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: 2008-12-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Portugal, cereals, designation of origin, fruit vegetable, location of production, product designation

19.12.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 324/31

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 324/13)

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 of the date of
this publication.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘BATATA DOCE DE ALJEZUR’

EC No: PT-PGI-0005-0517-03.01.2005

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:

Gabinete de Planeamento e Políticas

Address: Rua Padre António Vieira n.o 1
P-1099-073 Lisboa

Tel.

Fax

(351) 213 819 300

(351) 213 876 635

E-mail:

gpp@gpp.pt

2. Group:

Name:

Address:

Tel.

Fax

Associação de Produtores de Batata Doce de Aljezur

Largo 1o de Maio n.o 3

(351) 282 990 010

(351) 282 990 011

E-mail:

rogerio.rosa@cm-aliezur.pt

Composition: Producers/processors ( X ) Other ( )

3.

Type of product:

Class 1.6 — Fresh or processed fruit, vegetables and cereals

4.

Specification:

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

4.1. Name:

‘Batata doce de Aljezur’

4.2. Description:

The ‘Batata doce de Aljezur’ (Aljezur sweet potato) is the adventitious, fleshy, tuberous root of the
plant Ipomoea batatas (L.) (syn. Batatas edulis) of the Lira variety and Convolvulaceae family. Elongated and
pear shaped, its skin is purple or reddish brown and its flesh yellow. Its size varies between 8,5 × 4,0 cm
and 16,5 × 7,1 cm and it reaches a weight of between 50 and 450 g. It has a sweet taste and its
texture is not very fibrous. When eaten raw its taste is similar to that of chestnuts.

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

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4.3. Geographical area:

In view of the specific cultivation requirements of the ‘Batata doce de Aljezur’, the variety tradi-
tionally used, the soil and weather conditions needed and the specific expertise of the local population,
the geographical area of production, preparation and packaging is restricted to the municipality of
Aljezur in the Faro district and to the parishes of São Teotóneo, São Salvador, Zambujeira do Mar,
Longueira-Almograve and Vila Nova de Milfontes of the Odemira municipality in the district of Beja.

4.4. Proof of origin:

In addition to the specific characteristics of the product that link it to the region of origin, there is a
traceability system in place. Agricultural holdings and preparation and packaging centres must be
located in the above-mentioned geographical area and authorised by the Producers' Group by means of
a prior opinion issued by the Control Body. The entire production process, from the agricultural
holding to the product's point of sale, is subject to checks to ensure compliance with all the agri-
cultural, preparation and packaging practices required. The PGI may be used only on products that
have the above-mentioned characteristics and for which the production procedures have been checked.
The certification mark is numbered, which means that products can always be fully traced. Proof of
origin can be checked at any stage throughout the entire production chain.

4.5. Method of production:

The soil is lightly tilled and harrowed and organic fertilizer is put down. The nursery area is set up in
February when roots are planted 10-15 cm deep in the ground, each one in an area 50 × 60 cm. The
move to the final growing area takes place in April/May when a piece of the stem measuring 25 cm in
length is planted. Each one is planted in an area 20 × 65 cm and lightly watered. Weed control is
carried out by weeding. In most cases, watering is not necessary. The plant remains in the ground for
about four months. Most of the harvesting is done in October, when the roots have reached maturity
and there is not too much moisture in the soil. After harvesting, the sweet potatoes are dried above
ground for around eight days, to allow suberisation and so that any cuts can heal. The sweet potatoes
are then washed to remove excess soil and other impurities. The sweet potatoes are stored in a cool,
ventilated area with an average temperature of 13/14 °C. Selection and packaging takes place in the
region of origin, which is justified not only by reduced production costs and more effective and effi-
cient quality control and product traceability, but also and mainly because the product is extremely
sensitive to handling/transport: sweet potatoes develop necrosis easily and this has a significant impact
on preserving the product and on its quality and appearance.

4.6. Link:

The town of Aljezur was founded in the tenth century by Arabs and later seized from the Moors
in 1249. According to legend (although this clashes with history and the date of the sweet potato's
introduction into Europe), the Knights of the Order of St James of the Sword,
led by Paio Peres
Correia, drank a potion made from sweet potato before every important battle. The force of the inva-
sion and the speed with which they took the castle of Aljezur stunned the Moors, who were unable to
react to such a sudden charge. The conquest took place in 1249 and, according to the legend, the
potion that was the determining factor in the victory was none other than the famous ‘feijoada de
batata doce de Aljezur’ (the Aljezur sweet-potato bean stew). Whatever the truth of this story, the
sweet potato's origins in Aljezur have been lost over time, which serves to illustrate that it has a long
tradition in the region and in the diet of the local people. The product's physical, chemical and organo-
leptic characteristics stem from the farmers' cultivation practices (expertise) and the natural conditions
present in the region: the land, podzolised dunes and sandy coverings that have an underlying layer of
clay, and the particularly oceanic climate affecting the narrow coastal strip, which is irrigated by the
Mira river. These conditions are found only within the boundaries of the production area. Even in
neighbouring areas,
the climate and the type of soil are significantly different. Aljezur has an
outstanding reputation as far as the sweet potato is concerned, which is reflected by the price that this
product reaches on the market, the attempts to infringe on the name and abuse it, the numerous refer-
ences to it in literature and the many events dedicated to the product. The sweet potato's reputation in
Aljezur is not a recent trend resulting from sporadic and dubious demand for the product. The root
vegetable is perfectly adapted to the natural conditions of the area in question, it is closely linked to
local tradition, while its origins have been lost over time. It is still eaten today because consumers of
this type of product recognise that these sweet potatoes have unique characteristics (sweet, smooth and
not particularly fibrous) and prefer sweet potatoes of the Lira variety produced in this region to those
imported from other parts of the world.

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4.7. Inspection body:

Name:

Address:

Tel.

Fax

E-mail:

AP AG AL — Associação para os Produtos Agro — Alimentares Tradicionais
Certificados do Algarve

Rua Mouzinho de Albuquerque, n.o 1A r/c
P-8000-397 Faro

(351) 289 804 532

(351) 289 804 533

Dora.guerreiro@clix.pt

Apagal is recognised as complying with Standard 45011:2001.

4.8. Labelling:

The label must include the wording ‘Batata doce de Aljezur — Indicação Geográfica Protegida’, the
corresponding EU logo (after registration) and the product logo indicated below:

In addition, irrespective of the product's commercial presentation, the certification mark of the OPC
(private control and certification body) must always be indicated.

The name or company name and address of the producer may not be replaced by the name of any
other organisation, even if it takes responsibility for the product or sells it. The sales name, ‘Batata doce
de Aljezur — IGP’, may not be supplemented by any other indication or reference, not even by the
trademarks of distributors or others.