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: 2008-03-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: France, beef, designation of origin, location of production, product designation

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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

(2008/C 73/09)

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

‘BŒUF DE BAZAS’

EC No: FR/PDO/005/0344/21.04.2004

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:

Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité (I.N.A.O.)

Address: 51, rue d'Anjou

F-75008 Paris

Tel.

Fax

(33) 153 89 80 00

(33) 142 25 57 97

E-mail:

info@inao.gouv.fr

2. Group:

Name:

Address:

Tel.

Fax

Association pour la Défense du Bœuf de Bazas

3, Lagrange Est
F-33430 Bazas

(33) 556 25 03 32

(33) 556 25 23 80

E-mail:

bazas.elevage@expalliance.fr

Composition: Producers/processors ( X ) Other ( )

3.

Type of product:

Class 1.1: Fresh meat (and offal)

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

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4.

Specification:

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

4.1. Name:

‘Bœuf de Bazas’

4.2. Description: Bazadais or Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle or crosses between these two breeds.

Fresh meat: whole carcasses, sides, quarters, cuts.

Age at slaughter:

— Heifers: no less than 30 months — no more than 48 months

— Cows: no less than 36 months — no more than 108 months

— Steers: no less than 36 months — no more than 60 months.

Carcass characteristics:

— Minimum weight:

— 300 kg for heifers and cows,

— 380 kg for steers

— Conformation classes E, U, R

— Fat score 3 or 4

— No trimming of external fat for carcasses with a fat score of 3 and partial trimming for those with

a fat score of 4

— Meat colour: bright red.

4.3. Geographical area: The cattle must have been born, raised, fattened and slaughtered in the ‘Bazas’

production area, which includes:

— the department of the Gironde,

— the following cantons in the department of Landes: Aire sur Adour, Gabarret, Geaune, Grenade sur
Adour, Labrit, Mimizan, Morcenx, Parentis-en-Born, Pissos, Roquefort, Sabres, Sore, Villeneuve-de-
Marsan, Mont-de-Marsan and Tartas,

— the cantons bordering the Gironde and Landes in the neighbouring departments of Lot et Garonne

and Gers, i.e.:

— the cantons of Bouglon, Casteljaloux, Duras, Houeilles, Marmande, Meilhan-sur-Garonne, Mézin

and Seyches in Lot et Garonne, which border the Gironde and Landes,

— the cantons of Cazaubon, Nogaro, Riscle and Eauze in Gers, which border Landes.

To minimise the effects of transportation on the quality of the meat (animal welfare, stress limitation)
and to ensure better traceability of carcasses and better monitoring of the specific method of trimming,
the abattoirs registered to slaughter Bœufs de Bazas are located within the production area. This makes
it possible to preserve the organoleptic qualities of the carcasses.

4.4. Proof of origin: Before it is seven days old, at the latest, the animal is marked on both ears with an

approved mark bearing a unique national identification number.

An identification document (passport) containing the animal's details (date of birth, breed code,
national identification number, etc.) accompanies it to the abattoir.

This passport also makes it possible to identify the holdings the animal has passed through, as a move-
ment label is affixed by each one of the animal's owners, and each holding is identified by a unique
number (the first five figures correspond to the INSEE code for the department and commune in
which the holding is located). The geographical origin of the animal is therefore known.

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identification number. The carcass is also stamped with the ‘Bœuf de Bazas’

At the abattoir, the carcass is marked with a slaughter number, thereby establishing a link with
the national
logo in
food-grade ink. A numbered guarantee certificate showing the animal's national identification number
and slaughter number accompanies each carcass, side or quarter of beef sold to a butcher. Butchers
selling ‘Bœuf de Bazas’ may do so either exclusively or alongside other meat products. Checks are also
carried out on stock records.

4.5. Method of production: Heifers are reared to the age of at least 30 months, while cows and steers are

reared to at least 36 months.

Calves are reared in a suckler herd (suckled by their mothers).

The cattle spend at least seven months of the year at pasture, unless weather conditions are exception-
ally bad.

They are fed on grass or fodder produced mainly on the holding itself, supplemented with feed
approved by the Association pour la Défense du Bœuf de Bazas (Association for the defence of Bœuf de
Bazas).

Feed used during the fattening (finishing) period: during the fattening period, which lasts at least four
months, the aim is to finish fattening the animals so as to enable the carcass and meat to reach
optimum quality.

During the finishing period, or at least for the last two months, the animal must be fattened indoors
or in groups.

Grains or millers' offals (maize, wheat, barley, triticale, oats, rye, etc.) supplemented with coarse fodder
(grass, hay) and/or roots and tubers are used for finishing.

The stockbreeder/fattener must adjust the animal's feed rations according to its biological condition
and appetite. In this context, in addition to the grains that are to form the basic energy source in their
feed, cattle may be given maize silage and/or grass silage as long as they do not exceed 50 % of the
dry-matter intake.

As well as grains, oilcakes (mainly soya and linseed) may also be used.

Traditionally, over 70 % of the feed and more than 90 % of the animal's total food intake during its
lifetime are produced on the farm itself.

Meat maturation: at least 10 days.

4.6. Link:

Distinctive characteristic:

The area's oceanic climate (mild winters, frequent rainfall spread throughout the year and plenty of
sunshine) allows farmers to use the grassland as natural or temporary meadows and to graze their
herds for more than half the year.

The breeds used to produce ‘Bœuf de Bazas’ are those traditionally farmed in the area, and both the
Bazadais and the Blonde d'Aquitaine are local breeds.

Reputation:

The term ‘Bœuf de Bazas’ goes back as far as the 13th century, when it was used to refer to the best
local beef breeds reared in the area around the town of Bazas.

The fête des bœufs gras, the traditional procession of Bazadais cattle on carnival Thursday, has kept the
reputation of ‘Bœuf de Bazas’ alive since the 13th century. The festival has an unbroken history and
continued to be held even when its existence was under threat (under the ancien régime). The working
cattle were then fattened and sold, mainly at the market in Bazas.

Today, the reputation of ‘Bœuf de Bazas’ remains as strong as ever:

At local level:

— every year, at carnival time, the fête des bœufs gras draws crowds of spectators to Bazas, and partici-
pating butchers see a 30 % increase in sales during this period. The festival is built on the unique
qualities and renown of ‘Bœuf de Bazas’ and, in turn, helps maintain its reputation over time,

— other communes in the area covered by the PGI have also set up similar events.

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At national level:

The product's reputation extends far beyond the local area. This can be illustrated by some recent
examples:

— the Article in Le Figaro on 16 February 2003 entitled ‘le bœuf gras fait son carnaval’ (the fatted ox

celebrates carnival),

— the recipe for ‘croustillant de queue de bœuf de Bazas au foie gras de canard poêlé des landes’
(crispy ‘Bœuf de Bazas’ oxtail with fried Landes duck foie gras) featured on ‘Les escapades de
Petitrenaud’ broadcast on France 5.

4.7.

Inspection body:

Name:

Qualisud

Address: Agropole, BP 102

F-47000 Agen

(33) 558 06 15 21

(33) 558 75 13 36

Tel.

Fax

E-mail:

qualisud@wanadoo.fr

This inspection body is EN 45011 approved and accredited.

4.8. Labelling: Name under which the product is sold: ‘Bœuf de Bazas’.

The label must include an information field providing the consumer with information about the
product:

— type of animal (male or female),

— the animal's identification number,

— the carcass identification number (abattoir No), where appropriate,

— date of birth,

— breed,

— name and address of the farmer,

— date of slaughter,

— carcass weight,

— grade,

— recipient name.

This certificate accompanies the carcass, side or quarter until it is sold to the consumer.