# Official Journal C 87/2008

| | ISSN 1725-2423 |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 87 |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 518 April 2008 |

ISSN 1725-2423

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 87

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 518 April 2008

---

| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | II   Information |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES |
| | Commission |
| 2008/C 087/01 | Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  ) | 1 |
| 2008/C 087/02 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.4896 — CVC Capital Partners/Katope International) (
  1
  ) | 4 |
| 2008/C 087/03 | Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.5049 — Goldman Sachs/Colony Capital/But) (
  1
  ) | 4 |

Notice No

Contents

page

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

2008/C 087/01

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty — Cases where the Commission raises no objections (
  1
  )

1

1

2008/C 087/02

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.4896 — CVC Capital Partners/Katope International) (
  1
  )

1

4

2008/C 087/03

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.5049 — Goldman Sachs/Colony Capital/But) (
  1
  )

1

4

| | IV   Notices |
| --- | --- |
| | NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES |
| | Commission |
| 2008/C 087/04 | Euro exchange rates | 5 |

IV   Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

2008/C 087/04

Euro exchange rates

5

| | V   Announcements |
| --- | --- |
| | PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPETITION POLICY |
| | Commission |
| 2008/C 087/05 | Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.5113 — Abe Investment/Getty) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  ) | 6 |
| 2008/C 087/06 | Withdrawal of notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.5106 — Candover/Bourne Leisure) (
  1
  ) | 7 |
| | OTHER ACTS |
| | Commission |
| 2008/C 087/07 | Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs | 8 |

V   Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPETITION POLICY

Commission

2008/C 087/05

Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.5113 — Abe Investment/Getty) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (
  1
  )

1

6

2008/C 087/06

Withdrawal of notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.5106 — Candover/Bourne Leisure) (
  1
  )

1

7

OTHER ACTS

Commission

2008/C 087/07

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

8

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

---

(1)   Text with EEA relevance

1

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

EN

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II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

| 8.4.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 87/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.4.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 87/1

---

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 87/01)

| Date of adoption of the decision | 30.1.2008 |
| --- | --- |
| Reference number of the aid | N 357/07 |
| Member State | Hungary |
| Region | Minden régió |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | Az Oktatási és Kulturális Minisztérium fejezeti kezelésű előirányzatai és a Nemzeti Kulturális Alap |
| Legal basis | A Nemzeti Kulturális Alapról szóló 1993. évi XXIII. törvény; a Kormány .../2007. (...) Kormány rendelettervezete a kultúrát és a kulturális örökség megőrzését előmozdító állami támogatásokról; a Nemzeti Kulturális Alapról szóló 1993. évi XXIII. törvény végrehajtásáról szóló 9/2006. (V.9.) NKÖM rendelet; az oktatási és kulturális miniszter .../2007. (...) OKM rendelettervezete a Nemzeti Kulturális Alapról szóló 1993. évi XXIII. törvény végrehajtásáról szóló 9/2006. (V.9.) NKÖM rendelet módosításáról; a XX. Oktatási és Kulturális Minisztérium költségvetési fejezethez tartozó fejezeti kezelésű előirányzatok pályázat útján történő felhasználásának szabályairól szóló .../2007. OKM rendelettervezete |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Objective | Culture, Heritage conservation |
| Form of aid | Direct grant, Soft loan |
| Budget | Annual budget: HUF 37 699,1 million
  Overall budget: HUF 226 194,6 million |
| Intensity | 100 % |
| Duration | 1.9.2007-1.9.2012 |
| Economic sectors | Cultural activities |
| Name and address of the granting authority | 1. | Oktatási és Kulturális Minisztérium |
| H-1055 Budapest, Szalay u. 10-14. |

Date of adoption of the decision

30.1.2008

Reference number of the aid

N 357/07

Member State

Hungary

Region

Minden régió

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Az Oktatási és Kulturális Minisztérium fejezeti kezelésű előirányzatai és a Nemzeti Kulturális Alap

Legal basis

A Nemzeti Kulturális Alapról szóló 1993. évi XXIII. törvény; a Kormány .../2007. (...) Kormány rendelettervezete a kultúrát és a kulturális örökség megőrzését előmozdító állami támogatásokról; a Nemzeti Kulturális Alapról szóló 1993. évi XXIII. törvény végrehajtásáról szóló 9/2006. (V.9.) NKÖM rendelet; az oktatási és kulturális miniszter .../2007. (...) OKM rendelettervezete a Nemzeti Kulturális Alapról szóló 1993. évi XXIII. törvény végrehajtásáról szóló 9/2006. (V.9.) NKÖM rendelet módosításáról; a XX. Oktatási és Kulturális Minisztérium költségvetési fejezethez tartozó fejezeti kezelésű előirányzatok pályázat útján történő felhasználásának szabályairól szóló .../2007. OKM rendelettervezete

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Objective

Culture, Heritage conservation

Form of aid

Direct grant, Soft loan

Budget

Annual budget: HUF 37 699,1 million

Overall budget: HUF 226 194,6 million

Intensity

100 %

Duration

1.9.2007-1.9.2012

Economic sectors

Cultural activities

Name and address of the granting authority

1.

Oktatási és Kulturális Minisztérium

H-1055 Budapest, Szalay u. 10-14.

| 2. | Nemzeti Kulturális Alap |
| --- | --- |
| H-1085 Budapest, Gyulai Pál utca 13 |

2.

Nemzeti Kulturális Alap

H-1085 Budapest, Gyulai Pál utca 13

Other information

—

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/

| Date of adoption of the decision | 21.2.2008 |
| --- | --- |
| Reference number of the aid | N 761/07 |
| Member State | United Kingdom |
| Region | Northern Ireland |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | Northern Ireland R&D Challenge Fund |
| Legal basis | Article 9(a) of the Industrial Development (Northern Ireland) Order 1982, Part III |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Objective | Research and development |
| Form of aid | Direct grant, Provision of risk capital |
| Budget | Overall budget: GBP 0,5 million |
| Intensity | 60 % |
| Duration | 1.1.2008-31.12.2008 |
| Economic sectors | All sectors |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Invest NI Bedford Square |
| Bedford Street |
| Belfast BT2 7EH |

Date of adoption of the decision

21.2.2008

Reference number of the aid

N 761/07

Member State

United Kingdom

Region

Northern Ireland

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Northern Ireland R&D Challenge Fund

Legal basis

Article 9(a) of the Industrial Development (Northern Ireland) Order 1982, Part III

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Objective

Research and development

Form of aid

Direct grant, Provision of risk capital

Budget

Overall budget: GBP 0,5 million

Intensity

60 %

Duration

1.1.2008-31.12.2008

Economic sectors

All sectors

Name and address of the granting authority

Invest NI Bedford Square

Bedford Street

Belfast BT2 7EH

Other information

—

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/

| Date of adoption of the decision | 8.2.2008 |
| --- | --- |
| Reference number of the aid | N 13/08 |
| Member State | Italy |
| Region | Friuli-Venezia-Giulia |
| Title (and/or name of the beneficiary) | Modifica del regime di aiuti N 433/04 a favore dell'ambiente nel Friuli-Venezia-Giulia |
| Legal basis | Deliberazione della Giunta regionale n. 1002 del 22 aprile 2004 |
| Type of measure | Aid scheme |
| Objective | Environmental protection |
| Form of aid | Direct grant |
| Budget | Overall budget: EUR 8,5 million |
| Intensity | 45 % |
| Duration | 1.1.2008-31.12.2008 |
| Economic sectors | All sectors |
| Name and address of the granting authority | Regione Friuli-Venezia-Giulia |
| Via Udine 9 |
| I-34132 Trieste |

Date of adoption of the decision

8.2.2008

Reference number of the aid

N 13/08

Member State

Italy

Region

Friuli-Venezia-Giulia

Title (and/or name of the beneficiary)

Modifica del regime di aiuti N 433/04 a favore dell'ambiente nel Friuli-Venezia-Giulia

Legal basis

Deliberazione della Giunta regionale n. 1002 del 22 aprile 2004

Type of measure

Aid scheme

Objective

Environmental protection

Form of aid

Direct grant

Budget

Overall budget: EUR 8,5 million

Intensity

45 %

Duration

1.1.2008-31.12.2008

Economic sectors

All sectors

Name and address of the granting authority

Regione Friuli-Venezia-Giulia

Via Udine 9

I-34132 Trieste

Other information

—

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/state_aids/

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| 8.4.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 87/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.4.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 87/4

---

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.4896 — CVC Capital Partners/Katope International)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 87/02)

On 8 February 2008, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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

—

from the Europa competition website (http://ec.europa.eu/comm/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 under document number 32008M4896. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law (http://eur-lex.europa.eu). |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32008M4896. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law (http://eur-lex.europa.eu).

---

| 8.4.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 87/4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.4.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 87/4

---

Non-opposition to a notified concentration

(Case COMP/M.5049 — Goldman Sachs/Colony Capital/But)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 87/03)

On 11 March 2008, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available:

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

—

from the Europa competition website (http://ec.europa.eu/comm/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 under document number 32008M5049. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law (http://eur-lex.europa.eu). |
| --- | --- |

—

in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32008M5049. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law (http://eur-lex.europa.eu).

---

IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Commission

| 8.4.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 87/5 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.4.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 87/5

---

Euro exchange rates (1)

7 April 2008

(2008/C 87/04)

1 euro=

| | Currency | Exchange rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USD | US dollar | 1,5693 |
| JPY | Japanese yen | 161,13 |
| DKK | Danish krone | 7,4592 |
| GBP | Pound sterling | 0,78935 |
| SEK | Swedish krona | 9,3687 |
| CHF | Swiss franc | 1,5917 |
| ISK | Iceland króna | 113,51 |
| NOK | Norwegian krone | 7,9685 |
| BGN | Bulgarian lev | 1,9558 |
| CZK | Czech koruna | 25,019 |
| EEK | Estonian kroon | 15,6466 |
| HUF | Hungarian forint | 254,05 |
| LTL | Lithuanian litas | 3,4528 |
| LVL | Latvian lats | 0,6971 |
| PLN | Polish zloty | 3,4568 |
| RON | Romanian leu | 3,6808 |
| SKK | Slovak koruna | 32,388 |
| TRY | Turkish lira | 2,0071 |
| AUD | Australian dollar | 1,6977 |
| CAD | Canadian dollar | 1,5804 |
| HKD | Hong Kong dollar | 12,2257 |
| NZD | New Zealand dollar | 1,9760 |
| SGD | Singapore dollar | 2,1682 |
| KRW | South Korean won | 1 529,91 |
| ZAR | South African rand | 12,2705 |
| CNY | Chinese yuan renminbi | 10,9875 |
| HRK | Croatian kuna | 7,2725 |
| IDR | Indonesian rupiah | 14 429,71 |
| MYR | Malaysian ringgit | 5,0037 |
| PHP | Philippine peso | 65,471 |
| RUB | Russian rouble | 36,9900 |
| THB | Thai baht | 49,692 |
| BRL | Brazilian real | 2,6703 |
| MXN | Mexican peso | 16,5404 |

Currency

Exchange rate

USD

US dollar

1,5693

JPY

Japanese yen

161,13

DKK

Danish krone

7,4592

GBP

Pound sterling

0,78935

SEK

Swedish krona

9,3687

CHF

Swiss franc

1,5917

ISK

Iceland króna

113,51

NOK

Norwegian krone

7,9685

BGN

Bulgarian lev

1,9558

CZK

Czech koruna

25,019

EEK

Estonian kroon

15,6466

HUF

Hungarian forint

254,05

LTL

Lithuanian litas

3,4528

LVL

Latvian lats

0,6971

PLN

Polish zloty

3,4568

RON

Romanian leu

3,6808

SKK

Slovak koruna

32,388

TRY

Turkish lira

2,0071

AUD

Australian dollar

1,6977

CAD

Canadian dollar

1,5804

HKD

Hong Kong dollar

12,2257

NZD

New Zealand dollar

1,9760

SGD

Singapore dollar

2,1682

KRW

South Korean won

1 529,91

ZAR

South African rand

12,2705

CNY

Chinese yuan renminbi

10,9875

HRK

Croatian kuna

7,2725

IDR

Indonesian rupiah

14 429,71

MYR

Malaysian ringgit

5,0037

PHP

Philippine peso

65,471

RUB

Russian rouble

36,9900

THB

Thai baht

49,692

BRL

Brazilian real

2,6703

MXN

Mexican peso

16,5404

---

(1)

Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.

---

V Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPETITION POLICY

Commission

| 8.4.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 87/6 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.4.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 87/6

---

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5113 — Abe Investment/Getty)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 87/05)

| 1. | On 28 March 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Abe Investment, LP (‘Abe Investment’, USA), controlled by Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI, LP (‘HFCP’, USA), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Getty Images, Inc. (‘Getty Images’, USA), by way of an agreement to merge Abe Acquisition Corp. (‘Abe Acquisition’, USA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Abe Investment, with Getty Images. |
| --- | --- |

1.

On 28 March 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Abe Investment, LP (‘Abe Investment’, USA), controlled by Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VI, LP (‘HFCP’, USA), acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation control of the whole of the undertaking Getty Images, Inc. (‘Getty Images’, USA), by way of an agreement to merge Abe Acquisition Corp. (‘Abe Acquisition’, USA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Abe Investment, with Getty Images.

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






  — | for HFCP: private equity fund. Investment sectors are financial services, health care, industrial/energy, insurance, media/marketing, professional services, software/information services, |
| --- | --- | --- |

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for HFCP: private equity fund. Investment sectors are financial services, health care, industrial/energy, insurance, media/marketing, professional services, software/information services,

| — | for Getty Images: creation and distribution of digital media content. |
| --- | --- |

—

for Getty Images: creation and distribution of digital media content.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
| --- | --- |

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5113 — Abe Investment/Getty, to the following address:





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

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 ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5113 — Abe Investment/Getty, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

---

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

(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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| 8.4.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 87/7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.4.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 87/7

---

Withdrawal of notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5106 — Candover/Bourne Leisure)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 87/06)

(Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004)

On 7 March 2008, the Commission of the European Communities received notification of a proposed concentration between Candover Partners Limited (‘Candover’, United Kingdom) and Bourne Leisure Holdings Limited (‘Bourne Leisure’, United Kingdom). On 28 March 2008, the notifying parties informed the Commission that they withdrew their notification.

---

OTHER ACTS

Commission

| 8.4.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 87/8 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.4.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 87/8

---

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2008/C 87/07)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months from the date of this publication.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘AIL BLANC DE LOMAGNE’

EC No: FR/PGI/005/0470/15.06.2005

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

This summary sets out the main elements of the product specification for information purposes.

1.   Responsible department in the Member State:

| Name: | Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité (I.N.A.O.) |
| --- | --- |
| Address: | 51, rue d'Anjou |
| F-75008 Paris |

Name:

Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité (I.N.A.O.)

Address:

51, rue d'Anjou

F-75008 Paris

Tel.

(33) 153 89 80 00

Fax

(33) 142 25 57 97

E-mail:

info@inao.gouv.fr

2.   Group:

| Name: | Association de Défense de l'ail blanc de Lomagne |
| --- | --- |
| Address: | Comité BGSO/Agropôle |
| Bât. Alphagro |
| BP 206 |
| F-47931 Agen cedex 9 |

Name:

Association de Défense de l'ail blanc de Lomagne

Address:

Comité BGSO/Agropôle

Bât. Alphagro

BP 206

F-47931 Agen cedex 9

Tel.

(33) 553 77 22 70

Fax

(33) 553 77 22 79

E-mail:

ailblancdelomagne@valorhea.fr

Composition:

Producers/processors ( X ) Other ( X )

3.   Type of product:

Class 1.6: Fruit, vegetables, cereals, whether or not processed

4.   Specification:

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

4.1.   Name: ‘Ail blanc de Lomagne’

4.2.   Description: White to off-white bulbs, sometimes tinged with violet, made up of several cloves (8 to 12 depending on the size). ‘Ail blanc de Lomagne’ is distinguished by the size and evenness of its cloves, which are beige to cream in colour, sometimes streaked with violet. Each clove is wrapped in a husk consisting of a single layer of skin. The individual cloves together form a bulb, which is itself covered by several layers of thin skin.

These bulbs are sold as ‘extra’ or ‘class I’ garlic and are subject to the corresponding restrictions, such as having a minimum diameter of 45 mm.

‘Ail blanc de Lomagne’ is sold dried and presented in the traditional way, i.e. plaited into strings, packed in baskets, bags or pallets, or sold to the consumer packaged in nets.

4.3.   Geographical area: The garlic is grown, dried, peeled, packaged in the traditional way and approved within the geographical area in question. The geographical area covered by the PGI takes into account:

the history of production in the area,

the distribution of production, based on a census of producers carried out by producers' organisations,

the soil and weather conditions on land that has been used for decades to cultivate garlic.

The geographical area covers 200 communes in two departments as follows:

4.4.   Proof of origin: To obtain an identification number for a plot of land, the producer must enter the following information in the cultivation register: the name of the commune, the surface area, the cadastral number, the crop variety and the previous crop grown.

For each batch delivered to the packing station, the identification number corresponding to the plot of land appears on the delivery note. After checks have been carried out to verify that the batches conform to the characteristics of ‘ail blanc de Lomagne’, the ‘PGI’ batches are specifically identified and packed separately from the other batches. Each packing unit (pallet or sales unit) bears a unique identification number which guarantees its traceability.

4.5.   Method of production:

At the production stage:

All activities relating to the production, drying and peeling process take place within the designated area.

Producers select their seed stock on the basis of the list of varieties issued annually by the Association de défense de l'ail blanc de Lomagne (the Association for the Defence of ‘Ail Blanc de Lomagne’) and sow only certified seeds.

The varieties authorised for planting are selected with reference to two control varieties descended from the original ‘blanc de Lomagne’ population. Acceptability thresholds for new varieties are set in order to compare their characteristics with those of the control varieties.

In Lomagne, the land suitable for garlic cultivation has a clay content of over 20 %. Acidic soils with a pH lower than 7,5 are unsuitable. A physico-chemical analysis of the plot of land is carried out in order to verify that the soil is suitable for the crop.

To plant their crop, producers must select a plot of land that lies within the geographical area and has not been used for garlic cultivation for the last three growing seasons. Nor may garlic be planted after sorghum, maize, alfalfa or other alliums, or after the plot has been used as meadowland.

Sowing takes place between 15 October and 15 December.

All phytosanitary measures must be justified by observations made with regard to the plot and/or by observations made by technicians with regard to reference plots and/or by a technical report. So as to alternate the active substances used, the producer must refer to the information recorded in the cultivation register about previous phytosanitary measures and to the list of products approved for use on the crop. Diagnostic checks are performed on the spraying equipment once every two years.

Producers must base their fertilisation strategy on a soil analysis of the plot carried out less than three years previously. Fertilisers must be applied little by little and sparingly, taking into account the growth stage of the crop.

To determine when to start harvesting the crop, producers must take account of the visual indicators of maturity (yellowing leaves, softening of the stem near ground level) as well as the ratio of the weight of the bulbs to the weight of the foliage.

The garlic is dried by hanging it from sticks in the traditional way or by forced ventilation. The weight loss of the garlic is monitored to determine how far the drying process has progressed. During the drying process, the bulbs lose between 20 % and 30 % of their original weight when harvested.

After drying, the garlic must be peeled by hand to ensure that the bulbs are sufficiently white. This involves removing the faded, discoloured or torn outer layers of skin while keeping the last layer intact. During peeling, the roots are cut off, by hand, right up to the root disc, taking care not to damage the root disc in the process.

Now as in the past, the garlic can then be sorted and approved within the designated area, either at the packing station or on the farm. Localising these operations also makes it possible to guarantee the traceability of the product.

After it has been approved, the garlic harvested with its foliage can then be presented in the traditional way for ‘ail blanc de Lomagne’, for example in bunches, in baskets or plaited into strings.

4.6.   Link:

Past and present reputation:

As regards the history of production, a compendium of agricultural statistics for the Castelsarrasin area, dating from 1868, mentions the importance of garlic cultivation for the economy of Tarn et Garonne. From 1902, in the commune of Beaumont-de-Lomagne, 80 hectares were being used for garlic. As the annual agricultural statistics show, garlic growing continued to spread in Lomagne throughout the 20th century, with the area under cultivation reaching 500 hectares in 1929 and 2 810 hectares in 1980.

From 1936, the creation of the ‘établissements DURAN’ and the emergence of traditional markets at which farmers could sell their surplus production provide confirmation that garlic has long been traded in Lomagne.

Starting in the early 1960s, numerous events have been held with garlic as their central theme. The first competition for the best string of garlic was held at Beaumont-de-Lomagne in 1961.

The garlic festival in Beaumont-the-Lomagne has been held on the same day every year since 1994.

From 1960, various studies were also conducted with the aim of improving production techniques. The results of these studies were presented at the national garlic days held in Beaumont-de-Lomagne between 1966 and 1974.

The various events centred around ‘ail blanc de Lomagne’, including the competitions held for traditional presentation techniques, all give garlic growing a festive and convivial character and enhance the product's reputation.

Other characteristic: preserving traditional skills

‘Ail blanc de Lomagne’ is produced in a way that preserves skills that have been passed down from generation to generation, such as hanging the garlic from sticks to dry, peeling the garlic by hand and presenting it in the traditional way (in strings, baskets or bunches).

The traditional way of drying garlic involves harvesting it with its foliage and hanging it from sticks in a covered shelter with open sides. The ‘Autan’, a warm, dry wind that blows in off the Mediterranean, plays a very important role in the natural drying process. It is very strong in Lomagne and so helps to preserve the traditional open-air drying technique.

The mandatory process of peeling by hand ensures that the product has the impeccable appearance so characteristic of ‘ail blanc de Lomagne’, i.e. a homogeneous bulb that is white in colour and free from tears, with uniformly trimmed roots.

The fact that there is no rigid flowering stem allows ‘ail blanc de Lomagne’ to be presented in the characteristic way, for example in strings and bunches. These traditional presentation techniques are very prominent in the events organised around ‘ail blanc de Lomagne’.

4.7.   Inspection body:

| Name: | Qualisud |
| --- | --- |
| Address: | BP 102 Agropole |
| F-47000 Agen |

Name:

Qualisud

Address:

BP 102 Agropole

F-47000 Agen

Tel.

(33) 558 06 15 21

Fax

(33) 558 75 13 36

E-mail:

Qualisud@wanadoo.fr

Qualisud is an EN 45011 approved and accredited certification body.

4.8.   Labelling: Without prejudice to the specific rules laid down by other French, EU or international legislation, the labels must give the following specific PGI information:

the product name: ‘Ail blanc de Lomagne’,

the Community ‘PGI’ logo,

the batch identification number.

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(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.

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