99/315/EC: Commission Decision of 27 April 1999 approving the conditions governing the use of the graphic symbol for quality agricultural products specific to the French overseas departments (notified under document number C(1999) 1051) (Only the French text is authentic)
Date: 1999-04-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: French overseas department and region, agricultural product, product quality, quality label

11. 5. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 121/19

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 27 April 1999

approving the conditions governing the use of the graphic symbol for quality
agricultural products specific to the French overseas departments

(notified under document number C(1999) 1051)

(Only the French text is authentic)

(1999/315/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91
of 16 December 1991 introducing specific measures in
respect of certain agricultural products for the benefit of
the French overseas departments (1), as last amended by
Regulation (EC) No 2598/95 (2), and in particular Article
20(3) thereof,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1418/
96 of 22 July 1996 laying down detailed rules for the use
for quality agricultural products
of a graphic symbol
specific to the most remote regions (3),

(1) Whereas, pursuant to Article 20(2) of Regulation
(EEC) No 3763/91, a graphic symbol has been
devised to improve awareness
and encourage
consumption of quality processed and unprocessed
agricultural products specific to the French over-
the Commission
seas
published the graphic symbol and the conditions
governing its reproduction in Regulation (EC) No
2054/96 (4);

departments; whereas

(2) Whereas, in accordance with Article 20(3) of Regu-
lation (EEC) No 3763/91, the conditions governing
the use of the graphic symbol for quality agricul-
tural products
specific to the French overseas
departments are to be proposed by the trade organ-
isations, forwarded by the national authorities and
approved by the Commission; whereas, together
with a favourable opinion, the French authorities
have forwarded those conditions of use and the
administrative rules of application on the basis of
which the competent French authorities intend
granting rights to use the graphic symbol;

(3) Whereas those conditions of use are in line with
the objectives for which the graphic symbol was
introduced; whereas those conditions of use should
accordingly be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

(1) OJ L 356, 24.12.1991, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 267, 9.11.1995, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 182, 23.7.1996, p. 9.
(4) OJ L 280, 31.10.1996, p. 1.

The conditions governing the use of the graphic symbol
for quality agricultural products specific to the French
overseas departments, as presented by the French author-
ities and set out in the Annex hereto, are approved.

L 121/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

11. 5. 1999

This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.

Article 2

Article 3

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels, 27 April 1999.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

ANNEX

Extract from the draft circular of the French authorities setting out the conditions governing the use and the
administrative rules for the application of the graphic symbol for agricultural products specific to the French
overseas departments.

EXTRACT

1. The graphic symbol introduced pursuant to Article 20 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3763/91 shall be
used solely for quality processed and unprocessed agricultural and fishery products specific to the overseas
departments as most remote regions.

2. Unprocessed agricultural and fishery products must have been obtained in the overseas departments.

Where the main characteristic of processed products specific to the overseas departments in the raw
material used, 100 % of the ingredient(s) characterising the processed product must have been obtained
locally.

Where the main characteristic of processed products is the method of production or manufacturing,
consideration shall be given to the specific nature of that method.

3. The products must possess special characteristics as products of the overseas departments; these may cover
the conditions, methods and techniques of cultivation, production and manufacturing and compliance with
standards of presentation and packaging.

4. The graphic symbol shall be used solely for products of superior quality. Quality shall be defined by

reference to Community Regulations or, where none such exist, to international standards.

Where no Community or international standards exist, the characteristics shall be defined by the ‘Commis-
sion r(cid:130)gionale pour les produits alimentaires de qualit(cid:130)' on the basis of proposals from the trade organ-
isations.