Publication of an application for registration of a name 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

(2019/C 408/06)

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) within three months from the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘GYŐR-MOSON-SOPRON MEGYEI CSEMEGE SAJT’

EU No: PGI-HU-02303 — 23.3.2017

PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1. Name(s)

‘Győr-Moson-Sopron megyei Csemege sajt’

2. Member State or third country

Hungary

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 1.3: Cheeses

3.2. Description of product to which the name in (1) applies

‘Győr-Moson-Sopron megyei Csemege sajt’ is a full-fat, salted, porous cheese made from cow’s milk and ripened with Brevibacterium linens rind flora. The main ripening microflora largely reproduces in a natural way at the production area referred to in point 4.

Table 1

Organoleptic properties of ‘Győr-Moson-Sopron megyei Csemege sajt’

Outside: Disc-shaped cheese with a flat bottom and top and bulging side. The thin, flexible rind is porous, uniformly reddish-yellow and slightly slimy to the touch. Inside: The body is uniformly yellowish-white in colour, with cracks densely and evenly distributed on the cut surface. Texture: It has a somewhat mushy texture, is easy to cut and crumbles to pieces in the mouth. Smell: The distinctive aroma is mildly lactic and free of any foreign odour. Taste: The distinctive flavour is pleasantly aromatic and salty, slightly acidic and free of any foreign taste.





Table 2

Physical and chemical characteristics of ‘Győr-Moson-Sopron megyei Csemege sajt’

Characteristic Quantity % (g/100 g) Dry matter (minimum) 51,5 Fat content of the dry matter 45,0 ± 2 Sodium chloride 2,0 ± 0,5





Table 3

Shape, dimensions and weight of ‘Győr-Moson-Sopron megyei Csemege sajt’

Shape Dimensions, cm Weight, kg Disc diameter: 20-22 height: 7-9 2,1-3,1

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

— cow’s milk,

— non-GMO starter cultures containing lactic and other ripening bacteria,

— milk coagulation enzymes,

— calcium chloride,

— table salt.

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

The following steps in the production of the cheese take place in the defined geographical area.

— Preparation and enzymatic coagulation of milk

— Cutting and processing of the curd

— Moulding and pressing

— Salting

— Ripening

— Wiping and drying of the cheese

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

—

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area of ‘Győr-Moson-Sopron megyei Csemege sajt’ corresponds to the area comprising the following administrative units:

The following municipalities of Győr district:

Abda, Bezi, Bőny, Börcs, Dunaszeg, Dunaszentpál, Enese, Fehértó, Gönyű, Győr, Győrladamér, Győr-Ménfőcsanak, Győrság, Győrsövényház, Győrújbarát, Győrújfalu, Győrzámoly, Ikrény, Kajárpéc, Kisbajcs, Koroncó, Kunsziget, Mezőörs, Mosonszentmiklós, Nagybajcs, Nagyszentjános, Nyúl, Öttevény, Pér, Rábapatona, Rétalap, Sokorópátka, Tényő, Töltéstava, Vámosszabadi, Vének.

The following municipalities of Mosonmagyaróvár district:

Jánossomorja, Lébény, Hegyeshalom, Ásványráró, Bezenye, Darnózseli, Dunakiliti, Dunaremete, Dunasziget, Feketeerdő, Halászi, Hédervár, Károlyháza, Kimle, Kisbodak, Levél, Lipót, Máriakálnok, Mecsér, Mosonmagyaróvár, Mosonszolnok, Mosonudvar, Püski, Rajka, Újrónafő, Várbalog.

The following municipalities of Csorna district:

Bősárkány, Szany, Acsalag, Bágyogszovát, Barbacs, Bodonhely, Bogyoszló, Cakóháza, Csorna, Dör, Egyed, Farád, Jobaháza, Kóny, Maglóca, Magyarkeresztúr, Markotabögöte, Páli, Pásztori, Potyond, Rábacsanak, Rábapordány, Rábasebes, Rábaszentandrás, Rábatamási, Rábcakapi, Sobor, Sopronnémeti, Szil, Szilsárkány, Tárnokréti, Vág, Zsebeháza.

The following municipalities of Kapuvár district:

Beled, Babót, Cirák, Csermajor, Dénesfa, Edve, Gyóró, Himod, Hövej, Kapuvár, Kisfalud, Mihályi, Osli, Rábakecöl, Répceszemere, Szárföld, Vadosfa, Vásárosfalu, Veszkény, Vitnyéd.

The following municipalities of Tét district:

Árpás, Csikvánd, Felpéc, Gyarmat, Gyömöre, Győrszemere, Kisbabot, Mérges, Mórichida, Rábacsécsény, Rábaszentmihály, Rábaszentmiklós, Tét.

The following municipalities of Pannonhalma district:

Écs, Győrasszonyfa, Nyalka, Pannonhalma, Pázmándfalu, Ravazd, Táp, Tápszentmiklós, Tarjánpuszta.

The following municipalities of Sopron district:

Agyagosszergény, Fertőd, Fertődoboz, Fertőendréd, Fertőhomok, Fertőrákos, Fertőszéplak, Hegykő, Hidegség, Sarród, Tőzeggyármajor, Nyárliget, Fertőújlak.

5. Link with the geographical area

The link between ‘Győr-Moson-Sopron megyei Csemege sajt’ and the geographical area is based on quality and reputation, the key elements of which are presented below.

Specificities of the geographical area

Győr-Moson-Sopron County consists of a plain formed from sediment deposited mainly from the River Danube, as well as the Rába-Rábca, Répce and Ikva Rivers.

The soil and climatic conditions of the geographical area are ideal for both crop production and animal husbandry. The soil and rainfall conditions of the geographical area are particularly well-suited to growing maize and roughage, providing the feed required for the large number of dairy cattle in the area, and forming the basis for its milk processing industry. The Tejgazdasági Kísérleti Intézet (Dairy Research Institute) — the predecessor of which was established in Mosonmagyaróvár in 1903 — carries out basic and applied research into milk processing, as well as providing research and development and advice on food technology. A research centre was founded in Csermajor as far back as 1886 to allow young people to master all phases of milk production, treatment, processing and marketing, and ‘to acquire the necessary manual skills’, ensuring expertise in milk processing has been passed down through the generations. The geographical area is fortunate to have the intellectual and technical base and the raw materials that give the area’s milk products — especially its cheeses — their significance, reputation and recognition.

Specificities of the product

A distinctive characteristic of the cheese is the pale yellow coating appearing on the cheese surface on day 4-5 of the ripening process, due to the main ripening microflora (Brevibacterium linens), which is essential for ripening and originates from the pine boards used. That way, a close link is formed between the quality of the product and the production area. Bacteria growth is facilitated by turning the cheese and wiping it with a brine solution every 3-4 days. At week 2, the cheese is essentially completely coated. Extreme care must be taken when turning and wiping the cheese, to ensure it does not break up.

Intense ripening starts from the surface and moves towards the centre, and takes around 3 weeks. Ripening is also indicated by the rapid increase in the pH value of the rind, caused by the breakdown of lactate (into carbon dioxide and water) by certain yeasts (e.g. Oospora lactis) growing naturally on the surface. Ripening is characterised by the rapid degradation of most of the proteins, which means that 60-80 % of them take the form of water-soluble nitrogen compounds by week 3.

The ripening process is key to the cheese’s distinctiveness. The cheese can be ripened only on boards made from pinewood, in conditions of high relative humidity (above 90 %). This ensures that the specific bacterium strain is maintained and that the red culture develops on the fresh cheese. Ripening lends the cheese its slightly acidic, pleasantly aromatic and distinctive taste. The longer the ripening time, the stronger the smell and taste of the cheese. The cheese’s main character is derived from its intensive protein degradation, which gives it its crumbly texture and makes it easy to digest.

‘Győr-Moson-Sopron megyei Csemege sajt’ has an intense, aromatic smell and taste due to the unique ripening flora. The cheese is reddish-yellow in colour, the cut surface is porous, and the cheese crumbles to pieces in the mouth. After ripening for 4-5 weeks, its taste and smell develop hints of ammonia, and the texture becomes even softer. To keep the cheese edible and to maintain its characteristic properties, the cheese has to be stored at a temperature of 2-8 °C as of week 3.

Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for PGI)

The application for registration of the protected geographical indication, which relates to the designated geographical area in Győr-Moson-Sopron County, is based on tradition, the unique production method, the specific skills required for production, and the reputation of the cheese.

The reputation of the cheese is based on its taste, aroma, smell, very pleasant crumbling texture and uniquely uniform quality. To this day, it is consumed primarily by gourmet cheese lovers. Due to the intense protein degradation, it is one of the most easily digestible cheese types.

For over a century now, ‘Győr-Moson-Sopron megyei Csemege sajt’ has received wide recognition. Between 1995 and 2005, it made a regular and successful appearance at the largest Hungarian cheese fair, known in the trade as the Csermajor Cheese Competition. The cheese has won the following awards and prizes over the past two decades:

1998 National Cheese Competition, Csermajor: Gold certificate

2001 First West Transdanubian Cheese Competition: The West Transdanubian Region’s best traditionally matured cheese

2005 National Cheese Competition, Csermajor: Special mention of the judges

2007 National Cheese Competition, Csermajor: Gold certificate

2008 National Cheese Competition, Csermajor: Gold certificate

In 2011 ‘Győr-Moson-Sopron megyei Csemege sajt’ was granted the right to use the ‘HAGYOMÁNYOK-ÍZEK-RÉGIÓK’ (HÍR) (Traditions-Flavours-Regions) trade mark. A product may seek protection using the HÍR trade mark (registration number 172636) if its production is linked to a particular region, its production method is traditional, at least one element of production is based on local know-how, and its reputation dates back at least 50 years. Fulfilment of the criteria for use of the trade mark is evaluated by an Evaluation Committee composed of experts appointed by the minister, based on the specification submitted and an organoleptic examination.

Reference to publication of the product specification

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

http://elelmiszerlanc.kormany.hu/download/e/33/c1000/17.pdf

on page 862 of the document linked above.

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