Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin

(2002/C 102/09)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of the abovementioned Regulation. Any objection to this application must be submitted via the competent authority in the Member State concerned 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 (x) PGI ( )

National application No 45/99

1. Responsible department in the Member State Name: Direcção Geral do Desenvolvimento Rural

Address: Av. Defensores de Chaves, n.o 6, P-1049-063 Lisboa

Tel. (351) 213 18 43 82

Fax (351) 213 53 58 72.

2. Applicant group 2.1. Name: Associação Nacional de Produtores de Pêra Rocha

2.2. Address: Av. dos Bombeiros Voluntários, 44-1o, P-2550 Cadaval

Tel. (351) 262 69 11 55

Fax (351) 262 69 56 44.

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

3. Type of product: Class 1.6 - Fruit.

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

4.1. Name: Pêra Rocha do Oeste.

4.2. Description: The Rocha do Oeste pear is the fruit of the pear tree of the "Rocha" variety obtained in the west region. The Rocha variety belongs to the family Rosaceae, sub-family of pome fruits, genus Pyrus and species Pyrus communis L. It is a Portuguese variety, obtained as a chance seedling about 150 years ago in the commune of Sintra, its natural range being in the west region. The fruit of the Rocha pear tree produced in the west region is ovate rounded, pyriform rounded or ovate puriform oblong; it has a distinctive russeted area around the base which becomes less marked and regular on the rest of the skin and then tends to concentrate around the stem cavity; it is pale yellow, sometimes with a pink tinge on the sunny side, has some russet spotting and mostly no pistil cavity. Picking takes place in August. The flesh of the Rocha do Oeste pear is white in colour, soft to melting, granular, sweet, non-acid, very juicy and moderately yet distinctively aromatic.

4.3. Geographical area: On account of the weather conditions required for the production of Rocha do Oeste pears - the special micro-climate of the region, the know-how of the population and the authentic and unvarying local methods - the geographical processing area is confined to the communes of Sintra, Mafra, Arruda dos Vinhos, Sobral de Monte Agraço, Alenquer, Vila Franca de Xira, Azambuja, Torres Vedras, Cartaxo, Lourinhã, Bombarral, Cadaval, Santarém, Rio Maior, Peniche, Óbidos, Caldas da Rainha, Torres Novas, Alcanena, Alcobaça, Nazaré, Porto de Mós, Batalha, Tomar, Ferreira do Zêzere, Vila Nova de Ourém, Leiria, Marinha Grande and Pombal.

4.4. Proof of origin: In addition to the product's characteristics which clearly link it to the natural environment in which the production process takes place - a process which includes selecting soils, establishing and managing orchards, treating trees, determining the nature and frequency of plant health treatments, timing harvesting and breeding, packaging and preparing the fruit for market - the factors which prove that the Rocha do Oeste pear originates in the geographical production area are as follows: orchards must be situated in the geographical processing area and their management must be in accordance with the specification. Harvesting, transport, sizing and market preparation must also be in compliance with the specification. The entire process is subjected to a special control system which culminates in the certification of the pears.

4.5. Method of production: The Rocha do Oeste pear is obtained in accordance with authentic and unvarying local methods, starting with the choice of soils and the establishment and management of the orchards. Cultivation conditions are of great importance, given the region's specific weather conditions and the fact that the Rocha do Oeste pear requires a period of winter cold in order to develop properly. Picking also has its own well-defined rules, both as regards procedure and timing (the second fortnight in August). The Rocha do Oeste pear is distinguished by its good keeping qualities, which are further improved if harvesting and transport to storage centres are carried out with utmost care. Specific conditions are to be fulfilled for the standardisation, labelling and packaging of the pears.

4.6. Link: The region known by the name of Oeste (i.e. west, it being the most westward region of Portugal) enjoys very specific soil and climatic conditions, resulting from the soils (dating back to the Jurassic and neo-Jurassic period) and proximity to the sea. The region is hemmed in between the Sierra dos Candeeiros and the Atlantic Ocean. These factors combined confer distinctive and specific climatic characteristics. It is not surprising, therefore, that these conditions led to the spontaneous emergence more than 150 years ago of the Rocha variety. In its natural range, this variety bears fruits with very distinctive organoleptic characteristics that are recognised by consumers. The Rocha do Oeste pear quickly became a product that is symbolic of this region.

4.7. Inspection body Name: Codimaco - Associação Interprofissional Gestora de Marcas Colectivas

Address: Av. Bombeiros Voluntários, n.o 36-1o, P-2550-102 Cadaval

Tel. (351) 262 69 11 55

Fax (351) 262 69 56 44.

4.8. Labelling: The following words must appear on the label: "PÊRA ROCHA DO OESTE - DENOMINAÇÃO DE ORIGEM", as well as the certification mark, duly numbered. A specimen of the certification mark is shown in the notice of approval of the private inspection and certification body, in accordance with standard EN 45011.

4.9. National requirements: Order No 13 021/99, 2nd Series, from the Secretary of State for Rural Development of 11 June 1999, published in DR, Series II, No 154 of 9 July 1999, establishing the main rules for the production of the Rocha do Oeste pear and defining its characteristics as well as its geographical production area.

EC No: G/PT/00160/2000.14.09.

Date of receipt of full application: 23 July 2001.