EN Official Journal of the European Union C 412/4

Publication of an application 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

2014/C 412/04

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).

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (2)

‘MIEL DES CEVENNES’

EC No: FR-PGI-0005-01148 — 3.9.2013

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Name

‘Miel des Cévennes’

2. Member State or Third Country

France

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 1.4. Other products of animal origin (eggs, honey, various dairy products except butter, etc.)

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

‘Miel des Cévennes’ is a honey produced by bees from the nectar of flowers. It is either liquid, crystallised or creamy.

‘Miel des Cévennes’ may be:

— polyfloral: characterised by a prevailing mixture of nectar from several plants typical to the Cévennes region.

— monofloral: — heather honey: tree heather — Erica arborea, bell heather — Erica cinerea, common heather — Calluna vulgaris, — chestnut honey, — raspberry honey, — blackberry honey.

Physico-chemical characteristics:

— hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content less than or equal to 15 mg/kg at the end of the production year (from August to December, except for common heather honey, which has a production year from October to December),

— water content less than or equal to 19 %, except for common heather honey, which has a water content less than or equal to 21 %.

Pollen characteristics

The pollen spectrum of ‘Miel des Cévennes’ consists of pollen from botanical species found in the Cévennes region. The following pollen types are markers of the region: tree heather, bell heather, common heather, chestnut, willowherb, raspberry, dandelion, blackberry, white clover. At least one of these markers is present in each honey.

Pollen may not be gathered from the flowers of crops which are not specific to the Cévennes region, such as sunflower, rapeseed, alfalfa and lavender. Pollen from crops or lavender may only be found in the form of isolated pollen (less than 15 %).

The table below indicates the pollen characteristics of each honey type:

Honey type Dominant pollen > 45 % Accompanying pollen 15 % to 45 % Isolated pollen < 15 % Polyfloral honey Chestnut tree, fruit tree Cornflower, chestnut, heather, raspberry, fruit tree, blackberry, sainfoin Acacia, Ailanthus, cornflower, alder buckthorn, bryony, common heather, centaury, thistle, chestnut, oak, Cirsium, rock-rose, Asteraceae, common dogwood, Coronilla, brassica, willowherb, bell heather, tree heather, fruit tree, broom, germander, true grass, Helianthemum, Hippocrepis, holly, Jasione, Knautia, ivy, birdsfoot trefoil, mercury, mullein, mustard, buckthorn, poppy, pine, dandelion, plantain, rampion, knotweed, bistort, rhododendron, blackberry, sainfoin, willow, Scabiosa, woodland germander, stonecrop, groundsel, Spiraea, elderberry, thyme, lime tree, white clover, red clover, gorse, vetch, Vitaceae, viper’s bugloss Heather Tree heather (Erica arborea) Tree heather Tree heather, rock-rose Acacia, almond, chestnut, oak, rock-rose, common dogwood, Coronilla, brassica, Dorycnium, fruit tree, broom, geranium, holly, topped lavender, birdsfoot trefoil, buckthorn, Reseda, rosemary, rose, willow, thyme, white clover, gorse, viburnum Bell heather (Erica cinerea) Chestnut Blackberry Garlic, cornflower, Bupleurum, common heather, oak, Cirsium, rock-rose, brassica, willowherb, tree heather, bell heather, fruit tree, broom, germander, true grass, Helianthemum, Jasione, topped lavender, ivy, plantain, Reseda, blackberry, rose, sainfoin, woodland germander, thyme, lime tree, white clover, red clover, gorse, sunflower, viper’s bugloss Common heather (Calluna vulgaris) Chestnut, common heather Common heather, chestnut, blackberry, white clover, Spiraea Aster, strawberry tree, mugwort, cornflower, bryony, Bupleurum, common heather, oak, centaury, thistle, chestnut, Cirsium, rock-rose, Asteraceae, common dogwood, brassica, willowherb, bell heather, raspberry, fruit tree, broom, geranium, true grass, Helianthemum, Hippocrepis, holly, Jasione, ivy, lily, birdsfoot trefoil, poppy, pine, dandelion, plantain, bistort, blackberry, willow, sainfoin, Scabiosa, woodland germander, Smilax, Spiraea, thyme, white clover, red clover, gorse, viper’s bugloss Chestnut Chestnut Common heather, blackberry Acacia, Ailanthus, Anthyllis, strawberry tree, cornflower, alder buckthorn, Bupleurum, common heather, centaury, thistle, chestnut, oak, Cirsium, Cistaceae, clematis, Asteraceae, common poppy, common dogwood, brassica, Dorycnium, silverberry, tree heather, bell heather, wandering heath, fruit tree, broom, germander, true grass, Helianthemum, holly, impatiens, Jasione, Knautia, lavender, topped lavender, Leucanthemum, ivy, lily, birdsfoot trefoil, meliot, mint, mustard, myrtle, buckthorn, olive, poppy, pine, plantain, Reseda, rhododendron, sumac, rosemary, blackberry, rose, sainfoin, willow, Scabiosa, woodland germander, thyme, lime tree, sunflower, white clover, red clover, privet, gorse, Vitaceae, viburnum, viper’s bugloss Raspberry/blackberry Raspberry/blackberry Blackberry, white clover, chestnut Acacia, Ailanthus, Anemone, mugwort, cow parsnip, cornflower, box, common heather, bellflower, carnation, distaff thistle, centaury, Chamaerops, thistle, chestnut, honeysuckle, chicory, Cirsium, Cistaceae, rock-rose, oak, Asteraceae, common dogwood, brassica, cypress, Cytinus, willowherb, maple, tree heather, bell heather, strawberry, fruit tree, broom, germander, true grass, Helianthemum, holly, yew, Jasione, Knautia, ivy, lily, birdsfoot trefoil, horse-chestnut, poppy, pansy, pine, dandelion, plantain, rampion, bistort, blackberry/raspberry, rhododendron, sumac, Rumex, sainfoin, purple loosestrife, willow, Scabiosa, wild thyme, Spiraea, thyme, lime tree, white clover, red clover, privet, gorse, Vitaceae

Organoleptic characteristics

— Polyfloral honey: generally produced in summer, this honey contains a mixture of chestnut and bell heather, giving it warm, woody notes with more-or-less floral overtones. It has a woody, fresh, floral aroma, with a hint of caramel and a slight final bitterness. When produced in spring, a more dominant presence of raspberry, tree heather, spring meadow flowers or even acacia can be found in polyfloral honey. Depending on the dominant flower, it can take on caramel, stewed fruit or floral notes. It has little or no bitterness. The colour of the honey can be pale to dark brown or amber, depending on when it was harvested.

— Tree heather honey: strong smell of brown caramel. Its aroma evokes the smell of brown caramel, with a final bitterness which lingers heavily in the mouth.

— Bell heather honey: pronounced fresh and floral smell of ‘faded rose’. Its strong aroma evokes a floral and then caramel smell, with a fresh, heavily lingering taste in the mouth.

— Common heather honey: amber coloured honey, ranging from dark to very dark. Woody, floral, fresh fruit smell. Its lingering aroma evokes a fresh fruit and floral smell. Slightly bitter. Its liquid structure has a characteristic gelatinous appearance.

— Chestnut honey: warm, woody smell (of tannins, hot or damp wood). Its aroma evokes its smell, with woody notes and a final, lingering bitterness.

— Raspberry honey: pale coloured, crystallised honey. Very fruity smell (of stewed raspberries). Very fruity, acid aroma.

— Blackberry honey: pale to pale amber coloured honey, often crystallised. Fruity smell (of stewed fruit). Fruity aroma, with a marked, lingering acidity.

3.3. Raw materials (for processed products only)

—

3.4. Feed (for products of animal origin only)

—

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

The production area is the area in which beekeepers set up their apiaries in order to produce ‘Miel des Cévennes’. Other operations, i.e. extraction and packaging may be conducted outside the geographical area.

3.6. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc.

—

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling

The labelling must include:

— the name of the PGI: ‘Miel des Cévennes’,

— minimum labelling information: producer identification, batch number, weight,

— the name and address of the certification body, preceded by the words ‘certified by’,

— the PGI logo/or PGI acronym.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The following municipalities define the perimeter of the geographical area of ‘Miel des Cévennes’:

Department of Ardèche : Ailhon; Antraigues-sur-Volane; Les Assions; Astet; Banne; Barnas; Borne; Burzet; Chassiers; Genestelle; Gourdon; Joyeuse; Labastide sur Besorgues; Labégude; Lablachère; Largentière; Laurac en Vivarais; Laviolle; Mayres; Mercuer; Montpezat-sous-Bauzon; Montreal; Pereyres; Rosières; Le Roux; Saint-Andéol de Vals; Saint-Etienne-de-Boulogne; Saint-Joseph des Bancs; Saint-Laurent les Bains; Saint-Michel de Boulogne; Saint-Paul le Jeune; Vals les Bains; Les Vans.

Department of Aveyron : St Jean du Bruel; Sauclières.

Department of Gard : Alzon; Arre; Arrigas; Bessèges; Cendras; Colognac; Courry; Cros; Dourbie; Lasalle; Laval Pradel; Mialet; Molières-Cavaillac; Pommiers; Robiac-Rochessadoule; Saint-Florent sur Auzonnet; Saint-Julien de la Nef; Saint-Laurent le Minier; Saint-Paul la Coste; Saint-Roman de Codières; Saint-Sauveur de Camprieu; Saint-Sébastien d’Aigrefeuille; Les Salles-du-Gardon; Sumène; Thoiras; Trèves (partly), Vabres.

Department of Lozère : Altier; Bagnols-les-Bains; Bedoues; Le Bleymard; Cubières; Fraissinet de Fourques; Prévenchères; Saint-Julien du Tournel. Part of the municipalities of: Florac, Fraissinet de Fourques, Gatuzières, Ispagnac; Lanuejols; Meyrueis; Saint-Etienne-du-Valdonnez; Saint-Laurent-de-Trèves; Vebron.

5. Link with the geographical area

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area

Natural factors

The geographical area of ‘Miel des Cévennes’ is traversed by a mountain range which borders the Massif Central to the south-east, and consists mostly of rock formed during the Hercynian orogeny. The area is characterised by its highly diverse geology, consisting of ancient rock, with metamorphic limestone, an abundance of shale and gneiss, as well as sandstone and mica schist.

The geographical area of ‘Miel des Cévennes’ is a point of convergence between primarily mountain and Mediterranean climates. On the Mediterranean side, the region is also exposed to oceanic influences, hence its particularly complex climate which promotes biodiversity in the region. Furthermore, a mountain climate is found on the ridge tops and summit plateaus and on the surrounding slopes.

The very pronounced relief creates microclimates, with contrasts in temperature and rainfall which influence the distribution of flora across the region and when it flowers.

The contrast in temperature depends on the altitude and exposure. At higher altitude, the climate is temperate in summer and cold in winter. In the valleys, summer temperatures are higher (approximately 8 °C difference compared to average annual temperatures at higher altitude). There are also significant differences between the south and north facing slopes owing to the steep-sided valleys.

The geomorphological and climatic conditions in the geographical area promote the growth of typical vegetation, which has been shaped by farming practices.

— On the low-altitude formations to the south and south-east of Cévennes and in the valleys, the vegetation comprises oaks, tree heather and rock-rose on the dry, rocky slopes. Natural or farmed grasslands are found in the open valleys of siliceous rock, characterised by a prevalence of herbaceous plants and other species such as the birdsfoot trefoil, dandelion, rampion, broom, clover, white and yellow stonecrop and willowherb.

— At medium altitude (from approximately 400 metres), chestnut groves can be found in many of the valleys of Cévennes. Predominantly planted in the geographical area during Gallo-Roman times, the chestnut groves were notably extended during the Middle Ages. In this belt of vegetation, as well as in the open areas above, ground-covering plants, such as blackberry, can be found.

— At higher altitude, the vegetation is characterised by the prevalence of low woody shrubs and moors of bell heather and common heather.

— The ‘mountain’ vegetation belt comprises beech forest (at altitudes above 900 metres) on the fresh, wet slopes, interspersed with large plantations of broadleaf and softwood trees (fir, spruce, larch) dating back to the 19th century. Raspberries also grow in the mountain belt.

— In the essentially sub-alpine belt, particularly around Mont Aigoual, natural grasslands with low vegetation (trifolium, arnica, etc.) are found.

Human factors

The production of ‘Miel des Cévennes’ in this area is age-old.

Various written and oral sources attest to the traditional production of honey in this region from hives carved directly into the trunks of chestnut trees, referred to as ‘ruchers troncs’ (trunk hives) or ‘bruscs’ in Cévennes dialect. Trunk hives were produced locally and their used required special skill, particularly for harvesting and extracting honey. Nevertheless, only a limited yield could be obtained from the hives. This tradition still lives on in memory, as recounted in extracts from interviews with former Cévennes farmers. Today, preserved trunk hives can be found on certain holdings as a testament to this traditional activity. However, other than by way of heritage value, they no longer contribute to commercial beekeeping.

Over time, beekeepers have developed specific expertise in producing honey, particularly in terms of where to place hives. In a collection of statements from beekeepers, reference is made to certain locations being better than others (the Revue du Parc national des Cévennes, 1981), the importance of sunshine, wind, slope height, etc. All these adaptations are specific to beekeeping in Cévennes where the limitations are accentuated by the particular characteristics of the region. The foraging range is not as easy to determine as in other areas where it is sufficient to merely establish a 3 km radius around the beehive. Here, the beekeeper must take into account the often unpredictable climate, the significant differences in exposure between the various valleys, the rugged terrain and very steep-sided valleys.

In recent decades, ancient materials and methods have given way to modern hives, with beekeeping enjoying a resurgence after a long period of decline.

5.2. Specificity of the product

The specific nature of ‘Miel des Cévennes’ is attributed to the distinctive flora which is characteristic of the geographical area and present in the pollen spectrum of all the types of honey produced there. The most characteristic markers found in ‘Miel des Cévennes’ are common heather, willowherb, tree heather, bell heather, raspberry, dandelion, blackberry and white clover. Alongside these markers, chestnut, as a dominant or accompanying pollen, is found in the majority of the honey produced.

The characteristic pollen spectrum may not contain pollen from crops or lavender, other than in the form of isolated pollen (less than 15 %). This requirement contributes to the reputation of ‘Miel des Cévennes’, which is considered a characteristic honey, differing greatly from the honey produced in neighbouring Provence.

5.3. 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 specific nature of ‘Miel des Cévennes’ is directly attributable to the diversity of the flora in Cévennes. This diversity can be explained by the converging climatic and geomorphological parameters which determine the typical floral combinations, which notably contain, in their natural state, heather, willowherb, raspberry, dandelion, blackberry and white clover, as well as chestnut, the only tree cultivated to any great extent in the mountain range.

‘Miel des Cévennes’ also represents the culmination of expertise acquired by beekeepers, who have come to understand the specific features of the region in order to produce highly characteristic and distinct types of honey according to the chosen location and target foraging area, taking advantage of the great variation in flowering in Cévennes.

‘Miel des Cévennes’ is referred to in various works.

It is mentioned with respect to local trade in Histoire de Montpellier (G. Cholvy, 1984): ‘after this interruption, shipments to the Levant resumed, particularly of honey from Cévennes and Corbières, oil …’.

The distinctiveness of ‘Miel des Cévennes’ is referred to in the Revue du Parc national des Cévennes (1981), which observed that connoisseurs of the product ‘will not eat lavender honey’ given its completely different flavours and aromas.

‘Miel des Cévennes’ is often mentioned in books on local products and tourist guides, e.g. Guide du Petit Futé 2012 (p. 36), GéoGuide Languedoc 2012, Guide Michelin Languedoc-Roussillon, etc. It is showcased on several websites of tourist offices in the area or surrounding areas (Cévennes-Mont Lozère, Cévennes-Gorges du Tarn en Lozère, Cévennes.org, Cévennes-Méditerranée, Tourisme Gard, Cévennes Tourisme, etc.).

As a sign of its reputation, for a number of years the regional honey competition organised in Languedoc-Roussillon by the Regional Chamber of Agriculture has had a separate category for ‘Miel des Cévennes’.

It serves as an ingredient and features in recipes used by patisseries and delicatessens such as the Maison Papillon, in Aveyron, which produces terrines containing ‘Miel des Cévennes’, Ickowicz, in Bollène, which sells mini financier cakes made with ‘Miel des Cévennes’, and the Confiserie Violette et Berlingot, in Lyon, which sells ‘Miel des Cévennes’ liquorice.

Renowned chefs such as star-rated Chef Jérôme Nutile, the Vatel restaurant in Nîmes, and the Militant du goût website, which is contributed to by chefs, have chosen to use ‘Miel des Cévennes’, incorporating it in their menus.

‘Miel des Cévennes’ or products made from it are also endorsed by very well-known Parisian delicatessens such as La maison du miel, Bellota-Bellota and La grande épicerie de Paris.

Reference to publication of the specification

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (3))

https://www.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/CDCIGPMieldesCevennesV1.pdf

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

(2) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12. Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

(3) See footnote 2.