Publication of an application for registration pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 8(1) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/92 on certificates of specific character

(2002/C 63/06)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Articles 8 and 9 of the abovementioned Regulation. Any objection to the application must be submitted via the competent authority in the Member State concerned within a time limit of five months from the date of this publication. Supporting arguments for publication are set out below, in particular under points 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4, and are considered to justify the application within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2082/92.

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF A CERTIFICATE OF SPECIFIC CHARACTER

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2082/92

National application No: -

1. Competent authority

Name: Ministero delle Politiche agricole e forestali

Address: Via XX Settembre 20, I-00187 Roma

Tel. (39-06) 46 65 51 09

Fax (39-06) 42 01 31 26.

2. Applicant group

2.1. Name: Associazione Nazionale per il Miele Vergine Integrale

2.2. Address: Registered Office: Piazza XX Settembre 3, I-40024 Castel San Pietro Terme (Bologna)

Operating base: Via Reggio 8, I-10153 Torino

Tel. and fax (39-011) 248 23 39.

2.3. Composition: four regional cooperatives of producers, one national consortium of producer cooperatives, one national union of producers' associations, 15 producing/processing firms.

3. Type of product: Various (IV, 12).

4. Summary of product specification (Summary of requirements under Article 6(2)):

4.1. Name: Miele Vergine Integrale.

4.2. Specific production or manufacturing method: The honey is produced in orderly (mobile comb) multiple-storey hives; the honeycombs are without brood or pollen and the honey is removed from the hives by mechanical means only. It is then extracted by centrifugal force and purified by decantation and/or filtration in premises where the relative humidity is below 60 %. There are restrictions on the use of smoke, the location of the colonies and dehumidifying treatments. Market preparation is permitted using traditional methods only that do not alter the characteristic ingredients of the newly extracted honey and do not impair the natural progress of crystallisation; in particular, any operations that occur at temperatures above 25 °C are prohibited. Heating to over 40 C is banned and the honey must not be kept at temperatures between 25 °C and 32 °C for more than 30 days, between 32 °C and 38 °C for more than seven days and between 38 °C and 40 °C for more than 72 hours. The honey is stored at temperatures below 25 °C before being placed on the market. It is released for consumption within 24 months of extraction.

4.3. Traditional character: Whole virgin honey was the best product available before industrial technologies were applied in honey production. The absence of high-temperature treatment which is a feature of whole virgin honey enables it to preserve its physical, chemical and organoleptic characteristics and makes it immediately recognisable to the consumer. The description "whole virgin" dates back to a period when reference was made to the virginal (pure and natural) nature of honey and to its wholeness (nothing added, removed or altered).

4.4. Description of product: The organoleptic characteristics of whole virgin honey are exclusively in keeping with its natural origin; its physical appearance reflects its composition, the seasons and its compliance with the specifications. It is identified by physical and chemical requirements that are more restrictive than those under Community law (maximum humidity of 18 % and maximum hydroximethylfurfural content of 25 mg/kg). The organoleptic, pollen and physical and chemical characteristics are defined for 14 single-flower whole virgin honeys.

4.5. Minimum requirements and inspection procedures to which specific character is subject: Checks rely primarily on organoleptic, pollen and physico-chemical analyses, made at any point after extraction. The analyses methods required during the inspection are set out in an annex to the specification.

5. Request for reservation pursuant to Article 13(2): The Association requests that the name "Miele Vergine Integrale" be reserved for the agricultural product concerned in accordance with Article 13(2)(a). The protection is requested in all official languages.

EC No: S/IT/0002/95.01.12.

Date of receipt of full dossier: 26 May 2000.