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

(2004/C 58/08)

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 recognized 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 (x) PGI ( )

National application No: 117

1. Responsible department in Member State Name: Subdirección General de Sistemas de Calidad Diferenciada - Dirección General de Alimentación - Secretaría General de Agricultura y Alimentación del Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación de España

Address: Paseo Infanta Isabel, 1, E-28071 Madrid

Tel. (34) 913 47 53 94

Fax (34) 913 47 54 10

2. Applicant group 2.1. Name: Joint application by the following farming trade bodies and companies: COAG-IR, ADEA-ASAJA, UPA, Cooperativa Hortofrutícola Campos De Jumilla S.C.L, Explotaciones Agrarias Mare-Nostrum S.L., Frutoralt S.C.L. OPFH No 691 and SAT No 8392 El Puntal De Los Alamos

Representative: Diego García Martínez

2.2. Address: Los Rosales, 6, E-30520 Jumilla (Murcia)

2.3. Composition: Producer/processor (x) Other ( )

3. Type of product: Class 1.6. (fruit)

4. Specifications (summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1. Name: "Pera de Jumilla"

4.2. Description: PDO Pera de Jumilla is fruit of the species Pyrus communis L., from the variety Ercolini, classified in the categories Extra ("Top quality") and I, intended for fresh consumption.

ORGANOLEPTIC, CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

These pears contain a juicy, white pulp with a very sweet, sugary taste, lightly perfumed and with an excellent taste. Their colour is a yellowish-green with a reddish tinge where they have been ripened by the sun.

The product has unique properties compared to pears from other regions: a reddish tinge from sun-ripening due to the large amount of sunlight they receive and higher levels of sugar. It also reaches maturity earlier and is firmer and larger.

As regards size, pears in the Extra category have a diameter greater than 58 mm, while those in category I are over 52 mm in diameter.

Its firmness is over 11 Ib/cm measured by penetrometer with an 8 mm penetration cone.

As regards acidity, the fruit contains over 1,5 gr/l of malic acid.

The fruit contains more than 10,5° Brix of soluble solids.

For each of the above parameters there is a tolerance, providing this does not mean that more than 5 % of the fruit (by number of pieces or weight) does not meet the requirements of the categories (either Extra or I).

4.3. Geographical area: The area in which the fruit is produced, conditioned and packaged is the municipality of Jumilla in the province of Murcia.

The area under pear trees in this municipality is currently 932 Ha.

4.4. Proof of origin: The pears are grown on registered plantations in the production area and are of the authorised variety. They are processed, packaged and stored on the holdings themselves or in registered local plants. Any unprepared pears that are transported between registered firms must be accompanied by a special numbered document (volante de circulación) issued by the inspection body. The factories keep records of certain mandatory information such as all incoming and outgoing consignments of pears, current stocks, batch numbers and category. Only pears that pass all the checks throughout the process are packaged and marketed with the designation of origin, guaranteed by the numbered label.

4.5. Method of production: This consists of two stages:

CULTIVATION: The product is produced using environmentally-friendly techniques. The plant material has a phytosanitary passport and is adapted to local conditions.

Both thinning and harvesting are carried out by hand, with harvesting being performed in two passes to avoid the main hours of sunshine. The pears are harvested when sufficiently mature and when specified by the inspection body. Maturity is measured by analysing parameters such as: size, skin colour, seed colour, firmness and sugar levels.

The fruit is harvested by carefully applying pressure to the point where it is attached to the tree and pulling upwards to avoid damaging the peduncle.

Once harvested, the fruit must reach the processing plants within no more than 8 to 10 hours.

PROCESSING: When the fruit arrives at the plant the following data is logged: the consignment details, the plot from where it came, the name of the producer and the date of arrival. The lorries are weighed and samples of the product are taken to check the quality of the fruit. The fruit is then placed in a refrigerated storage area.

After being harvested the fruit is not treated directly with artificial chemical products.

The packaging is labelled by sticking on both the brand labels and the numbered secondary labels issued by the inspection body.

4.6. Link: (a) HISTORICAL: The first evidence of the cultivation of this pear dates from the 16th century during the reign of Phillip II.

Local place names such as Pear Tree House (Casa del Peral) are a clear sign of pears being cultivated in the area.

This variety's successful adaptation to the characteristics of the area, climate and soil, and the know-how of the farmers who over time selected trees from the Ercolini variety that had the best fruit as regards size, thickness of stem, round or pear-shaped form, productivity and taste, contributed to a distinct clonal selection from that performed on varieties in other areas, and led to the development of an Ercolini pear different to any produced elsewhere. The Pera de Jumilla is ready for harvesting early (in the last third of June), is larger than typical pears of this variety, is yellowish-green with a reddish tinge that makes it particularly attractive and has a very sweet and sugary texture and taste. When allied to its susceptibility to keep for a very long time, these are the reasons why traders are prepared to come to Jumilla to buy Ercolini pears at prices higher than those for pears from other areas, knowing that they can also sell them more easily and at higher prices.

(b) NATURAL: The climate of the area in question contributes significantly to the quality of Peras de Jumilla making them mature earlier and ensuring they are larger and have a better consistency of pulp, as well as giving them their characteristic reddish tinge.

Jumilla's climate is particularly influenced by its proximity to the Mediterranean, which makes it hot, although it is sufficiently high for low winter temperatures to provide the cold needed to grow pears. In the spring there is no frost and little rainfall, which could otherwise hinder the flowering and setting of the pears.

The dominant winds are from the north west, gusting dry and warm at dusk - this helps control disease.

Pear plantations in the defined geographical area are located in valleys, oriented toward the midday sun, and receive a great deal of light due to the incidence of the sun's rays.

The average high temperatures (annual average of 15,7 °C), which do not dip significantly at night, and the absence of spring frosts promote rapid growth in the fruit. But during ripening, the combined effect of the high number of hours of sun and the large amount of sunlight is the main reason why Peras de Jumilla contain high levels of soluble solids, in this case their sugar content, the main measure of internal quality.

The traditional practices in the area are another aspect of the link between the specific features of Peras de Jumilla and their geographic location. Manual thinning and pruning, for example, ensure that the right amount of fruit is grown on each tree, making each piece bigger and firmer without detracting from structure or balance.

4.7. Inspection body Name: Dirección General de Agricultura e Industrias Agrarias de la Consejería de Agricultura, Agua y Medio Ambiente de la Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia

This Directorate-General will carry out the control and certification duties on a provisional basis until a Regulatory Board for the Pera de Jumilla PDO has been set up - it meets the requirements of standard EN 45011.

Address: Plaza Juan XXIII s/n, E-30071 Murcia

4.8. Labelling: The commercial labels of each registered firm must be approved by the certification body. They must contain the following information:

The words: Denominación de Origen "Pera de Jumilla" D.O.P. "Pera de Jumilla"

Variety: Ercolini

Commercial category: Extra or I

4.9. National requirements: - Law 25/1970 of 2 December 1970 laying down rules on vineyards, wine and spirit drinks,

- Decree 835/1972 of 23 March 1972 laying down detailed rules for the application of Law 25/1970,

- Order of 25 January 1994 specifying the correlation between Spanish legislation and Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on designations of origin and geographical indications for food products,

- Royal Decree 1643/1999 of 22 October 1999 laying down the procedure for processing applications for registration in the Community Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications.

EC No: ES/00315/07.10.2003.

Date full application received: 1 December 2003.