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
Date: 2001-12-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Portugal, beef, designation of origin, fresh meat, location of production

C 354/16

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

13.12.2001

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

(2001/C 354/08)

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: 38/99

1. Responsible department in the Member State

Name:

Direc(cid:231)ªo-Geral do Desenvolvimento Rural

Address: Av. Defensores de Chaves, n.o 6, P-1000 Lisboa

Tel.:

Fax:

(351-21) 318 43 82

(351-21) 353 58 72.

2. Applicant group

2.1. Name:

Cooperativa Agr(cid:237)cola dos Agricultores de Arcos de Valdevez crl

2.2. Address: P-4970 Arcos de Valdevez

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

).

3. Type of product: Class 1.1 Fresh meat.

4. Specification

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2)):

4.1. Name: Carne Cachena da Peneda.

4.2. Description: Meat obtained from the cutting of carcasses of bovine animals of the (cid:145)Cachena(cid:146) breed,
registered in the herdbook for that breed and reared and slaughtered in the geographical area
concerned. Irrespective of the animal’s age at slaughter, the meat is invariably tender, with a firm
and moist texture, indicating succulence. The fat is white to off-white, non-exudative and has a
firm consistency. The colour of the meat ranges from pink (in the case of veal) to dark red (in the
case of cowmeat and beef).

4.3. Geographical area: In view of the organoleptic characteristics of the product, the soil and climate
required to produce it, and the authentic and unvarying local methods used, the geographical area
of production is by its nature limited to a few parishes in the municipalities of Arcos de Valdevez,
Melga(cid:231)o, Mon(cid:231)ªo, Ponte da Barca, Vila Verde and Terras de Bouro.

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EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 354/17

4.4. Proof of origin: The meat comes exclusively from animals born and reared on approved holdings.
Approval is given only if the holding satisfies each of the following requirements: it must be
located in the geographical area of production; its animals must be entered in the herdbook of the
Cachena breed;
identification,
it must keep up-to-date records covering production, official
transport and movement, the herd register and the individual animal health certificate; and it
must submit to the control and certification arrangements applicable. Only meat from such
animals (slaughtered at approved slaughterhouses) and conforming to the specifications may
qualify for, and be marketed under, the designation of origin. In order to provide additional
guarantees in terms of
traceability a control system has been introduced which covers the
entire chain of production.

4.5. Method of production: The diet of the animals is based on long periods of grazing up in the
mountains. During those periods, which extend from the beginning of spring to the end of the
autumn (about nine months), the animals gather in distinctive mountain areas known as (cid:145)brandas(cid:146).
In both summer and winter the animals graze direct on rough or seeded pastures. In winter the
pastures used tend to be those situated near the farm, where there is a twice daily (morning and
afternoon) distribution of feed (hay, maize straw, maize meal and maize ears). In the summer the
animals feed exclusively on the natural vegetation of the brandas. They seek out natural grasses
and shrubs. The young are reared extensively. They are initially fed on milk (supplemented with
natural feed from the holding), until they are ready to graze in the pastures in the company of
their mother. After weaning, at about four months, they join the herd as it transfers to the
pastures or moves up to the brandas.

4.6. Link: The geographical area of production of Carne Cachena da Peneda is a mountainous region
featuring steep slopes. The climate, which is fairly harsh, is influenced by hot humid air from the
Bay of Biscay and cold dry air from the Iberian hinterland. It is an area of plentiful water resources,
the surrounding region being one of the rainiest in Portugal. It forms part of a vast strip of granitic
land at the northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula. The soils are light to average, permeable,
easy to work, and have light resistance and texture. The surface generally is very patchy, being
markedly altered by local and regional farming and the weather. The soil has a low pH, is poor in
phosphorus and contains average to high amounts of potassium. The subsoil is generally cambic
or clayey. The soils have evolved very little and their depth tends to vary a great deal depending on
the altitude and slope. The region is, on the whole, mountainous, featuring as it does the Amarela,
Soajo and Peneda ranges. It is crossed by the Lima river and is influenced by two other rivers: the
CÆvado and the Minho. Valley location, the proximity of the sea and the terrain are the main
factors affecting the weather in the region. The area features abundant rainfall and high levels of
relative humidity and is often covered in cloud. The average annual temperature is between 7,5 (cid:176)C
and 12,5 (cid:176)C. In the region the characteristic method of animal husbandry, combined with the diet
of the (cid:145)cacheno(cid:146) bovine animals (cid:151) exclusively natural and typical of the geographical area (cid:151) gives
the meat specific characteristics in terms of quality.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name:

Norte e Qualidade (cid:151) Instituto de Certifica(cid:231)ªo de Produtos Agro-Alimentares

Address: Rua do Monte-Crasto Vairªo, P-4480 Vila do Conde.

4.8. Labelling: Must bear the words (cid:145)Carne Cachena da Peneda (cid:151) Denomina(cid:231)ªo de Origem(cid:146) and a

numbered certification mark. The model certification mark is in the specifications.

4.9. National requirements: Despacho No 3934/98 of 2 February 1998 of the Secretary of State for
Agriculture and Rural Development, published in the State Gazette, Second Series, No 55 of 6
March 1998. Lays down the principal rules governing the production and characteristics of Carne
Cachena da Peneda and specifies the geographical area of production.

EC No: G/PT/00095/99.05.20.

Date of receipt of full application: 23 July 2001.