EN Official Journal of the European Union C 88/10

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

(2007/C 88/03)

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

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘ΛΟΥΚΟΥΜΙ ΓΕΡΟΣΚΗΠΟΥ ’(‘LOUKOUMI GEROSKIPOU’)

EC No: CY/PGI/005/0454/06.04.2005

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: Υπουργείο Εμπορίου, Βιομηχανίας και Τουρισμού (Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism) Address: Τμήμα Εφόρου Εταιρειών και Επίσημου Παραλήπτη — CY-1472, Λευκωσία (Department of Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver — CY-1472, Nicosia) Tel.: (357) 22 40 43 05 Fax: (357) 22 30 48 87 Email: deptcomp@rcor.gov.cy

2. Group:

Name: Aphrodite Delights (Yeroskipos) Ltd Address: Αρχιεπισκόπου Μακαρίου 57, Γεροσκήπου, Πάφος (Archiepiskopou Makariou 57, Geroskipou, Paphos) Tel.: (357) 26 96 22 12 Fax: (357) 26 96 05 34 Email: aphrodite@loukoumia.com Composition: Producers/processors ( X ) Other: ( )

Since its establishment in 1895, the applicant company has — without interruption — performed all stages of the production process within the boundaries of Geroskipou municipality, in accordance with all the obligations imposed by the national regulatory framework. Today the applicant company is the only company producing Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou) in the defined area. Any producer in the defined area has the right to produce the product in accordance with the specifications and all the obligations imposed by the national regulatory framework.

The features which distinguish Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou) from similar products are its firmness, elasticity and reduced sweetness. Moreover, no glucose or gelatine is used in its production.

2. Type of product:

Class 2.4 — Bread, pastry, cakes, confectionery, biscuits and other baker's wares

3. Specification:

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

4.1. Name: ‘Λουκουμιού Γεροσκήπου ’(‘Loukoumi Geroskipou’)

4.2. Description: Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou) is a form of confectionery, the main ingredient of which is sugar. It has a gelatinous texture and an intensely sweet taste, and is produced in rectangular parallelepipeds measuring (approximately) 20 × 20 × 25 mm3. The product is available in a variety of flavours, according to the flavouring which is added (see Method of production below). It is coated in powdered sugar (caster sugar) or shredded desiccated coconut. Nuts and/or honey and/or bitter chocolate may be added to the product.

4.3. Geographical area: GEROSKIPOU (boundaries of Geroskipou municipality).

4.4. Proof of origin: The monitoring procedures are carried out by the Agriculture Section of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, which examines the extent to which the specifications are met and checks that the Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou) actually comes from the defined geographical area. To ensure that the method of production and the quality of Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou) correspond to the specifications, the following points are monitored during the production process, in accordance with the specifications set out in point 4.5:

Ingredients, and proportions of ingredients

Stirring temperature

Stirring duration

Turns of stirrer

4.5. Method of production: The Λουκούμι (loukoumi) is prepared in large pans with a stirrer.

First water is placed in the heated pan. Next sugar and citric acid are added. When the mixture has boiled for 35 minutes at a temperature of 100 °C, corn starch is added. Before being added to the mixture, the corn starch is dissolved in cold water.

The mixture is then stirred and heated to 100-130 °C for 2 hours at 36 turns of the stirrer per minute and is flavoured; in some cases colouring and/or roasted nuts are added.

After the additives have been added, the now viscous mixture is poured into large crates, is left to take its final gelatinous form and, once it has cooled, is cut into parallelepipeds measuring (approximately) 20 × 20 × 25 mm3, which are packed with caster sugar or desiccated coconut.

The quantities of the basic ingredients are as follows:

For every 100 litres of water: 90 kg of sugar (86 %), 15 kg of corn starch (14 %), 33-40 g of citric acid.

The other ingredients added to the various types of Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou) are as follows:

Rose flavour: 75 ml of E122 (red) colour (40 g of powder dissolved in 1 litre of water) and 5 ml of rose flavouring in every 90 kg of product

Strawberry flavour: 75 ml of E122 (red) colour (40 g of powder dissolved in 1 litre of water) and 8 ml of strawberry flavouring in every 90 kg of product

Mandarin flavour: 75 ml of E102 (orange) colour (60 g of powder dissolved in 1 litre of water) and 15 ml of mandarin flavouring in every 90 kg of product

Orange flavour: 75 ml of E102 (orange) colour (60 g of powder dissolved in 1 litre of water) and 18 ml of orange flavouring in every 90 kg of product

Mint flavour: 75 ml of E102/E133 (green) colour (60 g of powder dissolved in 1 litre of water) and 3 ml of mint flavouring in every 90 kg of product

Pineapple flavour: 75 ml of E102/E133 (green) colour (60 g of powder dissolved in 1 litre of water) and 16 ml of pineapple flavouring in every 90 kg of product

Bergamot flavour: 5 ml of bergamot flavouring in every 90 kg of product

Banana flavour: 20 ml of banana flavouring in every 90 kg of product

Lemon flavour: 15 ml of lemon flavouring in every 90 kg of product

Pistachio flavour: 15 ml of pistachio flavouring in every 90 kg of product

Mastic flavour: 40 g of Khios mastic in every 90 kg of product

Vanilla flavour: 24 g of vanillin or 50 g of vanilla in every 90 kg of product

Chocolate flavour: 1 400 g in every 90 kg of product

Coconut flavour: 15 ml of coconut flavouring in every 90 kg of product

All the colours described above are artificial; however, in future certain colours may be replaced by others (either improved artificial colours or natural colours), but the colouring effect will be the same.

The following nuts may also be added to Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou): almonds, pistachios, walnuts, groundnuts, hazelnuts. After their outer shell has been removed, they are selected visually. The kernel is placed in hot water and is then peeled. The peeled kernel is roasted and chopped. The chopped kernel is placed in the hot Λουκούμι (loukoumi) mixture towards the end of the stirring shortly before it is poured.

All stages of production, cutting and packaging are carried out in the producer's installations, which are located in the defined geographical area of Geroskipou municipality. The stages of production, cutting and packaging must be carried out at the same place, mainly on account of the risk of contamination should the product be transported unpackaged, but also because the journey time and the fluctuations in temperature would make the product harder to cut and its characteristics would be altered, the main problem being an increase in water content.

4.6. Link: The historical association between Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou) and Geroskipou dates back to the 19th century. Since 1895, when Sophocles Athanasiou started to produce Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou), the product has been produced in the same way, in the same place, by his descendants. The art of preparing Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou) is handed down from generation to generation. In 1920 the production of Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou) was taken over by Athanasiou's daughter, Chariklia, and her husband Gabriel Hadjizinoviou, who in 1959 registered the name Aphrodite as a trade name for his products (a representation of the goddess already appeared as the product's emblem on its packaging). Production was subsequently taken over by their son, Nikodemos Gabriel (1964-1990), and since 1990 his wife Evdokia and his son George have continued to prepare the same product in the same way.

Today, ΛΟΥΚΟΥΜΙ ΓΕΡΟΣΚΗΠΟΥ (LOUKOUMI GEROSKIPOU)) is a trademark for Geroskipou. Any publication which refers to the main features of Geroskipou always starts off with Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou).

The link between Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou) and the geographical area is clearly historical, as the raw materials used are industrial products and are not produced in the area. Almonds and honey are exceptions: they are produced in Paphos province.

Since 1895 Geroskipou has historically linked its name with what is one of the oldest confectionery products produced in Cyprus.

Geroskipou town is irrevocably linked with Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou). Many bibliographic sources connected with tradition and tourism refer directly to Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou). Among this multitude of bibliographic references, those which stand out are those of the great Greek novelist Nikos Kazantzakis in his book Ταξιδεύοντας (Travelling), p. 186, published in 1926; Ioannis Panagiotopoulos in his book Η Κύπρος ένα ταξίδι (Cyprus — a journey), p. 108, published in 1962; and William Forwood in his book Cyprus Invitation, p. 102, published in 1971, which refer to this fine produce from Geroskipou. Mention should also be made of the certificate of honour issued to the producer at the British Empire Exhibition held at Wembley Stadium in 1925. Today Λουκούμι Γεροσκήπου (Loukoumi Geroskipou) is one of Geroskipou's leading attractions for both locals and visitors.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name: Τμήμα Γεωργίας (Agriculture Section) Address: Λουκή Ακρίτα — CY-1412 Λευκωσία (Louki Akrita — CY-1412 Nicosia) Tel.: (357) 22 40 85 19 Fax: (357) 22 78 14 25 Email: doagrg@da.moa.gov.cy

Officials authorised in accordance with Article 20 of the Designations of Origin and Geographical Indications for Products and Foodstuffs Act 2002, as amended and in force at the time.

4.8. Labelling: Compliance with the Labelling, Presentation and Advertising of Foodstuffs (General) Regulations 2002 (KDP 262/2002), as amended and in force at the time.