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 261/04)

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: Institut national des appellations d'origine

Address: 138, avenue des Champs-Élysées - F-75008 Paris

Tel. (33-1) 53 89 80 00

Fax (33-1) 42 25 57 97.

2. Applicant group 2.1. Name: Syndicat des miels de Provence et des Alpes du Sud

2.2. Address: Maison des agriculteurs, 22, avenue Henri-Pontier - F-13626 Aix-en-Provence

2.3. Composition: producer/processor (x) other ( ).

3. Type of product: Chapter 17.02 - Honey.

4. Specification (Summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1. Name: Miel de Provence.

4.2. Description - Botanical: Single- and multi-flower honey, including honeydew honey, obtained from the wild flora of Provence or a crop specific to Provence, excluding rape, sunflower and lucerne (alfalfa) and any other crop that is not specific to the region.

- Pollen: Pollens specific to Provence, the range of honey pollens having in all cases to have a specific Provençal character.

- Organoleptic - Single-flower honeys: flavour corresponding to the dominant floral origin,

- Multi-flower honeys: floral, plant or fruity aroma.

4.3. Geographical area - The six departments of the Provence - Alpes - Côte-d'Azur region, with the exception of the following communes and cantons:

- Department of Alpes-de Haute-Provence: Cantons de Saint-Paul, Allos, Colmars-les-Alpes, Barcelonnette, and the communes of Méolans-Revel, Auzet, Barles, Verdaches, Seyne-les-Alpes, Méailles, Le Fugeret, Braux, Le Vernet.

- Department of Hautes-Alpes: Cantons of Saint-Étienne en Dévoluy, Saint-Firmin, Saint-Bonnet, Orcières, L'Argentière-la-Bessée, La Grave, Monetier-les-Bains, Briançon, Aiguilles, Guillestre, Embrun, and communes of Saint-Julien en Beauchêne, Montbrand, La Haute-Beaume, Réallon.

- Department of Alpes-Maritimes: Canton of Saint-Étienne de Tinée, and communes of Sauze, Villeneuve d'Entraunes, Saint-Martin d'Entraunes, Entraunes, Péone, Beuil, Roubion, Roure, Ilonse, Châteauneuf d'Entraunes, Valdeblore, Saint-Martin de Vésubie, Belvédère, Tende, La Brigue, Saint-Sauveur de Tinée, Rimplas, Guillaumes.

- The area known as Drôme provençale: Cantons of Buis-les-Baronnies, Dieulefit, Grignan, La Motte-Chalançon, Marsanne, Montélimar, Nyons, Pierrelatte, Remuzat, Sederon, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux.

- The eastern part of Gard: The areas of Garrigues, Soubergues, Bas-Vivarais, the Rhône Valley and the wine-growing plain of the department of Gard.

4.4. Proof of origin: The first way of checking the Provençal origin of the honey is to locate the apiaries in the geographical production area. The second is the analysis of the pollen (see 4.6.1).

4.5. Method of production: During the different nectar or honeydew flow periods, the hives are installed in the geographical production area. The honey is then gathered, extracted from the combs and stored. Extraction, packaging and/or storage can take place outside the geographical production area. After verification of its conformity with the characteristic features described in the specification, the honey is packaged and marketed in bulk or in jars. The labelling on the jars must include all the particulars required in the specification.

4.6. Link 1. A special characteristic

Miel de Provence is produced by bees from nectar or honeydew collected from the wild Provençal flora or crops specific to Provence. The characteristics of these honeys are all directly linked to the specific features of the botanical environment of Provence. There are consequently characteristic organoleptic and pollen features.

In order to establish the link between Miel de Provence and its geographical origin, it is essential to identify the plants from which the honey is obtained. Establishing the range of pollens (listing of pollens present in the honey and determining their respective frequency) enables the analyst to ascertain the floral and hence the geographical origin of the honey. The restrictive nature of the list on pages 5 and 6 of the specification means that honeys which are not obtained from Provençal flora do not qualify for the name Miel de Provence.

2. A reputation

- Provence has a tradition of producing honey as indicated in, among others, the Inventaire du patrimoine culinaire de la France - Provence - Alpes - Côte-d'Azur (Ed. Albin Michel/CNAC, 1995). In addition, south-eastern France enjoys optimum weather conditions and early and late flowering periods (from February/March in the case of rosemary and September/October in the case of heather, for example). The existence of many plants containing nectar and the tradition of transhumance (migratory herding) makes possible the production of a wide variety of honeys which are highly rated by consumers.

- The renown of Miel de Provence is linked also to its typical characteristics and recognised aromatic qualities (lavender, rosemary, multi-flower honeys, etc.).

4.7. Inspection body Name: ULASE

Address: Place du Champs-de-Mars - F-26270 Loriol-sur-Drôme

4.8. Labelling - "Miel de Provence" together with, where appropriate, a reference to its floral origin in accordance with the specification,

- Characteristics certified by ULASE, Place du Champs-de-Mars - F-26270 Loriol-sur-Drôme.

4.9. National requirements: -

EC No: FR/00181/00.12.21.

Date of receipt of the full application: 28 May 2003.