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

(2003/C 170/05)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Articles 7 and 12d of the abovementioned Regulation. Any objection to this application must be submitted via the competent authority in a Member State, in a WTO member country or in a third country recognised in accordance with Article 12(3) within a time limit of six months from the date of this publication. The arguments for publication are set out below, in particular under 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: -

1. Responsible department in the Member State Name: Ministère de l'agriculture et de la pêche - Direction des politiques économique et internationale - Bureau des signes de qualité et de l'agriculture biologique

Address: 3, rue Barbet-de-Jouy - F-75349 Paris 07 SP

Tel. (33-1) 49 55 81 01, fax (33-1) 49 55 57 85

2. Applicant group 2.1. Name: Association de promotion de l'agneau de pays (APAP)

2.2. Address: "Toutejoie" - F-86500 Montmorillon

Tel. (33-5) 49 91 30 47, fax (33-5) 49 84 09 36

2.3. Composition: Producer/processor (X) Other ( )

3. Type of product: "Meat and edible offal", as referred to in Annex II, Article 38, Chapter 2 of the Treaty of Rome

4. Specification

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1. Name: Agneau du Poitou-Charentes

4.2. Description: The meat is from lambs born and raised on the same holding, in an area with a tradition of semi-open-air livestock farming. The lambs are slaughtered in approved slaughterhouses, located in the same defined area and must be less than 10 months old, have EUR conformation, a fat level of 2-3, a carcass weight of between 14 and 22 kg, light-coloured flesh and firm, light-coloured fat.

4.3. Geographical area: Agneau du Poitou-Charentes lambs are born, raised and slaughtered in Poitou-Charentes (Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne). The area extends to neighbouring municipalities:

- in Haute-Vienne: St Mathieu, Rochechouart, St Junien, Mézière/Issoire, Le Dorat, St Sulpice les Feuilles,

- in Dordogne: Nontron, Bussière-Badil, Mareuil, Verteillac, Ribérac, St Aulaye,

- in Vendée: Chaillé les Marais, Maillezais, St Hilaire des Loges, La Chataigneraie, Pouzauges, Les Herbiers, Mortagne/Sèvre,

- in Maine et Loire: Cholet, Vihiers, Montreuil-Bellay, Saumur,

- in Indre et Loire: Chinon, Richelieu, Ste Maure de Touraine, Descartes, le Grand Pressigny, Preuilly/Claise,

- in Indre: Tournon St Martin, Le Blanc, Belâbre, St Benoît du Sault.

4.4. Proof of origin: The lambs are born, raised and slaughtered in the geographical area. They are identified individually within three days of birth with a unique number (number of the holding, comprising a departmental code and a municipal code, and the serial number assigned to the lamb at birth). This identification number accompanies the lamb up to the point of sale of the carcase, since the weigh ticket issued at the slaughterhouse bears the lamb number, the holding number and a code assigned to each certifiable lamb (in accordance with internal procedures). A second identifier is attached to the legs of certified lambs (Agneau du Poitou-Charentes disks). Together, the weigh ticket and the disk identify Agneau du Poitou-Charentes. If the carcass is cut, it is assigned a cutting batch number.

4.5. Method of production: - Conditions of production: Agneau du Poitou-Charentes is produced from a limited number of grassland slaughter breeds selected for their carcase quality. The reference lamb is a lamb born and raised in semi-open-air conditions in the geographical area, fed on the dam's milk for at least 60 days, then fed on grass, in accordance with its availability through the seasons. Regular sorting of the lambs optimises the qualities of the final carcases.

- Processing conditions: The fact that slaughterhouses in the production area are used means that transport times are short. After slaughter and chilling, the best carcasses are selected by tactile and visual appraisal of the legs, the saddle, the back and the shoulders. Slaughter data is given to the stockbreeders so that they can validate their selection procedures and stockfarming methods.

4.6. Link: - A reputation: Agneau du Poitou-Charentes lambs are appreciated for the quality of their meat and bone and their stocky build and well-formed legs. The first written references go back to the Middle Ages, but it is really in the eighteenth century that sheep farming became important. Marshes were cleared and drained and sheepmeat became a product in its own right. Consequently, efforts were made to produce both fine wool and quality meat.

Slaughterers in Poitou-Charentes are used to working with well-conformed carcases and have over the years endeavoured to ensure that the carcases they market are regularly of such quality, so as to increase the reputation of Agneau du Poitou-Charentes. With their excellent conformation and well-formed legs, these lambs were sent and sold at the Halles Centrales (Paris, Ier arrondissement) and at La Villette, both very demanding but very profitable markets. Appreciated for their carcase quality (high conformation) and the fineness of the bones and fine, tasty meat, Agneau du Poitou-Charentes lambs have acquired a wide reputation, as can be seen from press articles and studies by consultants.

According to a national study carried out in January 1988 covering 152 French distributors, 14 % of managers of large and medium-sized retail businesses had spontaneous knowledge of Agneau du Poitou Charentes and 80 % when prompted. The figures for small butchers were 12 % and 74 % respectively.

- A special characteristic: Agneau du Poitou Charentes lambs are stocky with well-formed legs. To obtain this type of lamb, farmers cross breeds known for producing high-quality carcases. It is the Charmoise breed, indigenous to the region, that is the source of the lambs' stocky, well-conformed carcases. It is a hardy breed, well-adapted to semi-open-air production systems using feed based on fodder (grazed or preserved) and cereals grown on the holding.

However, since this breed is not very productive, other, more prolific breeds, that still produce well-conformed carcases, are now more common as breeding stock (Ile de France, Mouton Charollais, Mouton Vendéen Rouge de l'Ouest, Suffolk, Texel). The Charmoise breed is maintained in the specifications mainly to facilitate lambing by first-lambing ewes and the finishing of lambs on pasture in the autumn.

Farmers raising Agneau du Poitou Charentes lambs decide on crosses between these breeds on the basis of pedo-climatic conditions, but in all cases aim for a stocky lamb with well-formed legs. Producer organisations carry out technical measures to help farmers with selection and slaughterers are closely involved in the choice of breeding animals, the objective always being to produce a fine skeleton so as to obtain fine muscle fibres and a good yield of high-quality cuts.

4.7. Inspection body: Name: QUALISUD

Address: 2, rue des Remparts - F-40000 Mont de Marsan

Tel. (33-5) 58 06 15 21, fax (33-5) 58 75 13 36

4.8. Labelling: Product name: Agneau du Poitou-Charentes

Geographical reference: "Nés, élevés et abattus en Poitou Charentes" (Born, raised and slaughtered in Poitou-Charentes)

4.9. National requirements: -

EC No: FR/00177/00.12.21.

Date of receipt of the full application: 16 May 2003.