Commission Regulation (EC) No 1979/2003

of 11 November 2003

supplementing the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2400/96 (Westlandse druif, Alcachofa de Benicarló or Carxofa de Benicarló and Marrone di San Zeno)

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), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003(2), and in particular Article 6(3) and (4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92, the Netherlands has sent the Commission an application for registration of the name "Westlandse druif" as a geographical indication; Spain has sent the Commission an application for registration of the name "Alcachofa de Benicarló" or "Carxofa de Benicarló" as a designation of origin and Italy an application for registration of the name "Marrone di San Zeno" as a designation of origin.

(2) In accordance with Article 6(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92, the applications have been found to meet the requirements laid down in the regulation, and in particular to contain all the information required under Article 4 thereof.

(3) No statements of objection have been received by the Commission under Article 7 of that Regulation in respect of the three names given in the Annex hereto following their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union(3).

(4) These three names should therefore be entered in the Register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications and hence be protected throughout the Community as protected designations of origin or protected geographical indications.

(5) The Annex hereto supplements the Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2400/96(4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1665/2003(5),

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The three names in the Annex hereto are hereby added to the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2400/96 and entered as protected designations of origin (PDO) or protected geographical indications (PGI) in the Register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications provided for in Article 6(3) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

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, 11 November 2003.

For the Commission

Franz Fischler

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1.

(3) OJ C 40, 19.2.2003, p. 5 (Westlandse druif).

OJ C 40, 19.2.2003, p. 7 (Alcachofa de Benicarló or Carxofa de Benicarló).

OJ C 45, 25.2.2003, p. 2 (Marrone di San Zeno).

(4) OJ L 327, 18.12.1996, p. 11.

(5) OJ L 235, 23.9.2003, p. 6.

ANNEX

PRODUCTS LISTED IN ANNEX I TO THE EC TREATY, INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

Fruit, vegetables and cereals

NETHERLANDS

Westlandse druif (PGI)

SPAIN

Alcachofa de Benicarló or Carxofa de Benicarló (PDO)

ITALY

Marrone di San Zeno (PDO)