EN Official Journal of the European Union C 45/21

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

2011/C 45/09

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months from the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘NATIVE SHETLAND WOOL’

EC No: UK-PDO-0005-0737-19.01.2009

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1. Name:

‘Native Shetland Wool’

2. Member State or third country:

United Kingdom

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff:

3.1. Type of product:

Class 3.6. Wool

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

‘Native Shetland Wool’ must come from pure-bred Shetland Sheep maintained on organic units on the Shetland Islands to organic standards. The weight of the fleeces varies from 1 to 2 kg. The colour of the fleeces varies from white to a range of natural colours from black through brown to grey.

The sheep are maintained on hills within the defined geographical area and are clipped between July and August. Clipping can done by mechanical shearing, hand clipped or by ‘rooing’ — plucking with fingers.

Process stages — carried out in accordance with the Global Organic Textile Standard.

— Scouring— washing the wool is an essential first step in producing a high quality product. The wool is taken through either a short or long wash cycle at carefully regulated temperatures between 20 to 25°C.

— Picking and separation— the fibres of the wool are then picked and separated to divide the fine fibre from the coarse and to get rid of any remaining vegetable matter such as hay and seeds.

— Carding— the carder is the heart of the fibre processing mill. It takes a random mass of fibre and transforms it into a continuous web, either to form a ‘batt’ for felt-making, or draw together to form a ‘roving’.

— Spinning— there are two parts to a spinning system: the drawing and twisting of rovings to produce yarns of differing weights and plies. Yarns are wound on to cones, from which they can be balled or hanked.

— Felt-making— the felter produces felt sheets or ‘batts’ from loose fibres. The lid of the machine floats to allow different thicknesses of fibres to be used, thus producing sheets of felt (batts) by using pressure and vibration on wet fibres to entangle them.

The products covered includes yarns which are balled or hanked, and felt sheets or ‘batts’.

The wool has unique wool characteristics. It is typified by its softness, strength and springiness and insulating qualities. The ‘staple’ profile exhibits long ‘guard hairs’ of several inches long and very fine lower hairs. The wool has an average staple length of 5–10 cm and the diameter of its wool fibre averages 29,9 microns.

Description Average staple length Average micron count (diameter of wool fibre) Handle Colour Weight Shetland White 5–10 cm 29,9 soft & silky white 1–2 kgs Shetland Moorit 5–10 cm 29,9 soft & silky brown 1–2 kgs Shetland Fawn 5–10 cm 29,9 soft & silky fawn 1–2 kgs Shetland Grey 5–10 cm 29,9 soft & silky grey 1–2 kgs Shetland Black 5–10 cm 29,9 soft & silky black 1–2 kgs

It has unique ‘handle’, which is the combined effect of its softness, strength and springiness. This springiness is created by the distinct Shetland crimp, folded ridge shape, (which is not as dense, for example, as that for merino wool).

The basic natural colours in Shetland wool are white, moorit (red-brown), fawn, dark grey and Shetland black (dark brown). Shetland sheep often have distinctive natural body markings. This can give many shades of natural colour within one fleece. Shetland wool is among the softest available. It can be spun and plied into various thickness of yarn, for weaving and knitting.

This application defines wool produced on the Shetland Islands from the native Shetland breed which is reflected in the name seeking protection. The applicants recognise that organic wool from the Shetland breed is produced outside the designated area.

3.3. Raw materials:

‘Native Shetland Wool’ must come from pure-bred Shetland sheep maintained on organic units and to organic standards on the Shetland Islands. Processed wool must be certified under the Global Organic Textile Standard.

3.4. Feed (for products of animal origin only):

N/A

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

‘Native Shetland Wool’ must come from pure bred Shetland sheep raised to organic standards on the Shetland Islands. The processes leading up to the production of the yarn must also be carried out on the islands. These include:

— scouring

— picking

— separating

— carding

— spinning

— felt-making.

Once the yarn has been produced, it may then be sold on or off the islands for further processing by commercial processors or for use at home.

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

N/A

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling:

In addition to the EU symbol for protected designations of origin, any other symbol or logo, including those derived from a private certification scheme, for which the product qualifies may also be used on the labelling of ‘Native Shetland Wool’, provided consumers are not misled.

While the name ‘Native Shetland Wool’ shall be protected in accordance with the Union rules in force, the use of terms such as ‘Shetland wool’ and ‘Shetland organic wool’ designating product of the breed, but not originating from the geographical area, shall not conflict with the terms of the registration of ‘Native Shetland Wool’ PDO.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area:

The Shetland Islands

5. Link with the geographical area:

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area:

Native organic Shetland sheep are only to be found on organic units in Shetland. Shetland's climate is very harsh and the soil type, in general, very poor. In this context, Shetland sheep have evolved to cope with a special set of circumstances over at least 5 000 years. This particular climate and environment has resulted in a breed of sheep which live on unimproved hills and islands. They forage on the heather moorland of the interior, the maritime pastures of the coastal fringe and the many small isles around the coast.

5.2. Specificity of the product:

The unique native sheep's wool is typified by its softness, strength and springiness and insulating qualities. It has a staple combining long guardhairs (for running off the very high rainfall) and a very fine inner hair, which insulates the animals against the high wind chill. Very few yarns produced from 100 % wool fibres contain the distinctive characteristics that create this soft handle in such a lightweight yarn. The special crimp in the raw fibres of the wool, create a distinctive springiness in the yarn.

This special fibre has been sought after in many walks of life. The fibre has great insulation qualities and has been used on many famous polar and Himalayan expeditions for warmth retaining qualities.

5.3. Causal link between the geographical area and a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product:

Shetland sheep have been valued for their very fine wool for a long time. They are the foundation of an important textile industry on the Shetland Islands. The wool is comparable in fineness to that of the Merinos and its worth has long been recognised. The quality and unique characteristics of ‘Native Shetland Wool’ come from the natural development of the native breed to meet geographic conditions prevailing on the Shetland Islands.

Fleece, bone and sheepskins were used as raw material for making many objects needed for survival. Bone debris and small tools found on sites from the Iron Age to the 13th century confirm that sheep were farmed continuously on the Shetland. Settlers from Norway brought their own breed of sheep in the ninth century, to provide milk, meat and offal for food. Isolated together on the Shetland, all the sheep evolved into a recognised island breed, the Shetland sheep, renowned as the source of Shetland wool. In 1790 the unusual qualities of Shetland wool were ‘discovered’ by the rest of Scotland when samples were taken back to Edinburgh and received with acclaim. The Society of British Wool was formed at this time to improve the standards of sheep breeding and wool production.

Today, the many natural colours of Shetland fleece and yarns conform to current market demand for ecological yarns without the use of chemical dyes. Shetland wool currently has a very stable position in many export markets because of its unique qualities.

Reference to publication of the specification:

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

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/industry/regional/foodname/products/documents/shetland-organic-wool.pdf

(1) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.