EN Official Journal of the European Union C 135/27

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

(2007/C 135/11)

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.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘FELDSALAT VON DER INSEL REICHENAU’

EC No DE/PGI/005/0318/27.10.2003

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

This summary sets out the main elements of the product specification for information purposes.

1. Responsible department in the Member State:

Name: Bundesministerium der Justiz Address: D-11015 Berlin Tel: (49-30) 20 25 70 Fax: (49-30) 20 25 95 25 e-mail: poststelle@bmj.bund.de

2. Group:

Name: Reichenau-Gemüse eG Address: Marktstraße 1 D-78479 Insel Reichenau Tel: (49-7534) 920 00 Fax: (49-7534) 92 0020 e-mail: info@reichenaugemuese.de Composition: Producers/processors ( X ) Other ( )

3. Type of product:

Class 1.6: Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed

4. Specification

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

4.1 Name: ‘Feldsalat von der Insel Reichenau’

4.2 Description: Feldsalat von der Insel Reichenau is lamb's lettuce which comes from the island of Reichenau in Lake Constance.

Small-leaved lamb's lettuce in bunches, free of roots and yellow cotyledons, frost-hardy, deep green colour, nutty taste, crunchy.

4.3 Geographical area: The island of Reichenau in Lake Constance, Germany.

4.4 Proof of origin: All packages are labelled with batch numbers as part of the IMS certification for Reichenau Gemüse e.G. This batch number identifies the production holding. All holdings are located on the island of Reichenau and only cultivate land on the island. Land management is documented using the hydrographic chart. This traceability system irrefutably links the product with the geographical area.

4.5 Method of production: Feldsalat von der Insel Reichenau is produced in accordance with the Richtlinien für den integrierten und kontrollierten Anbau von Gemüse in Baden-Württemberg zur Verwendung des Qualitätszeichens Baden-Württemberg ‘Gesicherte Qualität mit Herkunftsangabe’ (Guidelines on the integrated and controlled cultivation of vegetables in Baden-Württemberg for the purposes of using the Baden-Württemberg origin and quality label), and exclusively on organic substrate. The soil is carefully cultivated and kept healthy. Weeds are controlled largely by hoeing, steaming or flaming, i.e. they are mechanically controlled. The soil is analysed each year to optimise fertiliser use. Beneficial insects are used in the glasshouses to combat pests. The island of Reichenau's cultivation methods mean that lamb's lettuce is harvested under glass from October to March, and outdoors in October and April to June. Lamb's lettuce is either sown from seed or planted as seedlings. On the island of Reichenau lamb's lettuce is picked solely by hand. This is a key difference from other major growing regions where it is harvested mechanically. The lamb's lettuce is then loosely placed in 1 kg bunches and washed. It is also sold in 1 kg bunches.

4.6 Link:

— Natural link: The island of Reichenau is virtually made for growing vegetables. Originally a wild plant that is frost-hardy, also able to grow in semi-shade and very undemanding in terms of soil, nutrients and water requirements, lamb's lettuce is exceptionally well-suited to growing conditions on the island with its shorter, cooler winter days. Its specific growing requirements allow cultivation even in foggy periods, which can often last for weeks in winter in this region.

— Reputation: Quite apart from the climate and soil conditions, the special know-how of producers also improves the quality of the lamb's lettuce and thus helps promote its image even outside the region. A trade and consumer survey carried out in 2000 shows that consumers associate the island of Reichenau with horticulture (the island is also called the ‘Gemüseinsel’ — vegetable island), and have particularly positive opinions of the freshness, appearance and origins of the products. Feldsalat von der Insel Reichenau is a product of traditional horticulture going back to the monastery culture on the island of Reichenau. Abbot Walafrid Strabo launched the island of Reichenau's market-garden tradition in AD 840 with the description of his garden ‘De cultura hortorum’, known as ‘Hortulus’. The cultivation of lamb's lettuce can first be traced back to 1901; by 1938 it was one of the main vegetables grown on the island of Reichenau (see H. Glönkler, ‘Vom Weinbau zum Gemüsebau’ (‘from winegrowing to vegetables’), 1991, pp. 61 & 122). Today lamb's lettuce is grown on around 30 ha, much of it under glass.

4.7 Inspection body:

Name: Regierungspräsidium Karlsruhe, Referat 34 Address: D-76247 Karlsruhe Tel: (49-721) 926 37 06 Fax: (49-721) 37 05 46 e-mail: abteilung3@rpk.bwl.de

4.8 Labelling: Feldsalat von der Insel Reichenau g.g.A.

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