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
Date: 2003-09-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Cantabria, beef, designation of origin, fresh meat, labelling, location of production, product designation, product quality

C 212/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

6.9.2003

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

(2003/C 212/02)

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 recognised 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 (

)

PGI (x)

National application number: 79

1. Responsible department in the Member State

Name:

Subdirección General de Sistemas de Calidad Diferenciada — Dirección General de Alimen-
tación — Secretaría General de Agricultura y Alimentación del Ministerio de Agricultura,
Pesca y Alimentación — España

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

Tel.

Fax

(34) 913 47 53 94

(34) 913 47 54 10

2. Applicant group

2.1. Name:

Mesa Sectorial de Cooperación, Comercialización e Industrialización
Agraria y Promoción de las Denominaciones de Origen y Calidad

2.2. Address: C/ Gutiérrez Solana, s/n

‘Edificio Europa’
E-39011 Santander

2.3. Composition: Producer/processor (x)

other (

)

Cantabrian Livestock Producers' Associations

Trade associations

Associations of Beef/Veal Producers

Representatives of the meat industry, slaughterhouses and cutting plants

3. Type of product: Fresh meat. Class 1.1.

4. Specification

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1. Name: Carne de Cantabria

4.2. Description: Beef from the Tudanca, Monchina, Asturian, Highland Brown and Limousin breeds and

crosses thereof.

6.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 212/3

The animals used for the meat are from the Cantabrian family of breeds (convex-profile, chestnut-
coloured bovines): Tudanca, Monchina and Asturian; Highland Brown absorbed into this stock and
the Limousin breed, adapted to the local environment, and crosses thereof.

Characteristics of the meat:

(a) Ternera (heifer calf): animal slaughtered at a maximum of 12 months, pale pink/pink meat,

with evenly distributed pearly white fat and firm, slightly moist muscle.

(b) Añojo (yearling): animal slaughtered at between 12 and 24 months, pale pink/pink meat, with

pearly white fat and firm, slightly moist muscle.

(c) Novilla (heifer): animal slaughtered at between 24 and 48 months, pale red/red meat, with

creamy-coloured fat, firm, slightly moist muscle with fatty striations.

(d) Buey (steer): castrated male animal slaughtered at a minimum of 24 months, pale red/red meat,

with creamy-coloured fat, firm, slightly moist muscle, with fatty striations.

4.3. Geographical area: The cattle from which meat of a standard requiring protection under the
Protected Geographical Indication scheme is produced are bred, reared and fattened in an area
comprising the whole of the Autonomous Community of Cantabria.

The area where this meat is processed also comprises the whole of the Autonomous Community
of Cantabria.

4.4. Proof of origin: The meat protected under the PGI will be produced from animals of the authorised
breeds and crosses of these breeds that are born and reared on the holdings listed in the
Geographical Indication registers. The animals will be brought for slaughter with the appropriate
identification.

The slaughtering of the animals and the dressing and cutting of the carcasses will take place in the
slaughterhouses and cutting plants listed in the Protected Geographical Indication registers.

The carcasses will be marked and identified to enable their identification at any time during the
dressing process.

The cutting plants will ship the cuts of meat and parts thereof in sealed packages, each bearing a
numbered label issued by the inspection body.

The inspection body will operate at the stages of production, slaughter, cutting and packing to
certify that the product meets the required standards.

4.5. Method of production: During those months when the herbage is growing, the animals are grazed on
both low meadows and mountain pastures. During the winter, they are stabled. In autumn and at
the beginning of spring, the cattle graze pasture close to the holdings during the day. They move
up to mountain pastures in mid May.

The heifer/bull calves stay with their dams for 5-7 months, during which time they are weaned
onto forage (either field grazing or dried fodder indoors).

During the finishing stage, the animals' feed is supplemented with concentrates authorised by the
inspection body.

The processing stage covers slaughter and the dressing and cutting of the carcase before the meat
is shipped. The slaughterhouses and cutting plants must meet the technical and health standards
under the applicable legislation.

The slaughter and dressing of the carcasses must not take place at the same time as that of other,
non-registered animals.

After slaughter, the carcasses are aired and then treated for preservation.

C 212/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

6.9.2003

4.6. Link: The climatic and topographical characteristics of Cantabria sustain the extensive areas of
pastureland that cover the region and which have traditionally been the home of widespread cattle
farming that has a distinctive local character.

The pasture is formed of natural herbaceous communities adapted to the area's climatic and
pedological conditions and is in some cases typical of mountain regions and in others forms a
stage in the substitution of woodland or thicket by natural grassland.

At low altitudes, the most typical community comprises grasses, pulses and other plants, the most
common species being:

— Cock's foot (Dáctylis glomerata)

— Fescues (Festuca pratensis, f. Rubra)

— Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

— Trefoils (Trifolium pratense, T. Repens, T. Incarnatum)

— Bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

— Black medic (Medicago lupulina)

— Plantains (Plantago lanceolata P. Media)

— Wild carrot (Daucus carota)

The Atlantic climate, with its abundant and frequent rainfall, the influence of the mountains,
which promote condensation and keep temperatures mild, and the characteristics of the soil all
combine to make Cantabria the perfect environment for pastoral production, and thus suitable for
extensive cattle farming.

The meat that should be protected is obtained from breeds that are perfectly adapted to the
production area, leading to a productive ecological equilibrium between animals and environment.

The cattle-management system and the feed regime, based on pasture during the growing season
and during the winter on dried fodder, in most part from natural grassland, determine the charac-
teristics of the product.

The beef cattle are fed using techniques and practices that are consistent with the sustainable use
of natural resources in an extensive livestock system, for both standing and transhumant herds.

In use since antiquity, these methods are recorded in a wealth of official documents such as
legal proceedings and decrees on pastureland. As early as the ninth
donations, agreements,
century, there are records of the extensive areas of Cantabrian grassland donated by the Santa
María del Yermo Monastery to Oviedo Cathedral for the grazing of its cattle.

Cantabria's renown for livestock farming is also evidenced by the numerous cattle markets
awarded to towns in the region since the Middle Ages. One of the oldest of these is the Potes
market, awarded in 1379 by King John I of Castile, and the region's biggest,
in Torrelavega,
established by Royal Decree by Charles III on 1 January 1767.

The reputation enjoyed by Cantabria meat can be deduced from a recent study showing that it was
known to 90.4 % of the people living in Cantabria.

4.7. Inspection body

Name: Oficina de Calidad Alimentaria

Address: C/ Héroes 2 de mayo, 27

E-39600 Muriedas (Cantabria)

6.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 212/5

4.8. Labelling: The commercial labels, unique to each registered firm, will be subject to approval by the

inspection body.

They will be required to feature the term ‘Protected Geographical
Cantabria’.

Indication — Carne de

Packaged meat sent to market will bear numbered labels or secondary labels supplied by the
Regulatory Council.

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

EC No: ES/185/2001.03.06.

Date full application received: 27 June 2003.

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

(2003/C 212/03)

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 recognised 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 (

)

PGI (x)

National application No: IG/19/96

1. Responsible department in the Member State

Name:

Ministère de l'agriculture de l'alimentation, de la pêche et des affaires rurales
Direction des politiques économique et internationale
Bureau des signes de qualité et de l'agriculture biologique

Address: 3, rue Barbet-de-Jouy — F-75349 Paris 07 SP

Tel.

Fax

(33-1) 49 55 58 59

(33-1) 49 55 57 85.