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: 2007-06-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Germany, designation of origin, labelling, leaf vegetable, location of production, product designation, product quality

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Official Journal of the European Union

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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 135/09)

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

‘SALATE VON DER INSEL REICHENAU’

EC No: DE/PGI/005/0317/27.10.2003

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:

Bundesministerium der Justiz

Address: D-11015 Berlin

Tel.

Fax

(49-30) 20 25 70

(49-30) 20 25 95 25

E-mail:

poststelle@bmj.bund.de

2.

Group:

Name:

Address:

Tel.

Fax

Reichenau-Gemüse eG

Marktstraße 1
D-78479 Insel Reichenau

(49-7534) 920 00

(49-7534) 92 0020

E-mail:

info@reichenaugemuese.de

Composition: Producers/processors ( X ) Other: ( )

3.

Type of product:

Class 1.6: Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed

4.

Specification:

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

4.1 Name:

‘Salate von der Insel Reichenau’

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

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4.2 Descr iption: Salate von der Insel Reichenau are lettuces which come from the island of Reichenau
in Lake Constance. The lettuce assortment consists of the varieties Lactuca sativa (L.) var. capitata
(cabbage lettuce, batavian lettuce, iceberg, Novita) and Lactuca sativa (L.) var. crispa (Lollo rosso, Lollo
Bionda, oakleaf). The lettuces are grown exclusively using the cultivation methods of Reichenau. They
owe their special characteristics to the geographical conditions, but also to human influence.

4.3 Geographical area: The island of Reichenau in Lake Constance, Germany.

4.4 Proof of or igin: All packages are labelled with batch numbers as part of the IMS certification for
Reichenau Gemüse e.G. This batch number identifies the production holding. All holdings are located
on the island of Reichenau and only cultivate land on the island. Land management is documented
using the hydrographic chart. This traceability system irrefutably links the product with the geogra-
phical area.

4.5 Method of production: Salate von der Insel Reichenau are produced in accordance with the Rich-
tlinien für den integrierten und kontrollierten Anbau von Gemüse in Baden-Württemberg zur Verwen-
dung des Qualitätszeichens Baden-Württemberg ‘Gesicherte Qualität mit Herkunftsangabe’ (Guidelines
on the integrated and controlled cultivation of vegetables in Baden-Württemberg for the purposes of
using the Baden-Württemberg origin and quality label). This means that the use of fertilisers and plant
protection products is kept to a minimum. The soil is carefully cultivated and kept healthy. Weeds are
controlled largely by hoeing, steaming or flaming, i.e. they are mechanically controlled. The soil is
analysed each year to optimise fertiliser use. Beneficial insects are used in the glasshouses to combat
pests. On the island of Reichenau lettuces grown under cover (under glass or sheeting) are harvested
from February to May. A second harvesting period for lettuces grown under cover takes place in
October, November and December. The first
lettuces grown outdoors under plastic sheeting or
unwoven fabric are harvested from April/May onwards. The season ends with the first night frosts in
the autumn (September/October). The lettuces are harvested mainly in the early hours of the morning.
The entire harvest, right down to palletising, is carried out purely by hand. The garden-fresh lettuces
are usually sold wholesale unbagged; individual heads of lettuce are bagged only at the express wish of
clients. This stage of work is also carried out by hand in the field. All lettuces are washed before being
delivered to wholesalers.

4.6 Link:

— Natural link: The island of Reichenau is virtually made for growing vegetables. Positioned as it is in
Lake Constance, the island is distinguished from other vegetable-growing regions by its special
geographical and climatic conditions (humidity, warmth, light) and hence meets the natural growing
conditions for leaf lettuces, which require relatively warm temperatures, particularly well. As a large
body of water, Lake Constance ensures sufficient humidity all year round. The reflection of light on
the water's surface produces high-intensity light emissions for the products. Lake Constance also
acts as a kind of thermal energy store. The humidity, heat and light reflection factors all have a
positive impact on the climate, producing favourable growing conditions. Growers make use of
these positive climatic conditions with their special knowledge of growing in glasshouses/plastic
tunnels and outdoors under plastic sheeting. The leaf lettuces are specially and entirely grown in
soil using thermal soil treatment without chemicals.

— Reputation: The above natural and human influences impact so positively on growth, the early
harvest period and the natural quality of the products that Salate von der Insel Reichenau are
renowned even beyond the region. A trade and consumer survey carried out in 2000 shows that
consumers associate the island of Reichenau with horticulture (the island is also called the
‘Gemüseinsel’ — vegetable island), and have particularly positive opinions of the freshness, appear-
ance and origins of the products. Salate von der Insel Reichenau are products of traditional horticul-
ture going back to the monastery culture on the island of Reichenau. Abbot Walafrid Strabo
launched the island of Reichenau's market-garden tradition in AD 840 with the description of his
garden ‘De cultura hortorum’, known as ‘Hortulus’. Lettuce-growing on the island of Reichenau is first
documented in 1895 (1 ha) (see H. Glönkler, ‘Vom Weinbau zum Gemüsebau’ (from winegrowing
to vegetables), 1991, p. 60); by 1932 it had already increased to 20 ha (Glönkler, p. 70). Now leaf
lettuces are grown under cover on around 30 ha and outside on around 50 ha.

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4.7 Inspection body:

Name:

Regierungspräsidium Karlsruhe, Referat 34

Address: D-76247 Karlsruhe

Tel.

Fax

(49-721) 926 37 06

(49-721) 37 05 46

E-mail:

abteilung3@rpk.bwl.de

4.8 Labelling: Salate von der Insel Reichenau g.g.A.