry, Guillon, L'Isle-sur-Serein, Joux-la-Ville, Lalande, Lavau, Leugny, Levis, Marmeaux, Merry-la-Vallée, Mézilles, Montréal, Moulins-sur-Ouanne, Moutiers-en-Puisaye, Parly, Pierre-Perthuis, Pisy, Sainpuits, Saint-André-en-Terre-Plaine, Sainte-Colombe-sur-Loing, Saint-Fargeau, Saint-Martin-des-Champs, Saint-Martin-sur-Ocre, Saint-Père, Saints-en-Puisaye, Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, Santigny, Sauvigny-le-Beuréal, Savigny-en-Terre-Plaine, Sceaux, Talcy, Tannerre-en-Puisaye, Tharoiseau, Thizy, Toucy, Treigny, Trévilly, Vassy-sous-Pisy, Vézelay and Vignes.

5.   Link with the geographical area

The geographical area of ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ consists of a number of small agricultural regions that rank among the most fertile in Europe and where a system of extensive livestock farming has developed. Nearly four-fifths of the agricultural areas are forage areas. In this geographical area natural grasslands, which are characterised by their diversity and the quality of their flora, make up the great majority of the forage areas (on average 73 %).

The climate — oceanic with continental or southern influences depending on the specific parts of the area — ensures even rainfall throughout the year. The temperature increases in the spring lead to a rapid warming up and promote the uniform growth of grass in the grasslands, the practice of haymaking and, in certain areas, second harvesting.

The Burgundy bocage (farmland with hedges and trees) was established in the nineteenth century as the region became specialised in cattle breeding and, in particular, the production of ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’. It is a geometric bocage, where the hedges are made of various thorny plants (dog-rose, blackthorn, etc.), elderberries, willows and other plants. The hedges are built of fences made using acacia poles and barbed wire, the base of which is fertilised with bird droppings. The breeders maintain these live hedges by pruning them regularly, which creates a link to the wild flora and fauna (which produce and use the hedge) and contributes to the well-being of the livestock (which grazes frequently) and to the character of the landscape.

As a transitional zone between the calcareous soils of the Paris basin and the crystalline soils of the Massif Central, the geographical area has benefited from this pedological variety, which has made it possible to develop complementary practices. The breeders produce and rear animals on poor crystalline soils and the fatteners ‘finish’ them on their fertile clay-limestone land.

The production system for ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ is characterised by the extensive improvement of land and the extensive management of livestock, in accordance with the alternating cycles of pasture and wintering. The potential of the Charolais animal and the grassland is made good use of in the area according to traditional principles established over several centuries.

The breeders are key to the process of selecting animals. They continue to improve the livestock, which has been passed down from one generation to the next. The know-how is transmitted between breeders (visual assessment of the animals' qualities, competitions, etc.) and generations (breeding livestock).

During winter the livestock receives feed based on hay, most of which comes from the holding and all of which comes from the geographical area, straw supplemented with cereals and oil-cake in limited quantities to balance the ration. The breeder's main objective is to shorten the wintering period to the extent possible. Often the animals return to the cowshed only once the pasturing potential has been exhausted and are put out to grass when the first green shoots appear in the spring. The mother-calf pair is turned out to pasture when the first green shoots appear, in order to make the best use of the grass.

The breeder manages the grassland in a rigorous manner in order to optimise the growth of grass. This includes the stocking and destocking of grasslands and the establishment of forage reserves. These practices help to preserve the qualitative and quantitative potential of the grasslands and make the parcels accessible to the animals during most of the year. This in turn allows the herd, composed of cows and their calves, to graze for a long period of time, which ends with the separation of the young animals from the rest of the herd.

The bocage, which is ideally suited to forage production, and livestock grazing have developed jointly in this region. The Charolais breed is particularly well adapted to these conditions. Here the use of a rearing system characterised by the extensive exploitation of the land and livestock makes it possible to manage large areas and maintain extensive open spaces.

The carcass of ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ displays a solid skeleton and has developed a remarkable carcass quality.

The meat yield of the ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ carcass exceeds 70 % and is excellent, with a high percentage of muscle and little covering fat. The yield is clearly higher than for comparable animals, with about 50 % of the meat being available for grilling. The carcass quality ranks among the best in its category, with almost 95 % of the animals being classified as good (R) to excellent (E).

The colour of ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ meat is a beautiful vivid and bright red. The fat is thin and light and forms a small network between the meat, rendering it marbled and flavourful. The meat is recognised for its nutritional quality and provides a significant amount of proteins, iron and vitamins, which are high-quality nutrients. When cooked the meat has the particularity of retaining water well, which limits the loss of juices. The main organoleptic characteristic of the meat is that it is tender and medium fatty while remaining flavourful and juicy.

‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ meat is the result of the breeders' know-how. The rearing practices, which have been handed down over time, have helped to shape the Burgundy bocage, in which the cattle spend time until maturity, on land that gives the meat its distinctive qualities.

The production of ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ developed thanks to the quality of the soils, the abundance of grassland, a favourable climate and hydrography and the pedogeological diversity.

Suckling promotes the production of healthy young animals. The fact that the animals are put out to grass early and graze for the maximum amount of time, combined with the existence of dry periods, obliges the animals to cope with drops in the availability of feed. As a result, the animal draws on its fat reserves. This production mechanism results in marbled meat whose flavours are enhanced by the distribution of fat within the pieces of meat.

The nature of the feed (in particular the importance of grazing) and the movements of the animals in the grassland contribute to the fine and tender quality of the meat. The high proportion of grass in the feed gives a red colour to the meat and also transfers to it natural antioxidants (vitamin E) that stabilise the colour until the meat is sold. The finishing phase adds a fatty layer to the carcass to supplement the fat deposited in the intermuscular adipose tissues (marbling), and this promotes maturation and the development of the taste and tenderness.

The link with the geographical area ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ is based on reputation.

For a long time now ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ has had an important place in the local cuisine and festivals. It is described in all guide books as typical of the Burgundy region. This reputation is underpinned in gastronomy by the recipes and comments of top chefs. For example Thierry and Damien Broin offer as a speciality ‘Boeuf Charolais de Bourgogne’, obtained from a short supply chain. In his restaurant, which is recommended in many guide books and referred to in several reviews, chef Yannick Vaillant acknowledges that ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ is renowned for its gustatory qualities.

Quality dishes featuring ‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ are served at prestigious dinners, as illustrated by the presence of ‘Carpaccio de Charolais de Bourgogne’ on the menu of a fancy dinner and tasting event organised by the French Chambers of Agriculture at the Château de Savigny-les-Beaune on 8 July 1997.

‘Charolais de Bourgogne’ always earns distinctions in official competitions organised for the Charolais breed. For example, at the national competition of the World Charolais Congress held in August 2014, there were 750 animals present and more than 50 % of the winners were from Burgundy.

Reference to publication of the specification

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

https://www.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/4-CDCCharolaisdeBourgogne-Novembre2016-Propre.pdf

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

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