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: Isle of Man, designation of origin, fresh meat, labelling, location of production, product quality, sheepmeat

6.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 3/3

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 3/03)

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

‘ISLE OF MAN MANX LOAGHTAN LAMB’

EC No: UK/00340/05.04.2004

PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

This summary has been drawn up for information purposes only. For full details, interested parties and in
particular the producers of the products covered by the PDO concerned are invited to consult the complete
version of the product specification obtainable at national level or from the European Commission (1).

1.

Responsible department in the Member State:

Name:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food Chain Marketing and Competitveness Division

Address: Area 4C, Nobel House

17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR, United Kingdom

Tel:

Fax:

020 7238 6687

020 7238 5728

Email:

rlf.feedback@defra.gsi.gov.uk

2.

Group:

Name:

The Manx Loaghtan Sheep Breed Society

Address: Ballaloaghtan

Kerrowkeil Road
Grenaby
Isle of Man
IM9 3BB, United Kingdom

Tel:

Fax:

01624 82 46 18

01624 82 46 18

Email:

enquires@manxloaghtan.com

(Registered Office: Whitehouse, Kirk Michael, Isle of Man)

Composition: producer/processor ( X ) other ( )

3.

Type of product:

Fresh meat — class 1.1

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

C 3/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

6.1.2006

4.

Specification

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1 N a me :

‘Isle of Man Manx Loaghtan Lamb’

4.2 De scr i p ti on:

Isle of Man Manx Loaghtan Lamb is the name given to meat from pure bred Manx
Loaghtan sheep, registered with the Breed Society, which have been born, raised and slaughtered on
the Isle of Man. The meat is fine grained, less fatty and darker than meat from more commercial
breeds. It has a distinct, gamey flavour. Dressed carcase weights range from 13 kg at 6 months to
18 kg at 15 months.

4.3 G e og r a p h i ca l a r e a : The Isle of Man.

4.4 Pr oof of or i g i n:

The breed is thought to have been descended from those introduced in prehistoric times, from the
flocks of the native Celts, or from flocks brought to the island by the Vikings.

Sheep farming has been long established on the island. One of the earliest written records shows that
in the year 1376 Irish invaders defeated Manxmen in a battle and seized large numbers of sheep from
Rushen Abbey. Subsequent historical references refer to the breed with respect to both its wool and
meat. For example, in 1794 Basil Quayle writes that ‘the ancient flocks are small and hardy, their
usual weight is from five to eight pounds a quarter, the meat being particularly good’.

At the end of the 18th century a decline in the Manx Loaghtan breed was linked to social and
economic factors, however, a revival came over the course of the 20th century as popularity of the
breed increased as sheep farmers on the island recognised how adaptable the native breed is to the
unique climate and geography of the Island. This renewed interest in the breed has been mirrored by
consumers.

To comply with the Sheep and Goats Identification Order 2000, all sheep sent to the meat plant must
be marked with a designated flockmark and accompanied by documentation which provides informa-
tion which identifies the holding of departure, the date of movement and number of animals. It also
records flockmarks, or individual identification numbers, which have previously been applied to each
animal and is then signed by the owner or agent. It is possible for the origin of each carcase to be
traced at the destination by reference to these labels.

In addition the Breed Society issues tags to the registered producers which are then attached to the
sheep. The sheep are sent to the abbatoir with their tags intact, a list of tag numbers accompanies
them. After slaughter, a ticket, with the original tag number is attached to the carcase by the Govern-
ment meat grader. The carcase is then delivered to the customer with details of the registered produ-
cers tag number.

Audit procedures provide 100 % traceability.

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

On the Isle of Man, Manx Loaghtans are reared on farms practising traditional forms of husbandry.
Loaghtans thrive on poorer land, which has been basically left to nature — unimproved pasture,
gorse and bracken scrub, and heather moorland and are markedly different in size and conformation
from the same breed of sheep reared on fertilised, lowland grass pastures in the UK. In the early
months of the year, feed supplements may be fed, with preferences given to the use of locally
produced grain. Manx Loaghtans are very hardy and thrive in the damp, maritime climate of the Isle
of Man where, although the mean winter temperatures are not extreme, gale force winds are common
throughout the year. Lambing is unassisted by human intervention and takes place between February
and May.

6.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 3/5

The Breed Society issues tags to the registered producers which are then attached to the sheep. The
sheep are sent to the abattoir with their tags intact, a list of tag numbers accompanies them. After
slaughter, a ticket, with the original tag number is attached to the carcase by the Government meat
grader. The carcase is then delivered to the customer with details of the registered producers tag
number.

The lambs are slaughtered at between 6-15 months of age. It is required to take place at the EU
approved, abattoir on the island. The abattoir is government owned but run by a producer coopera-
tive, The Fatstock Marketing Association. In view of the small geographical size of the Isle of Man, no
animal is further than 30 minutes travelling time from the abattoir.

Carcass hanging time is a minimum of one week at the abattoir. Marketing takes place via the Manx
Loaghtan Marketing Cooperative Ltd. Manx Loaghtan Lamb is sold as whole carcass to local wholesa-
lers and also exported.

4.6 L i nk:

The link to the geographical area can be demonstrated as follows:

(i) the long established link between the breed and the island. The breed is believed to have been on
the island for over one thousand years and are ideally adapted to the unique environment of the
island (its topography, soils and climate) being hardy and able to graze the unimproved grass of
the higher land. The breed requires little or no supplementary feeding except before lambing. The
breed's adaptability to the island climate meant that for centuries they were the only sheep on the
island and the animal husbandry and stockmanship skills required to rear these animals have been
passed down from generation to generation of Manx farming families.

The animals are reared in the traditional way on farms being extensively grazed on the character-
istic island vegetation of unimproved pasture, gorse and bracken scrub, and heather moorland.
The long tradition of sheep farming on the island has led to high standards of flock management
and the production of lambs of a high quality.

(ii) the fact that the meat comes from pure bred Manx Loaghtan sheep which have been born, raised

and slaughtered on the island.

4.7 Inspe c ti on body :

Name:

CMI Certification Ltd

Address: Long Hanborough

Oxfordshire
OX29 8LH, United Kingdom

Tel:

Fax:

01993 88 56 21

01993 88 56 11

Email:

enquiries@cmicertification.com

4.8 L a b e lli n g :

The approved PDO symbol will be used at point of sale and on any packaging containing the
product.

In recognition of the fact that Manx Loaghtan Lamb is being produced off the island the applicants
confirm that use of that term on the packaging/labelling of that product can continue provided that
the lamb being marketed by producers off the island derives from pure bred Manx Loaghtan sheep
and that the origin of that product is clearly shown.

4.9 N a ti ona l r e q u i r e me nt s: —