EN Official Journal of the European Union C 155/11

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2016/C 155/08)

This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1).

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘ORIEL SEA MINERALS’

EU No: IE-PDO-0005-01319 – 26.02.2015

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1. Name(s)

‘Oriel Sea Minerals’

2. Member State or Third Country

Ireland

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 2.6. Salt

3.2. Description of product to which the name in 1 applies

‘Oriel Sea Minerals’ is the name given to concentrated sea mineral salts in liquid form harvested from the bay of Port Oriel, Clogherhead, Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. It is a concentrated blend of Macro and Trace Minerals that is a clear (sometimes slightly yellow in colour dependent on the time of year harvested) and slightly viscous liquid form. It is additive free. It has an oily feel and texture to the touch yet there are no oils present. The viscosity of the sea minerals is between 4,00 – 5,15 mPa at temperature of 25 degrees and spindle speed of 50 rpm (+/- 10 %). Its concentrated liquid form allows it to be diluted in most beverages, juices or plain water at a ratio of between 100-1 and 1 000-1 dependent on the need.

Due to its liquid form the minerals and trace elements are in an elemental ionised state (that is before they are bound by any Ligands such as sulphate, citrate, oxide, etc.). The system employed allows Oriel to harvest the ocean waters for these minerals and to concentrate them.

The minerals when taken in their concentrated state have a powerful mineral salty taste however when diluted in water, juice or other beverage at the correct ratio the minerals dissipate leaving almost no aftertaste. ‘Oriel Sea Minerals’ are an excellent food supplement delivering a perfect balance and ratio of minerals to the body through the medium of water or liquid making absorption and nutrient benefit more effective.

Certificate of Analysis for ‘Oriel Sea Minerals’. ‘Oriel Sea Minerals’ is within +/- 10 % of the table below.

Oriel Sea Minerals Analysis Testing: ICP MS Oriel Sea Minerals ml/ltr H2O Water Less than 58 % by weight Mg Magnesium Less than 60 ml/l Na Sodium Less than 23 ml/l K Potassium Less than 20 ml/l B Boron Less than 200 ml/l Ca Calcium Less than 70 ml/l Ni Nickel Less than 2,31 ml/l Cu Copper Less than 1,45 ml/l Sr Strontium Less than 1,21 ml/l Mo Molybdenum Less than 0,50 ml/l Fe Iron Less than 0,50 ml/l Zn Zinc Less than 0,50 ml/l Al Aluminium Less than 0,50 ml/l Mn Manganese Less than 0,23 ml/l Cd Cadmium Trace Cr Chromium Trace Se Selenium Trace Pb Lead Trace Co Cobalt Trace Tl Thallium Trace Be Beryllium Trace

3.3. Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

Sea Minerals naturally harvested from the Irish Sea.

3.4. Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

Production and process steps:

All processes of harvesting, evaporation, separation and crystallisation are performed in the designated area, under controlled and monitored conditions to ensure consistency in the end products. This includes:

— Pumping and filtration of sea water through filter system.

— Removal of majority of Sea Salt following concentration of brine in a closed pressurised system.

— Concentration of sea minerals in a high-pressure system.

— Harvesting of concentrated sea minerals.

3.5. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

—

3.6. Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

—

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

Port Oriel, Clogherhead is located on the Northwest side of the headland Clogher Head that protrudes out into deep water straits. The specific demarcated area stretches from the Southern most tip of Clogher Head with Latitude = 53.79497 (north), Longitude = - 6.21778 (west), Latitude = 53°47′42″ (north), Longitude = 6°13′04″ (west) to the Northern tip of Dunany Point Latitude = 53.86144 (north), Longitude = - 6.23838 (west), Latitude = 53°51′41″ (north), Longitude = 6°14′18″ (west). A distance of 5 nautical miles located within the Dundalk bay Live Bivalve Mollusc Classified Production Areas 2013, Area Code LH-DB-DB, as issued by The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority.

5. Link with the geographical area

The Sea Minerals are characteristic of its origin in its mineral ratio, balance, taste and appearance. Just as grapes are affected by terroir and weather, Oriel Sea Minerals are affected by the deep water currents, cleanliness, mineral content and purity of the water in this location and of the process used to make, preserve and refine these characteristics.

Harvesting of sea salts in this region dates back centuries. The following is from the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal. ‘On 28 January 1667 Viscount Dungannon leased a parcel of land lying neere ye towne of Carlingforde for erection of saltworks to Colonel Cooke of Chiswick in Middlesex as a salt manufacturer’. For hundreds of years Port Oriel has been synonymous with abundant fishing waters with locals fishing deep-water fish directly from the rocks and harbour. Salt was a vital ingredient in preserving fish landed at the harbour for consumption, storage and subsequent transport to market. (pt mp 16 pm near Newry Street on the 1797 map had a salt works on it, with local documented facts detailing the salt/sluice gates also recorded).

The Gulf Stream flows up the West Coast of Ireland and when it meets the cooler waters of the Norwegian Sea it wraps around the North and North Eastern headland to its final destination, five miles beyond the Bay at Port Oriel. At this point the current ends as it meets the massive outflow of the River Boyne (Ireland’s second largest river).

Port Oriel is situated on the northwest side of the headland Clogher Head that protrudes directly out into deep water straits. In tests, the salinity in these waters is comparable to that normally only found in deep sea water. This high salinity has been linked with the unusual deep sea currents of the Gulf Stream in the area. The water at Port Oriel has been consistently tested at a density 3,5 % – 3,6 % which is consistent with deeper waters.

The waters of Port Oriel have consistently been rated as Grade ‘A’ International Shellfish Quality, the purest of the sea, for many years by The Marine Institute of Ireland. The harvesting of mussels, clams, crab, lobsters and razor fish is a vibrant business in and around the bay of Port Oriel and this vibrancy of shellfish also contributes to the high quality and mineral content of the water. Indeed this region is within the boundaries of Dundalk Bay Live Bivalve Mollusc Classified Production Areas 2014, Area Code LH-DB-DB. As issued by The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority for the harvesting of Clams and Razor Fish.

The qualities of ‘Oriel Sea Minerals’ are directly linked to the unusual deep sea currents in the geographical location, the high mineral content not usually found in such shallow waters and due to the Gulf Stream currents and the tidal movements that move around the northern coast of Ireland into the larger Dundalk bay and consequently to the bay of Port Oriel. This high quality and mineral content water is then harvested and refined through the process employed where it is untouched by air, earth or human touch until it emerges as a concentrated compound rich in minerals.

Summary:

The sea minerals produced are characteristic of its origin with a direct relationship to the salinity, quality and density of the minerals in the water in this region. This is reflected in the mineral content ratio, balance, quality and purity of Oriel Sea Minerals.

Reference to publication of the specification

(the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of this Regulation)

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/gi/pdopgitsg-protectedfoodnames/products/

(1) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.