EN Official Journal of the European Union L 338/5

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1259/2008

of 16 December 2008

approving minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Bleu d’Auvergne (PDO))

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (1), and in particular the second sentence of Article 9(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 9(1) and pursuant to Article 17(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, the Commission has examined the application from France for approval of an amendment to the specification for the protected designation of origin ‘Bleu d’Auvergne’, registered by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (2).

(2) The purpose of this application is to amend the specification by stipulating the conditions for using treatments and additives in the milk and for the manufacture of Bleu d’Auvergne. These practices ensure that the key characteristics of the PDO product are maintained.

(3) The Commission has examined the amendment in question and decided that it is justified. Since this concerns a minor amendment within the meaning of Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, the Commission may adopt it without following the procedure set out in Articles 5, 6 and 7 of that Regulation.

(4) In accordance with Article 18(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1898/2006 (3) and pursuant to Article 17(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, a summary of the specification should be published,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The specification for the protected designation of origin ‘Bleu d’Auvergne’ is hereby amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation.

Article 2

A summary of the main points of the specification is given in Annex II to this Regulation.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 16 December 2008. For the Commission Mariann FISCHER BOEL Member of the Commission

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

(2) OJ L 148, 21.6.1996, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 369, 23.12.2006, p. 1.

ANNEX I The specification for the protected designation of origin ‘Bleu d’Auvergne’ is amended as follows: ‘Method of production’ The following provisions are added to point 5 of the specification regarding the production method: ‘(…) Coagulation may be carried out only using rennet. The milk may not be concentrated by partially removing the watery part before coagulation. In addition to the raw dairy materials, the only ingredients or production aids or additives authorised in the milk and during production are rennet, innocuous bacterial cultures, yeasts, moulds, calcium chloride and salt. (…) The dairy raw materials, partly finished products, curd and fresh cheese may not be conserved at a temperature below 0 °C. (…) Fresh cheese and cheese undergoing the maturing process may not be conserved under a modified atmosphere.’