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: 2002-07-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Portugal, designation of origin, fresh meat, labelling, location of production, offal, product designation, product quality

13.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 168/15

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 168/07)

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: 80/89

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:

Natur-al-Carnes — Agrupamento de Produtores Pecuários do Norte Alentejo, SA

2.2. Address: Parque de Leilões de Gado de Portalegre, Estrada Nacional 246, P-7300 Portalegre

2.3. Composition: producer/processor (x)

other (

).

3. Type of product: Class 1.1 — Fresh meat and offal.

4. Specification

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

4.1. Name: Borrego do Nordeste Alentejano.

4.2. Description: Carcases weigh between 9 and 13 kg or between 13,1 and 15 kg, the meat is tender
and has small deposits of intramuscular fat. The fat deposits on and in the carcase and in the
cavities are white in colour and firm. The meat has a smooth texture and is very juicy, as well as
having a unique flavour.

Carcases weighing between 9 and 13 kg are classified in categories B or C according to the
grading scale for carcases of light lambs under Council Regulation (EC) No 1278/94. Carcases
weighing between 13,1 and 15 kg are classified in categories U, R or O according to the EUROP
grading scale for carcases of ovine animals under Council Regulations (EEC) No 461/93 and (EC)
No 1278/94. The carcases belong, depending on the degree of fatness, to classes 2, 3 or 4 of the
EUROP scale.

4.3. Geographical area: The geographical production area in which lambs of north-east Alentejo are
born, reared and slaughtered comprises the communes of Alter do Chão, Arronches, Avis, Campo
Maior, Castelo de Vide, Crato, Elvas, Fronteira, Gavião, Marvão, Monforte, Nisa, Ponte de Sor,
Portalegre and Sousel, in the district of Portalegre.

C 168/16

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

13.7.2002

4.4. Proof of origin: Only those carcases are covered by the geographical indication which come from
animals born and bred on livestock farms located in the geographical production area, which have
duly updated registration and identification systems for breeding animals, meet the rules governing
the feeding and health of animals and are subject to the control and certification rules laid down in
(rules
the document:
governing the inspection and certification of male lambs from north-east Alentejo).

‘Regras de Controlo e Certificação do Borrego do Nordeste Alentejano’

4.5. Method of production: The carcases and offal are obtained as a result of the slaughter and dressing
of male lambs, the offspring of ewes of the Merino Branco regional breed, whether pure bred or
cross bred with other breeds (known as ‘melhoradoras’ (improvers)), which are born and reared
according to traditional methods and slaughtered between 90 and 120 days old. The animals are
slaughtered in slaughterhouses recognised by the European Community which form part of the
national slaughter network, are located in the geographical production area and are specifically
approved by the operating producer grouping. Stunning prior to slaughter is compulsory. The
animals are slaughtered in batches, on the basis of an uninterrupted chain system, each batch
consisting of lambs belonging to one approved producer. Slaughter always takes place in the
presence of a technician employed by the certifying body, or a representative, duly authorised
for that purpose, in order to ensure that the production rules are properly applied and complied
with. After slaughter and immediately following the post mortem inspection, the carcases are
chilled to a temperature of 4 °C or below (± 1 °C) and the offal to 3 °C. An internal temperature
of 7 °C is reached in less than 12 hours, a relative humidity around 85-90 % being maintained
until dispatch, in accordance with the legislation in force.

4.6. Link: The production of meat from lambs reared in north-east Alentejo is intimately linked to the
plantations of cork-oak, holm oak and oak, as well as to the natural and improved grazing lands,
self-sown vegetation and the drought-persistent characteristics that are associated with these oak
groves. The existence of a specific ecosystem together with the know-how of the local population,
particularly as regards flock herding and management, have produced a particular type of lamb
with features that are distinctive and peculiar to the region in which it is raised. Extensive grazing
is practised, and the use of forage resources with highly distinctive characteristics has made it
possible for lamb to be produced along traditional lines over many decades. In fact, sheep farming
has been practised here since time immemorial and is closely linked to the Merino Branco breed.
On account of its palatability and texture, lamb has always featured prominently in the diet of the
local people and is used in the preparation of a large variety of traditional dishes.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name: AADP — Associação de Agricultores do Distrito de Portalegre

Address: Parque dos Leilões de Gado de Portalegre, Estrada Nacional 246, Apartado 269, P-7300

Portalegre.

4.8. Labelling: The following words must appear on the label:

‘Borrego do Nordeste Alentejano —
Indicação Geográfica’, as well as the certification mark, duly numbered, indicating the name of the
product and the certifying body. Models of the label and certification mark are shown in the
specification.

4.9. National requirements: All those which stem from the national and Community legislation in

force.

EC No: G/PT/00143/2000.07.26.

Date of receipt of the full application: 23 July 2001.