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: 2002-04-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Portugal, designation of origin, labelling, location of production, meat product, pigmeat, product designation, product quality

C 102/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

27.4.2002

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 102/04)

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 (

)

PGI (x)

National application No 91/00

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.

Fax

(351) 213 18 43 00

(351) 213 52 13 46.

2. Applicant group

2.1. Name:

Apetal — Agrupamento de Produtores de Enchidos Tradicionais do Alentejo, Lda

2.2. Address: Rossio Marquês de Pombal, n.o 64-2o D, P-7100-513 Estremoz

Tel.

Fax

(351) 268 32 30 21

(351) 268 32 30 21

2.3. Composition: producer/processor (x)

other (

).

3. Type of product: Type 1.2 — Meat-based products.

4. Specification

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

4.1. Name: Morcela de Estremoz e Borba.

4.2. Description: A smoke-cured sausage, made from the chaps, red meat and fat from Alentejano pigs
(excluding boars and reproductive sows) cut into pieces of less than 3 cm, with salt, water, ground
pepper, dried, ungerminated garlic cloves, blood and clove. Cumin, wine and pepper may also be
used if desired. The sausage is covered with natural pork tripe from the small intestine, presoaked
in salty water with vinegar. The sausage is shaped like a horseshoe and is 20 to 35 cm in length
and 2 to 4 cm in diameter. It is black, unshiny and with few wrinkles, with a semi-soft consistency
and an unbroken outer cover, which is filled completely with the mixture and wrapped tightly
around it, then secured with red and white cotton thread and tied at the ends with a simple knot.
When the sausage is cut obliquely the colour is dark-red, and the consistency is quite solid with a
random distribution of meat and fat in an irregular, marble-like pattern and some shiny, reddish,
intramuscular fat. Pleasant smell and mild, garlicky flavour, smoked with a balance between sweet
and salty. Aromatic fat with a pleasant flavour. Gristle-free and fairly smooth texture.

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EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 102/7

4.3. Geographical area: Due to the special production requirements of these sausages, their flavours
and the expertise available, the geographical processing area is limited to the municipalities of
Alandroal, Borba, Estremoz and Vila Viçosa.

4.4. Proof of origin: Morcela de Estremoz e Borba can only be produced in fully licensed processing
plants situated within the aforementioned processing area. The raw material comes from Alen-
tejano pigs on livestock farms with oak groves compatible with extensive or semi-extensive
farming systems, as the animals are usually bred outdoors. Traditional products made from
Alentejano pork secured a place in a growing consumer sector, thus restoring interest in high-
quality products. These products now comprise the best from every region. Morcela de Estremoz e
Borba has a unique and refined taste, with unique characteristics.

4.5. Method of production: Morcela de Estremoz e Borba is the product of chaps and red meat from
the carcasses of Alentejano pigs. After selecting, washing and cutting the pieces, the remaining
ingredients are added to produce the final product. Following preparation and seasoning, the
product is left to mature, then moulded, tied, and smoked with wood from the region (holm oak).

4.6. Link: The breeding of Alentejano pigs has always provided alternative nourishment and
for the deficiencies of bad harvests. Many popular fresh meat
compensates to some extent
dishes and succulent sausages can be made from the meat of these animals. These sausages
served for a long time to nourish farmers, who stopped work at lunchtime to enjoy them. The
fact that they were easily transported and withstood changes in temperature meant that they were
used extensively. Now, as ever, we can claim that pork enjoys great socioeconomic importance;
from the raw substance that is Alentejano pork, the regional sausages of Estremoz and Borba are
made, with their distinct and unbeatable taste.

4.7. Inspection body

Name:

Certialentejo — Certificação de Produtos Agrícolas, Lda

Address: Av.a General Humberto Delgado, n.o 34 1o esq, P-7000-900 Évora.

4.8. Labelling: Information required: Morcela de Estremoz e Borba — geographical indication and the
certification mark, numbered appropriately according to the name of the product and the name of
the certifying body.

4.9. National requirements: Order No 9080/2000, published in the Diario da República No 102, Series
II, 3 May 2000. It establishes the main production rules and features of Morcela de Estremoz e
Borba and states its geographical processing area.

EC No: PT/00162/2000.09.14.

Date of receipt of full application: 23 July 2001.