Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin

(2002/C 204/03)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of the abovementioned Regulation. Any objection to this application must be submitted via the competent authority in the Member State concerned within a time limit of six months from the date of this publication. The arguments for publication are set out below, in particular under point 4.6, and are considered to justify the application within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2081/92

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION. ARTICLE 5

PDO ( ) PGI (x)

National application No: 67

1. Responsible department in the Member State

Name: Subdirección General de Denominaciones de Calidad y Relaciones Interprofesionales y Contractuales, Dirección General de Alimentación, Subsecretaría de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación del Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación

Address: Po de la Infanta Isabel, 1, E-28071 Madrid

Tel. (34) 913 47 53 94

Fax (34) 913 47 54 10.

2. Applicant group

2.1. Name: Unión de Cooperativas Agrarias de Valencia

Address: Caballeroa, 26, E-46001 Valencia

Composition: Producer/processor (x) Other (x)

2.2. Name: Asociación Valenciana de Agricultores (AVA-ASAJA)

Address: Jesús, 61, Entlo, E-46007 Valencia

Composition: Producer/processor (x) Other ( )

2.3. Name: Unió de Llauradors-COAG

Address: Mar, 22-1o, E-46003 Valencia

Composition: Producer/processor (x) Other ( )

2.4. Name: Federación Provincial de Agricultores de Castellón

Address: Concepción Arenal, 15, Entlo, E-12004 Castellón

Composition: Producer/processor (x) Other (x)

3. Type of product: Class 1.6. Fruit, vegetables and cereals

4. Specification

4.1. Name

"Cítricos Valencianos" or "Cítrics Valencians"

4.2. Description

Fruits from the orange (Citrus sinensis, L.), mandarin (Citrus reticultata Blanco) and lemon (Citrus limon L.) trees.

The citrus fruits protected by the PGI "Cítricos Valencianos" will be the following:

- oranges of the navel and blanca groups, belonging to the varieties and with the characteristics defined in the table below,

- mandarins of the satsuma, clementine and hybrid groups, belonging to the varieties and with the characteristics defined below,

- lemons belonging to the varieties and with the characteristics defined below.

>TABLE>

The development and maturity of the fruit must be such as to enable them to withstand transport, storage, preparation and packaging and to arrive at their destination in a satisfactory condition. PGI protected citrus fruits will be classed as "Extra" or "I" categories, according to the quality standard in force.

Fruit will be sold in containers for food use that have been authorised by the Regulatory Body and consist of 2,5-20 kg boxes and 1-4 kg netting or bags.

4.3. Geographical area

The production area for the citrus fruits protected by the PGI designation "Cítricos Valencianos" is formed by a coastal strip stretching North to South and inland to the river valleys, extending to municipalities in the provinces of Castellón, Valencia and Alicante.

4.4. Proof of origin

Only citrus fruit grown on plots of land entered in the planting register and handled by storage and packing installations also entered in the appropriate register will be considered as protected by the PGI designation. The Regulatory Body of the PGI will hold registers of: (a) plantations; (b) preparation and packing stores and installations.

The following stages take place inside the installation: reception, transferral to processing line, packaging and dispatch.

The quality of the final product is checked at the packing installations by the inspection service of the Regulatory Body. Documentary checks are also made through comparing producers' compulsory declarations with those at the preparation and packing installations.

4.5. Method of production

In the Community of Valencia, citrus fruits have traditionally been grown intensively on irrigated land from small-sized trees that require specialised care and intensive skilled labour. The technical expertise of Valencian growers, a sound knowledge of the crop and soil characteristics result in optimal tree growth and fruit development. The rootstock is taken from species of citrus fruit and their hybrids that are resistant to salinity, lime and the main diseases.

The packing must provide the product with sufficient protection and each package or batch for bulk dispatch must display uniform development and maturity, depending on the place of destination. At the time of dispatch, the protected citrus fruits will display features characteristic of the variety and comply with the requirements of the legislation in force.

4.6. Link

Historical

Of all the citrus-growing areas in the world, the tradition is most deeply-rooted in the Community of Valencia. Ancient historical references point to the existence of citrus fruit-growing in the Valencia region. In the Regiment de la Cosa Pública, Francesc Eiximenis (1340-1409) refers to groves of lemon and orange trees in writings describing the beauty of Valencia. In his work Viaje por España y Portugal (1494), Muntzer comments on Valencia's reputation for being "abundant in orange, lemon, citron and countless other fruit trees", adding "they are taking us to see the city's huerta, which is densely planted with lemon, orange, lime and palm trees". Laguna, in his translation of Dioscórides "Tratado de Medicina" (1570), offers evidence relating to oranges and lemons and remarks that "Valencians call an orange a grapefruit". At the end of the 18th century, the botanist Cabanilles mentioned the yield of 4000 tahullas (old unit of measurement - approximately 1118 m2) of orange trees from China that produce more than any other crop.

The first commercial plantations for the fresh market date from the end of the 18th century and have steadily expanded to reach a present day total of some 94000 ha of orange trees, 65000 ha of mandarin trees and some 15000 ha of lemon trees. This has enabled a specific culture and techniques to develop, based on the optimum adaptation of this crop to the agro-climactic surroundings and a high quality end product.

The existence of the "Museo de la Naranja" in Burriana (Castellón) testifies to the importance of orange-growing for the Community of Valencia.

Setting

The growing region consists of alluvial soil from the river basins that stretch from the coast to the mountain ranges and irrigate the Mediterranean coastal plains.

Citrus fruits have adapted perfectly to the Mediterranean climate, with its hot summers and mild winters. The crop is concentrated in coastal areas and valleys, the main limitation being the risk of frost. Rainfall decreases with latitude through the Community of Valencia, ranging from some 450 mm in the North of Castellón to less than 300 mm in southern Alicante. This low rainfall, together with irregular distribution, creates the need for irrigation in the production areas.

4.7. Inspection body

Name: Instituto de Calidad Alimentaria de la Comunidad Valenciana

Address: Plaza Polo de Bernabé, 8. bajo, E-46020 Valencia

Tel. (34) 96 38 41 24; fax (34) 96 38 41 79.

E-mail: instituto.calidad@agricultura.m400.gva.es

The Instituto de Calidad Agroalimentaria, as the authorised body for designations of quality in the Community of Valencia, will provisionally monitor production until the Regulatory Body complies with standard EN-45011.

4.8. Labelling

The protected citrus fruit will be sold only in packs displaying a second label, numbered issued and checked by the Regulatory Body. "Protected Geographical Indication 'Cítricos Valencianos'" must feature on both tickets.

4.9. National requirements

- Law 25/1970 of 2 December 1970 laying down rules in vineyards, wine and spirit drinks.

- Decree 835/1972 of 23 March 1972 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Law 25/1970.

- Order of 25 January 1994 specifying the correlation between Spanish legislation and Regulation (EEC) No 2081/1992 on Designations of Origin and Geographical Indications for food products.

- Royal Decree 1643/1999 of 22 October 1999 laying down the procedure for processing applications for registration in the Community Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications.

EC No: G/ES/00152/2000.09.12.

Date of receipt of the full application: 26 January 2001.