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: 2006-01-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Belgium, confectionery product, designation of origin, labelling, location of production, product quality

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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

(2006/C 3/05)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Articles 7 and 12d of the above-
mentioned 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 recognized 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.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2081/92

‘GERAARDSBERGSE MATTENTAART’

EC No: BE/00288/07.04.2003

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

This summary has been drawn up for information purposes only. For full details, in particular the produ-
cers covered by the PDO or PGI concerned, consult the complete version of the product specification
either at the national authorities or the department responsible at the European Commission (1).

1.

Responsible department in the Member State

Name:

Administratie Land- en Tuinbouw, ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap

Address: Leuvenseplein 4, B-1000 Brussel

Tel.:

Fax:

(32-2) 553 63 41

(32-2) 553 63 50

E-mail: —

2. Applicant group

Name:

Broederschap van de Geraardsbergse Mattentaart

Address: Schillebeekstraat 85, B-9500 Geraardsbergen

Tel.:

Fax:

(32-2) 054 41 41 72

(32-2) 054 41 41 72

Composition: Producers/processors (x) Other ( )

3.

Type of product

Class 2.4: pastry, biscuits, cakes and other fine bakers' wares and confectionery products

4.

Specification

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

4.1. N a me :

‘Geraardsbergse mattentaart’

4.2. De scr i p ti on:

‘Matten’ tarts are small round tartlets measuring 8 cm to 10 cm in diameter. They are
made of flaky pastry, filled with ‘matten’ paste [cheese curd], brown in colour and with a dark brown
crust.

(1) European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture, Unit for Agricultural product quality policy, B-1049

Brussels.

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4.3. G e og r a p h i ca l a r e a : The production area comprises the town of Geraardsbergen (which, apart
from the centre of Geraardsbergen, also covers the following districts: Goeferdinge, Grimminge,
Idegem, Moerbeke, Nederboelare, Nieuwenhove, Onkerzele, Ophasselt, Overboelare, Schendelbeke,
Smeerebbe-Vloerzegem, Viane, Waarbeke, Zandbergen and Zarlardinge) and the adjacent municipality
of Lierde (which includes Deftinge, Hemelveerdegem, Sint-Maria-Lierde and Sint-Martens-Lierde).

4.4. Pr oof of or i g i n:

The ‘matten’ are produced on farms in the geographical area described above. The farms are listed in
a register kept by the Broederschap. Copies of the registrations and amendments to the register are sent
to the relevant inspection body. The ‘matten’ are farmhouse dairy products which have to meet the
requirements of the Royal Decree of 10 January 2001, under which the milk used to produce the
‘matten’ must originate from the farm producing them. The farms must also comply with the HACCP
standards. The tarts are sold directly by the farmer to the baker.

The Geraardsbergse mattentaart bakers are listed in a second register kept by the Broederschap. Here, too,
copies of the registrations and amendments to the register are sent to the relevant inspection body.
The bakers buy the tarts direct from the registered farms and keep a purchase record.

The final seller will always be able to prove that the Geraardsbergse mattentaarten come from a regis-
tered baker.

4.5. M e th od of p r odu c ti on:

The production method must be fully in accordance with the product file. The ‘matten’ are made
using fresh raw milk, farmhouse buttermilk and possibly a little vinegar. The raw milk must originate
from the farms in the geographical area. The ‘matten’ must be prepared on the farms. Geraardsbergse
mattentaart comprises finely-ground ‘matten’, eggs, sugar, possibly almond extract and flaky pastry.
Geraardsbergse mattentaart must be prepared only by bakers within the specified geographical area.

Only the actual baking does not have to be done within the geographical area: it is possible to send
the finished but unbaked and deep-frozen Geraardsbergse mattentaarten to bakers or specialist outlets
outside the geographical area where they can be baked in ovens for consumption.

4.6. L i nk:

Geraardsbergse mattentaart can boast several centuries of history and tradition.

Back in the 17th century ‘matten’ were already being made into tarts in the area, as old invoices
show.

Inter alia the following also demonstrate the fame and reputation of Geraardsbergse mattentaart:

— Geraardsbergse mattentaart was an eye-catcher at an exhibition and sale of regional products orga-

nised by the city of Brussels in 1966.

— Since 1980, the Broederschap van de Geraardsbergse Mattentaart has held an annual mattentaart day
on the marketplace in Geraardsbergen. A complete bakery installation is set up there and all the
members of the Broederschap demonstrate how to make a Geraardsbergse mattentaart.

— In 1985 the Belgian Post Office issued a stamp picturing the product and bearing the inscription
Broederschap Geraardsbergse Mattetaarten. This was the first Belgian stamp to feature a regional
product. The huge interest in that stamp's issue demonstrates that it cannot be regarded as an
everyday occurrence. 3,2 million copies were printed and within two days 40 000 had already
been sold in Geraardsbergen alone.

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— In 2001 the Guiness Book of Records issued the Broederschap van de Geraardsbergse Mattentaart with

a certificate for having made the largest ever mattentaart.

— The Broederschap van de Geraardsbergse Mattentaart is twinned with the French Confrérie de Pithivier

and Confrérie Champagne de Sézanne.

4.7. Insp e c ti on b ody :

Name:

Federale Overheidsdienst Economie, K.M.O., Middenstand en Energie
Afdeling Gespecialiseerde Diensten, Sectie A
Controles Uitgaven EOGFL en Marktordening

Address: WTC III, Simon Bolivarlaan 30, B-1000 Brussel

Tel.:

Fax:

(32-2) 208 40 40

(32-2) 208 39 75

4.8. L a b e lli n g : Labels must show both the product name ‘Geraardsbergse mattentaart’ and ‘Protected

geographical indication (PGI)’.

4.9. N a ti ona l r e q u i r e me nt s: Requirements deriving from the relevant national and Community legis-

lation.