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: 2007-11-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Belgium, designation of origin, labelling, leaf vegetable, location of production, mode of production, product designation, product quality

C 279/24

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Official Journal of the European Union

22.11.2007

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 279/09)

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

‘BRUSSELS GRONDWITLOOF’

EC No: BE/PGI/005/0535/24.03.2006

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:

Vlaamse Overheid, Departement Landbouw en Visserij, Afdeling Duurzame Landbouwont-
wikkeling

Address: Koning Albert II-laan 35, bus 40, B-1030 Brussel

Tel.

Fax

(32-2) 552 78 74

(32-2) 552 78 71

E-mail:

diederik.desmedt@lv.vlaanderen.be

2. Group:

Name:

Address:

Tel.

Fax

Brussels Grondwitloof vzw

Bukenstraat 16, B-1910 Kampenhout

(32-16) 65 59 44

(32-16) 65 59 44

E-mail:

—

Composition: Producers/processors ( X ) Other ( )

3.

Type of product:

Class 1.6: vegetables, fruit and cereals

4.

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

4.1. Name:

‘Brussels grondwitloof’

4.2. Description:

‘Brussels grondwitloof’ refers to chicory heads obtained by forcing the roots Chicorium
intybus L., var. foliosum Hegi (crop group chicory) of the Asteraceae (ex Compositae) family. Characteristic
of the cultivation is that only seedfast (non-hybrid) grower's selections are used and that forcing takes
place in soil and under casing soil. Through the casing soil the head grows in a balanced and cushioned
environment, which benefits crispness and leaf structure. Characteristic of ‘Brussels grondwitloof’ is the
crispness and the firm, slim head with a fine point, the fine leaf structure and a fresh, natural shiny leaf
(without hair). The taste forms a good balance between bitter and sweet.

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

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4.3. Geographical area: The area in which ‘Brussels grondwitloof’

is grown is demarcated as follows:
the municipal districts
the whole of Flemish-Brabant Province;
Neder-Over-Heembeek and Haren and the municipalities Anderlecht, Ganshoren,
Jette, Evere,
Schaarbeek, Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe and Sint-Pieters-Woluwe; also the municipalities Sint-Amands,
Puurs, Willebroek, Mechelen, Bonheiden, Putte, Heist-op-den-Berg, Hulshout, Herselt and Laakdal in
Antwerp Province and the municipalities Geraardsbergen, Ninove, Denderleeuw, Aalst, Lebbeke,
Buggenhout, Erpe-Mere, Haaltert, Herzele, Lede, Oosterzele, Sint-Lievens-Houtem and Wetteren in
East Flanders Province.

in the Brussels Capital Region,

4.4. Proof of origin: Each grower of ‘Brussels grondwitloof’ must register annually with the applicant group
Brussels grondwitloof vzw. The register is submitted to the inspection body responsible. All packaging
bears a label with the name of the grower or farm and a number. That number forms part of a conse-
cutive numbering system which, together with the farm registration, ensures product traceability. The
number may be replaced by another indication (e.g. a bar code) provided that this offers at least the
same guarantees as regards traceability. In order to guarantee quality, traceability and control, ‘Brussels
grondwitloof’ must be sorted, packed and labelled either on the farm where it was grown or at another
location under the direct supervision of the grower or his representative. Packing and/or labelling by
(intermediate) traders is expressly excluded.

Packing and labelling on the farm, or under the direct supervision of the grower or his representative,
is intended to guarantee origin and to ensure control. The producers' organisation wishes to prevent
chicory of uncontrolled origin from being packed,
labelled and placed on the market as ‘Brussels
grondwitloof’. The sale of ‘Brussels grondwitloof’ takes place largely via the classic sales channels for
fruit and vegetables: wholesale and retail, auctions and other forms of sales cooperation. There is now
already a significant difference in price between ‘Brussels grondwitloof’ and hydroculture chicory. This
makes fraud and deception attractive. Such fraud damages the reputation of ‘Brussels grondwitloof’.

Also, in order to maintain quality the chain between harvesting and packing should be kept short as
this benefits final quality. Excessive handling adversely affects the quality of (soil-grown) chicory, which
remains a fragile and easily-damaged product.

4.5. Method of production:

‘Brussels grondwitloof’ is a vegetable which is obtained by means of a dual culti-

vation process: root cultivation followed by forcing or drawing.

— The roots grow during the summer in open fields. Around May own or bought seed from growers'
selections is sown for this purpose. By means of careful sowing and thinning, each plant is given
equal growing space so that uniform, moderately thick roots are lifted. This is very important for
obtaining chicory heads of equal size and high quality. In the autumn, before severe frost occurs,
the roots are lifted and the leaf is cut away. About 2 to 3 cm of leafstalk remains in order to leave
intact the final bud from which the chicory head has to grow. The roots are grown using integrated
and organic cultivation methods as far as possible.

— For drawing or forcing, the roots are placed side by side upright and slightly slanting in holes or
chicory beds and covered with a 5 to 20 cm thick layer of crumbly soil. This may be in the open
air or in a chicory shed. Without heating, the chicory holes in the open air will be ready for
harvesting in early spring (March or April). Later harvesting is possible with extra late selections
and by means of growing techniques which ensure that the spring warmth reaches the buried roots
less quickly. With soil heating (by means of traditional chicory kettles, central heating, etc.) the
harvest can be moved to the desired time. Selections adapted to the time of harvest should be used
(early, semi-early, winter, semi-late, late). The harvest falls approximately three weeks after applying
soil warmth. During drawing, the holes are protected from the weather (inter alia precipitation,
wind, light and cold) by covering material.

— Once the heads are ready for harvesting, the whole plant is harvested in one go. This is necessary
for optimum quality of the end product. The head is separated from the root, after which cleaning
follows.

— During the harvest, roots are selected for seed cultivation. For this, the best combinations of root
and head are chosen on the basis of criteria laid down in the product specification. These seed
roots are kept until planting in the early spring. After planting, seed stalks grow out of the roots
and in August these are cut off, bundled and placed in heaps for further ripening. Once ripe, the
seed carriers are threshed, cleaned and sorted in order to obtain suitable sowing seed for subsequent
cultivation.

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4.6. Link: Typical

‘Brussels grondwitloof’ cultivation has come about through a combination of history,

natural conditions and know-how.

‘Brussels grondwitloof’ has a rich history and tradition. Until the beginning of the 19th century, vegeta-
bles were grown within and outside what is now the Brussels inner ring road (the former city wall) in
marshy areas by vegetable growers called ‘boerkozen’. Among other things, the Brussels ‘boerkozen’
grew ‘capucienenbaard’ for which they used thick roots, and over time they concentrated on improving
the first shoot. In this way the ‘Brusselse capucienenbaard’ automatically developed into the chicory
heads of today.

Schaarbeek is the birthplace of chicory cultivation. The Botanical Garden and its horticulturist Bresiers
played an important part in the cultivation's development. Around 1870 chicory growing was confined
to Schaarbeek and the neighbouring Evere. Over the following decades the growing area expanded into
the neighbouring municipalities and cultivation in Schaarbeek and Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe began to
decline. The new chicory cultivation expanded rapidly to cover the geographical area described under
point 4.2.

The growers organised themselves into ‘chicory syndicates’ to promote sales and exports. These syndi-
cates concentrated on selling chicory at markets further afield in Belgium, and abroad. As early as
1862 chicory was exported to Paris and from 1872 onwards regular export gained momentum. Over
the following decades chicory became Belgium's most important export vegetable.

In October 1973 for the first time in the Netherlands chicory was sold which had been forced on the
basis of water. This marked the beginning of the rapid rise of hydroculture, which came to pose a
threat to soil-grown chicory cultivation. Whereas in 1973 the former Brabant Province still had around
2 400 soil-grown chicory farms and annual production then was approximately 100 000 to
120 000 tonnes, today Flemish Brabant Province has around 330 soil-grown chicory farms and
Belgium's total soil-grown chicory production is about 12 000 tonnes.

As regards soil conditions, sand-loam and light loam soils predominate in the geographical area. These
are ideally suited for use as covering soil when forcing soil-grown chicory. When they dry out, sandy
soils quickly provide a dusty covering soil which dirties the chicory heads while the quartz grains
present chafe the epidermis of the heads causing red colouration and loss of quality. Heavy soils are
difficult to crumble sufficiently fine in order to provide a good covering layer and strongly retain excess
moisture, thereby facilitating misshapen heads and rotting.

‘Brussels grondwitloof’ seed cultivation, root growing and forcing requires extensive know-how on the
part of the growers, as described under point 4.5. The soil in which forcing takes place has to satisfy
very stringent requirements in terms of structure and profile. Even in soils with a suitable texture, the
grower will therefore still have to take the requisite technical cultivation measures (such as soil improve-
ment and fertilisation, deep soil working, controlling the level of the groundwater table, etc.) in order
to obtain an optimum forcing environment.

Within the geographical area, chicory growing became an important factor not only for economic but
also for social development. The impact of ‘Brussels grondwitloof’ cultivation became evident in many
facets of social life such as local chicory balls with ‘Miss Chicory’ contests, and parades and processions
featuring giant chicories.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name:

Federale Overheidsdienst Economie, K.M.O., Middenstand en Energie — Algemene Directie
Controle en Bemiddeling — Tweede Afdeling Gespecialiseerde Diensten, Sectie A — Controles
Uitgaven ELGF en Marktordening

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

Tel.

Fax

(32-2) 277 71 49

(32-2) 277 54 53

E-mail: dirk.demaeseneer@mineco.fgov.be

4.8. Labelling: The product, which is intended for human consumption, must bear control labels showing
the designation ‘Brussels grondwitloof’, the grower's name, the indication in connection with the
product's traceability, and the European PGI symbol.