EN Official Journal of the European Union L 232/21

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1215/2004

of 30 June 2004

amending the specification of a name appearing in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 on the registration of geographical indications and designations of origin (Scotch Beef)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (1), and in particular Article 9 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Under Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92, the United Kingdom authorities have requested amendments to the description and the method of production of ‘Scotch Beef’, registered as a protected designation of origin by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 of 12 June 1996 on the registration of geographical indications and designations of origin under the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 (2).

(2) Following examination of this request for amendment, it has been decided that the amendments concerned are not minor.

(3) In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 and since the amendments are not minor, the Article 6 procedure applies mutatis mutandis.

(4) It has been decided that the amendments in this case comply with Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92. No statement of objection within the meaning of Article 7 of the Regulation has been sent to the Commission following the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (3) of the above amendments.

(5) Consequently, these amendments must be registered and published in the Official Journal of the European Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The amendments set out in Annex I to this Regulation shall be registered and published in accordance with Article 6(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

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

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of 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, 30 June 2004. For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 148, 21.6.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 526/2004 (OJ L 85, 23.3.2004, p. 3).

(3) OJ C 99, 25.4.2003, p. 2 (Scotch Beef).

ANNEX I Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 AMENDMENT TO THE SPECIFICATION OF A PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION (Article 9) No EC: UK/0274/25.1.1994 1. Registered name : PGI Scotch Beef 2. Amendments(s) requested : Specification heading: Name Description Geographical area Proof of origin Method of production Link Labelling National requirement 3. Amendment(s) : Description So as better to reflect current practice, take account of consumer concerns about more transparent labelling and improve the quality of Scotch Beef, the current description: ‘The product is derived from cattle finished, for a minimum period of three months, slaughtered and dressed in the designated area.’ is hereby amended as follows: ‘The product is derived from cattle born, reared throughout their lives, slaughtered and dressed in the designated geographical area. The animals will have been produced and slaughtered in accordance with quality assurance schemes accredited to European Standard EN 45011 (ISO Guide 65) and having the same standards, assessments and assessment frequencies as those set by the applicant.’ Method of production As a result of the amendment to the description described above it is necessary to amend the details of the method of production. In addition, when the original application was submitted, Scotch Beef was almost never sold frozen. While this practice is still not widespread, the applicant would like to remove the words ‘Only fresh or chilled product may be sold’ to allow Scotch Beef to be sold frozen if a processor so wishes. Accordingly, the current description: ‘Cattle are finished in Scotland for a period of not less than three months. They are slaughtered and dressed in accordance with the specifications. Only fresh or chilled product may be sold.’ is hereby amended as follows: ‘Cattle are born and reared throughout their lives in the designated geographical area. The animals will have been produced and slaughtered in accordance with quality assurance schemes accredited to European Standard EN 45011 (ISO Guide 65) and having the same standards, assessments and assessment frequencies as those set by the applicant. They are slaughtered and dressed in the designated geographical area in accordance with the specifications.’