Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
Date: 2006-08-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Poland, designation of origin, hops, location of production, product designation, product quality

C 204/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

26.8.2006

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on
the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and
foodstuffs

(2006/C 204/07)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation
(EC) No 510/2006. Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months from the date
of this publication

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

Application for registration according to Article 5 and Article 17(2)

‘ŽATECKÝ CHMEL’

EC No: CZ/PDO/005/0402/19.10.2004

PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

This summary has been drawn up for information only. For full details, interested parties are invited to
consult the full version of the product specification obtainable from the national authorities indicated in
section 1 or from the European Commission (1).

1.

Responsible department in the Member State:

Name:

Úřad průmyslového vlastnictví

Address: Antonína Čermáka 2a, CZ-160 68 Praha 6

Tel.:

Fax:

(420) 220 383 111

(420) 224 324 718

e-mail:

posta@upv.cz

2.

Group:

Name:

Address:

Tel.:

Fax:

Svaz pěstitelů chmele České republiky

Mostecká 2580, CZ-438 19 Žatec

(420) 415 733 401

(420) 415 726 052

e-mail:

svaz@czhops.cz

Composition: Producers/processors ( X ) mixed ( )

3.

Type of product:

Class 1.8 — hops

4.

Specification (summary of requirements under article 4(2))

4.1 N a me :

‘Žatecký chmel’

4.2 D e s c r i p t i o n : A specific property of ‘Žatecký chmel’ is the appearance of the cone (moderately to
elongated ovoid, 100 cones weighing 13-17 g; strig fine, regular, 12-16 mm in length), the delicate
hoppy aroma and the golden colour of the lupulin. Characteristic features of ‘Žatecký chmel’ are the
red colour of the bine, the fine strig, a low myrcene content and a balanced alpha and beta acid
content. Typical of the composition of the hop resins is a relatively low alpha-bitter acid content of
2,5-5,5 %. The beta-bitter acid content is higher than the alpha-bitter acid content, the ratio between
them most often being 0,60-0,80. The myrcene content is 25-40 %. Another characteristic feature is
the presence of a large amount of beta-farnesene (14-20 %), which in other hops is present only in
very small amounts. The general character of the fragrance of ‘Žatecký chmel’ is determined by the
ratio between all the individual constituents of the hop oils. ‘Žatecký chmel’ hops are semi-early. They
are supplied to the market pressed or granulated.

(1) European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, Agricultural Product Quality

Policy, B-1049 Brussels.

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4.3 G e o g r a p h i c a l a r e a :

‘Žatecký chmel’ hops are grown in what is termed the Žatec hop-growing
area. This comprises cadastral areas in the districts of Louny, Rakovník, Chomutov, Kladno, Plzeň-
sever and Rokycany. Further details are provided in the specification.

4.4 P r o o f o f o r i g i n :

In the Czech Republic, hops are subject to certification which is governed both
by Act No 97/1996 Coll. on the protection of hops and by Council Regulation (EC) No 1952/2005,
Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1784/77 and Commission Regulation (EEC) No 890/78. The body
authorised to certify hops in the Czech Republic is ÚKZÚZ (Central Institute for Supervision and
Testing in Agriculture, hereinafter ‘Institute’).

Proof of origin is guaranteed by a procedure which is laid down by law. Producers weigh the hops
produced, duly label them, apply a seal and issue a declaration as to the number and weight of the
labelled packages of hops by cadastral area and variety of hops. The Institute carries out verification
of the labelled hops and hop products and issues a certificate, and ensures monitoring of compliance
with the requirements laid down in the Act on the protection of hops and in the European Com-
munity legislation. The Institute also keeps records of hop gardens and hop growers.

The State Agricultural and Food Inspection Authority [Státní zemědělská a potravinářská inspekce]
conducts checks on the specifications and issues decisions in conjunction with the Institute.

4.5 M e t h o d o f p r o d u c t i o n :

‘Žatecký chmel’ hops are grown on hop-poles in the Žatec hop-growing
area. The springtime work begins in April with cutting and wiring, followed by training, cultivation
and the application of chemical protection. During the growing period, a number of spraying opera-
tions are carried out in order to control pests and diseases. The hops are harvested in the second half
of August and early September. The hops are processed into pressed or granulated hops.

The hop-poles are constructed of wooden (and in some cases concrete) posts. Wire is also used, or
steel rope in the case of new hop-poles. The hop-poles are about 7 metres high (optimum height for
hops grown in this area). One hectare of hop garden contains 2500-3500 hop plants, depending on
planting density (determined by farming techniques, the growth properties of the plants and crop
structure optimisation). Hops are a perennial plant that remains on the same site for up to 20 years.
Only female plants are grown for production purposes in a hop garden. The presence of male plants
is undesirable in terms of its effects on the quality of the hops.

‘Žatecký chmel’ hops have been grown in their traditional area for more than 1000 years. Only the
following clones may be referred to as ‘Žatecký chmel’: Lučan (registered 1941), Blato (1952),
Osvaldův klon 31 (1952), Osvaldův klon 72 (1952), Osvaldův klon 114 (1952), Siřem (1969), Zlatan
(1976), Podlešák (1989) and Blšanka (1993).

4.6 L i n k :

It is the specific natural conditions in the Žatec hop-growing area that provide the basis for
the uniqueness of ‘Žatecký chmel’ (cf. paragraph 4.2). This area is protected to the north-west by the
Ore Mountains, the Doupov Hills and the Bohemian uplands, which produce a rain shadow. The total
annual rainfall in this area is therefore only about 450 mm. The timing of the rainfall is, however,
favourable to the development of the hops (average rainfall during the growing period is about
260 mm). The average annual temperature is 8-9 °C (but 14-16 °C during the growing period). The
quality of the hops is determined not only by the climatic conditions but also by the area's soil. This
consists mainly of Permian red-bed soils, but there are also lighter sandy marl soils. The growth and
development of the hops is also influenced by the situation of the hop gardens, which is determined
in particular by the altitude (200-500 metres above sea level) and the position within the lie of the
land, the gradient and exposure to the different points of the compass. The hop gardens are located in
particular in broad, open valleys with a free airflow which are sufficiently sheltered from strong west
and north winds. The hops would not achieve such quality or yields in other areas, where these condi-
tions do not exist. The environment has an influence in particular on the content and growth of the
hops. The conditions described above (combination of average rainfall, temperatures, soil profiles, alti-
tude and light) are unique to the Žatec hop-growing area. Other hop-growing areas in the world will
always differ in respect of certain of the basic conditions (e.g. higher rainfall, higher average tempera-
tures, shorter average length of day/daylight during the growing period).

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4.7 I n s p e c t i o n b o d y :

Name:

Státní zemědělská a potravinářská inspekce, inspektorát v Ústí nad Labem

Address: Masarykova 19/275, CZ-403 40 Ústí nad Labem

Tel.:

Fax:

(420) 475 651 224

(420) 475 651 225

e-mail:

usti@szpi.gov.cz

Name:

Ústřední kontrolní a zkušební ústav zemědělský, odbor trvalých kultur Žatec

Address: Chmelařské náměstí 1612, CZ-438 43 Žatec

Tel.:

Fax:

(420) 415 778 119

(420) 415 778 136

e-mail:

webmaster@ukzuz.cz

The final decision rests with the State Agricultural and Food Inspection Authority.

4.8 L a b e l l i n g : The inscription ‘ŽATECKÝ CHMEL’ is affixed to every outer package.

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