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: 2007-05-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Czechia, confectionery product, designation of origin, labelling, location of production, product designation, product quality

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Official Journal of the European Union

11.5.2007

OTHER ACTS

COMMISSION

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

(2007/C 107/10)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation
(EC) No 510/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months from the date
of this publication.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘MARIÁNSKOLÁZEŇSKÉ OPLATKY’

EC No: CZ/PGI/005/0407/28.10.2004

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

This summary sets out the main elements of the product specification for information purposes.

1.

Responsible department in the Member State:

Name:

Úřad průmyslového vlastnictví

Address: Antonína Čermáka 2a

CZ-160 68 Praha 6-Bubeneč

Tel.:

Fax:

(420) 220 38 31 11

(420) 224 32 47 18

e-mail:

posta@upv.cz

2.

Group:

Name:

KLS KLIMENTOV, s.r.o.

Address: Klimentov 133

CZ-354 71 Velká Hleďsebe

Tel.:

Fax:

(420) 354 62 58 81-2

(420) 354 62 27 15

e-mail:

kls@iol.cz

(1) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.

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Name:

Opavia-LU, a.s.

Address:

Vinohradská 2828/151, Praha 3, Česká republika

Tel.:

Fax:

(420) 272 00 26 04

(420) 272 00 26 04

e-mail:

info@danone.com

Composition: Producers/processors ( X ) Other ( )

3.

Type of product:

Class 2.4 Pastry, cakes, confectionery and biscuits — wafers

4.

Specification

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

4.1. Name:

‘Mariánskolázeňské oplatky’

4.2. Descr iption: The wafers consist of two thin sheets held together by a layer of filling. A distinction
is made between the hazelnut and cocoa varieties, according to the type of filling. They are round and
regular in shape with a slightly crumbled edge, break with a distinctive crack and bear a characteristic
relief in the form of a stylised garland of leaves around the circumference. The relief in the middle of
the wafer varies according to the individual producer. Depending on the type of batter, the wafers are
cream-coloured or light brown. They are crisp and well-baked, the filling has a granular texture and
the taste, which reflects the raw materials used, is sweet. They are placed on the market packaged in
aluminium foil, cartons and possibly plastic film, in quantities of 175 grams.

Raw materials used: wheat flour, sugar, hardened fat, hazelnut kernels, wheat germ, milk fat, vegetable
fat, cocoa, milk powder, dried egg yolk, wheat starch, salt,
lemon flavouring,
cinnamon, hazelnut flavouring, ethyl vanillin, almond flavouring.

lecithin emulsifier,

Storage at maximum 25 °C; shelf-life of 180 days.

4.3. Geographical area: The area of the municipality of Mariánské Lázně and of the municipality of

Velká Hleďsebe, which forms part of the administrative district called Mariánské Lázně.

4.4. Proof of or igin: The monitoring of compliance with the specification (scope,

frequency and
recording of checks) is defined and carried out by the accredited national firm BVQI, s.r.o., Vítězné
náměstí 2, Praha 6, Czech Republic, according to the approved HACCP system, which is governed by
standards ČSN EN ISO 9001:2001 and ČSN EN ISO 1400:2005, Act No 316/2004 Coll. on the trace-
ability at all stages of the production process and distribution; a check is also carried out by the Plzeň
Inspectorate of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority. Each producer keeps records of
the raw material suppliers and of the purchasers of the finished products. In keeping with the legisla-
tion, each product gives details of the producer, including the address.

4.5. Method of production: Production of the wafers begins with the preparation of the wafer batter
using the above-mentioned raw materials (4.2). After being mixed, the batter is taken from the mixer
to the rotary baking machine (the standard machine used to produce wafers); the cooked sheets are
removed by hand and placed in racks. The racks are transported to a humidifying chamber, where the
wafer sheets are humidified at a rate of 90 % for about five days. The bottom sheet is then sprinkled
by hand with a mixture of sugar, fat, hazelnuts and other raw materials (according to the variety), the
second sheet is placed on top and the two are baked together. After being measured out to the appro-
priate weight, the wafers are packaged in aluminium foil, placed in cartons and machine-wrapped.
After being marked with an eat-by date, the cartons are stored in large cardboard boxes and transferred
to a storeroom. Since the wafers are crisp and absorb moisture easily, they must be packaged directly
at the production site so that their quality can be preserved and they can be monitored more closely.

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4.6. Link: The first references to spa wafers in Mariánské Lázně date from the 18th century. With the
development of water cures, the original production of wafers by the inhabitants for their own
consumption gradually grew into large-scale production for commercial purposes. Karel Reitenberger
may be regarded as the founder of industrial production, which he began in 1856. Almost a hundred
years later, the range of spa wafers was extended by Josef Homolka, who arrived from Vienna bringing
his enhanced machinery and his own recipes for wafers made from chocolate-flavoured batter. In the
minds of consumers, the wafers are clearly associated with the West Bohemian spa area, of which
Mariánské Lázně is a major centre. Details of ingredients and production have been passed down from
one generation to another in local bakeries. In recent times, the range of wafers was extended by the
firm KLS KLIMENTOV s.r.o. in 1995.

Historical documents are stored in the town archives and local newspaper archives and at the firm
Opavia-LU a.s. Many historical and present-day references to the wafers and their reputation can be
found on different websites, e.g. the Hamelika website, which focuses on the history of Mariánské
Lázně, the website of wafer producer Opavia-LU, a.s., and the website of the town of Mariánské Lázně,
as well as in newspaper articles (Mariánskolázeňské Listy No 6/1994, Chebský deník of 13.5.2006,
Chebsko of 21.12.2005). The town museum also contains many documents and exhibits on the history
of the production of wafers in the area defined.

The designation ‘Mariánskolázeňské oplatky’ was entered in the international register under the Lisbon
Agreement in 1967 and has been protected under national legislation since 1 February 1974. The
designation ‘Mariánskolázeňské oplatky’ has also been granted protection under bilateral agreements
with Switzerland, Austria and Portugal.

4.7.

Inspection body:

Name:

Státní zemědělská a potravinářská inspekce, inspektorát v Plzni

Address:

Tel.:

Fax:

Jiráskovo náměstí 8
CZ-303 85 Plzeň

(420) 377 43 34 11

(420) 377 45 52 29

e-mail:

plzen@szpi.gov.cz

4.8. Labelling: The designation ‘Mariánskolázeňské oplatky’ must be clearly displayed on the front of the

package.