Publication of an amendment 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: 2012-10-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Spain, designation of origin, foodstuff, honey, product designation








C_2012302EN.01002401.xml










6.10.2012   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 302/24





Publication of an amendment 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
2012/C 302/14
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.
AMENDMENT APPLICATION

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006


AMENDMENT APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 9


‘MIEL DE LA ALCARRIA’


EC No: ES-PDO-0117-0079-22.09.2010


PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Heading in the product specification affected by the amendment:








—





Name of product




—


☒


Description of product




—


☒


Geographical area




—


☒


Proof of origin




—


☒


Method of production




—


☒


Link




—


☒


Labelling




—


☒


National requirements




—


☒


Other (inspection body)




2.   Type of amendment(s):








—


☒


Amendment to Single Document or Summary Sheet




—





Amendment to Specification of registered PDO or PGI for which neither the Single Document nor the Summary has been published




—





Amendment to Specification that requires no amendment to the published Single Document (Article 9(3) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)




—





Temporary amendment to Specification resulting from imposition of obligatory sanitary or phytosanitary measures by public authorities (Article 9(4) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)




3.   Amendment(s):

3.1.   Description:

The drafting of the physico-chemical and pollen characteristics has been improved and mathematical symbols have been introduced to define the limits for each parameter.
The limits for certain physico-chemical and pollen characteristics have been amended on the basis of experience over the more than 16 years since ‘Miel de La Alcarria’ was registered as a Protected Designation of Origin and on the basis of studies of the results of analyses carried out on honey covered by the ‘Miel de La Alcarria’ designation at the honey laboratory of the Agricultural Centre of the Government of Castile-La Mancha, which have enabled us to describe the characteristics of the product more accurately.
3.2.   Geographical area:

The geographical area has been updated to take account of the recognition or establishment of new local administrative areas, since it had been noted that certain local areas within the protected area were not mentioned, although they are surrounded by others that were and there was no reason to exclude them. These have therefore now been included.
In addition, hives are appearing in neighbouring municipalities and therefore, bearing in mind the findings of the study of the Agricultural Centre of the Government of Castile-La Mancha, new municipalities have been added to promote beekeeping to the maximum in the area, while maintaining the specified qualities of ‘Miel de La Alcarria’ and taking account of the similar variety of flora throughout the area.
3.3.   Proof of origin:

The inspection body responsible for checking the specification has changed and so the section ‘Checks and Certification’ has been redrafted, with references to the ‘Regulatory Board’ being replaced by references to the ‘Inspection body responsible for certification’ in the relevant sections of the specification. In addition, the conditions to be fulfilled by packaging undertakings and the product itself have been amended.
3.4.   Method of production:

Since the inspection body has changed, this section, which described the method of production, has been replaced by a new version setting out the requirements for and the certifiable characteristics of ‘Miel de La Alcarria’. Therefore, the methods referred to in the section on the link with the area are included here. These methods are also updated, since many of them are not characteristic of ‘Miel de La Alcarria’ but are rather statutory sanitary and food-health requirements.
3.5.   Link with the area:

In the section on soil and vegetation and in the paragraph on wild flora, the list of labiates is updated to include marjoram (Thymus mastichina L. subsp. mastichina) and the following is inserted in the paragraph on arable land: ‘Aromatic plants and plants for seasoning, principally lavandin (Lavandula hybrida Rev) are also grown.’
As stated above, the description of the methods used has been moved to the section on the ‘Method of production’.
3.6.   Inspection body:

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, we request that the inspection body for ‘Miel de La Alcarria’ PDO be the ‘GEACAM.S.A.’ certification body, which is accredited by ENAC for the agri-food sector as fulfilling the requirements of Standard UNE-EN 45011 ‘General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems’.
3.7.   Labelling:

The text is redrafted so as to better identify packaging.
3.8.   National requirements:

The Community and national provisions are updated.
SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006


‘MIEL DE LA ALCARRIA’


EC No: ES-PDO-0117-0079-22.09.2010


PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Name:

‘Miel de La Alcarria’
2.   Member State or Third Country:

Spain
3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff:

3.1.   Type of product:







Class 1.4.


Other products of animal origin (eggs, honey, various dairy products except butter, etc.)




3.2.   Description of product to which the name in (1) applies:

The following types of ‘Miel de La Alcarria’ are produced:
Monofloral rosemary honey (Rosmarinus officinalis L.);
Monofloral lavender honey (Lavandula latifolia Medicus);
Multifloral honey.
On packing, it has the following characteristics:
A.   Physico-chemical characteristics







Moisture content


≤ 17,5 %




Hydroxymethylfurfural


≤ 15,0 mg/kg




Free acidity


≤ 35,0 meq/kg




Electrical conductivity


≤ 0,62 mS/cm




Colorimetry


L*
10 ≥ 55,0; – 2,0 ≤ a*
10 ≤ + 22,0; hab, 10 ≥ 74,0




B.   Pollen characteristics







Type of ‘Miel de La Alcarria’


Percentage of pollen grains




Monofloral lavender honey


Lavender pollen > 10 %




Monofloral rosemary honey


Rosemary pollen ≥ 15 %




Multifloral honey


Total grains of thyme (Thymus t.), savory (Satureja spp.), rosemary and lavender pollen ≥ 5 %




The following requirements shall also apply.






—


The percentage of grains of pollen of plants of the heath family (Ericaceae), with the exception of common bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L. Sprengel), is ≤ 1 %.










—


The percentage of grains of pollen of rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.) is ≤ 3 %.










—


The percentage of grains of pollen of French lavender (Lavandula stoechas L.) is ≤ 3 %.










—


The total percentage of pollens of non-ornamental plants, excluding aromatic plants, cultivated in the production area is ≤ 15 %.




C.   Organoleptic characteristics

The honeys must have the organoleptic characteristics, as far as colour, aroma and flavour are concerned, that are specific to the flower from which they originate.
Monofloral rosemary honey:






—


Colour: from extra-white to light amber.










—


Aroma: subtle floral aroma. Slight to average intensity and persistence.










—


Taste: sweet with acid notes. Slight to average intensity and persistence. Slight aftertaste.




Monofloral lavender honey:






—


Colour: from extra-light amber to amber.










—


Aroma: aromatic, with balsamic notes. Average to high intensity and persistence.










—


Flavour: sweet with varying levels of acidity. Average to high intensity and persistence. Intense aftertaste.




Multifloral honey:






—


Colour: from extra-light amber to amber.










—


Aroma: very varied. Fruity, aromatic, warm, subtle, animal, from a fairly intense flowery aroma to a fresh green plant aroma. Varying intensity and persistence.










—


Flavour: sweet with varying levels of acidity. Varying intensity and persistence. Generally fresh aftertaste.




3.3.   Raw materials (for processed products only):

—
3.4.   Feed (for products of animal origin only):

—
3.5.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the defined geographical area:

The production and processing of ‘Miel de La Alcarria’ must take place in the defined geographical area.
3.6.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc.:

The honey must be packed in the production area, because the physico-chemical properties (moisture and hydroxymethylfurfural content) of the honey deteriorate (the values increase) if the honey is transported in bulk, moved or has to wait to be packed, and so to maintain the product’s specific characteristic it must be packed in the production area.
The net content of the packaging is as laid down in the applicable legislation, with a maximum content of 1 kg.
The container must have a hermetic seal.
The container must be of clear, transparent glass.
Containers may not be reused.
3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling:

Honey to be marketed with the ‘Miel de La Alcarria’ designation of origin and labelled as such, must meet the requirements of the specification and be identified by means of a numbered label issued by the Regulatory Board of the ‘Miel de La Alcarria’ designation of origin and checked by the inspection body and bear a guarantee seal and a commercial label giving at least the following information:






—


the following words in a prominent position: ‘Denominación de Origen Miel de La Alcarria’ (Miel de La Alcarria Designation of Origin) or ‘Denominación de Origen Protegida Miel de La Alcarria’ (Miel de La Alcarria Protected Designation of Origin),










—


the type of honey based on its botanical origin: rosemary, lavender or multifloral.




All packed honey that passes the quality checks and meets the requirements set out in the section ‘Description of product’ must bear the following logo:



4.   Concise definition of the geographical area:

The area where the hives are located is in the centre of the peninsula and covers various municipalities in the District of Agraria de La Alcarria in the Provinces of Guadalajara and Cuenca.
The total area of this zone is 10 354 km2.
The honey is packed in the production area, which comprises the following municipalities in the Provinces of Guadalajara and Cuenca:
In the Province of Cuenca: Abía de la Obispalía, Albalate de las Nogueras, Albendea, Alcantud, Alcázar del Rey, Alcohujate, Altarejos (comprising exclusively the locality of Poveda de la Obispalía), Arandilla del Arroyo, Arrancacepas, Barajas de Melo, Bascuñana de San Pedro, Beteta (including Beteta and the locality of Valtablado de Beteta), Buciegas, Buendía, Campos del Paraíso, Canalejas del Arroyo, Cañamares, Cañaveras, Cañaveruelas, Cañizares, Carrascosa, Castejón, Castillo-Albaráñez, Cuenca (comprising exclusively the localities of Cólliga, Colliguilla and Villanueva de los Escuderos), Cueva del Hierro, Frontera (La), Fuentenava de Jábaga, Gascueña, Huelves, Huerta de la Obispalía, Huete, Leganiel, Olmeda de la Cuesta, Olmedilla de Eliz, Paredes, Peraleja (La), Pineda de Cigüela, Portalrubio de Guadamejud, Pozuelo (El), Priego, Puebla de Don Francisco, Rozalén del Monte, Saceda-Trasierra, Saelices, Salmeroncillos, San Pedro Palmiches, Sotorribas (including the localities of Collados, Pajares, Ribagorda, Ribatajada, Ribatajadilla, Torrecilla and Villaseca), Tinajas, Torralba, Torrejoncillo del Rey, Uclés, Valdecolmenas (Los), Valdeolivas, Valsalobre, Vellisca, Villaconejos de Trabaque, Villalba del Rey, Villanueva de Guadamejud, Villar de Domingo García, Villar del Infantado, Villar de Olalla (comprising exclusively the localities of Barbalimpia, Hortizuela and Villarejo Seco), Villar y Velasco, Villarejo de la Peñuela, Villas de la Ventosa and Vindel.
In the Province of Guadalajara: Abánades, Alaminos, Alarilla, Albalate de Zorita, Albares, Alcocer, Alcolea del Pinar, Aldeanueva de Guadalajara, Algora, Alhóndiga, Alique, Almadrones, Almoguera, Almonacid de Zorita, Alocén, Anguita (comprising exclusively the locality of Padilla del Ducado), Aranzueque, Arbancón, Arbeteta, Argecilla, Armallones, Armuña de Tajuña, Atanzón, Auñón, Azuqueca de Henares, Baides, Barriopedro, Berninches, Brihuega, Budia, Bujalaro, Canredondo, Cañizar, Casas de San Galindo, Caspueñas, Castejón de Henares, Castilforte, Cendejas de Enmedio, Cendejas de la Torre, Centenera, Cifuentes, Ciruelas, Cogollor, Cogolludo (including Cogolludo and the localities of Aleas, Beleña del Sorbe and Torrebeleña), Copernal, Chiloeches, Chillarón del Rey, Driebes, Durón, Escamilla, Escariche, Escopete, Espinosa de Henares, Esplegares, Estriégana, Fuencemillán, Fuentelencina, Fuentelviejo, Fuentenovilla, Gajanejos, Guadalajara (including Guadalajara and the localities of Iríepal, Taracena and Valdenoches), Henche, Heras de Ayuso, Hita, Hontoba, Horche, Hortezuela de Ocen (La), Huérmeces del Cerro, Huertahernando, Hueva, Humanes, Illana, Inviernas (Las), Irueste, Jadraque, Jirueque, Ledanca, Loranca de Tajuña, Lupiana, Luzaga, Mandayona, Mantiel, Marchamalo, Masegoso de Tajuña, Matillas, Mazuecos, Medranda, Membrillera, Millana, Mirabueno, Miralrío, Mondéjar, Montarrón, Moratilla de los Meleros, Muduex, Negredo, Ocentejo, Olivar (El), Olmeda de Cobeta (comprising exclusively the locality of La Buenafuente del Sistal), Olmeda de Jadraque (La), Pareja, Pastrana, Peñalén, Peñalver, Peralveche, Pinilla de Jadraque, Pioz, Poveda de la Sierra, Pozo de Almoguera, Pozo de Guadalajara, Puebla de Beleña, Recuenco (El), Renera, Riba de Saelices (comprising exclusively the localities of La Loma y Ribarredonda), Romanones, Sacecorbo, Sacedón, Saelices de la Sal, Salmerón, San Andrés del Congosto, San Andrés del Rey, Sauca, Sayatón, Sigüenza, Solanillos del extremo, Sotillo (El), Sotodosos, Taragudo, Tendilla, Toba (La), Torija, Torrecuadradilla, Torre del Burgo, Torremocha del Campo, Torremocha de Jadraque, Tórtola de Henares, Trijueque, Trillo, Utande, Valdarachas, Valdearenas, Valdeavellano, Valdeconcha, Valdegrudas, Valderrebollo, Valfermoso de Tajuña, Valtablado del Río, Viana de Jadraque, Villanueva de Alcorón, Villanueva de Argecilla, Villaseca de Henares, Yebes, Yebra, Yélamos de Abajo, Yélamos de Arriba, Zaorejas and Zorita de los Canes.
5.   Link with the geographical area:

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area:

The District of La Alcarria is a high plateau at an altitude of between 900 and 1 000 metres, crossed by slow-moving streams that have created plains and gorges covered in aromatic plants and thicket.
The plains lie at between 700 and 800 metres above sea level. The largest is the plain of the River Tajuña, which divides the District into two.
The soil of La Alcarria is basic, marly and gypsiferous.
The wild flora is rich in labiates such as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, L.) thyme (Thymus ssp.), lavender (Lavandula latifolia Medicus), savory (Satureja ssp.), hyssop (Hissopus officinalis, L.) and marjoram (Thymus mastichina L. subsp. mastichina) and other plants such as common bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, L. Sprengel) and common gorse (Genista scorpius, L.), etc.
The District’s arable land is rotated between cereal and sunflower crops. There is also a small proportion of permanent crops, the main ones being vines and olive trees. Aromatic plants and plants for seasoning, principally lavandin (Lavandula hybrida Rev) are also grown. A number of tree species are to be found in great numbers and oak, holm-oak, pine and savin-juniper forests are import for beekeeping.
The area has a cool, temperate Mediterranean climate. The average temperature is between 8 °C and 12 °C, with long cold periods when temperatures vary between 0 °C and 4 °C and hot periods with temperatures of between 18 °C and 22 °C.
According to the method of production established by beekeepers in the geographical area, the maximum temperature when liquefying the honey for decanting and packing is 45 °C. Pasteurisation is not permitted and producers must guarantee that the honey is not overheated. The use of sand, diatomaceous or similar filters that remove the natural pollen content is prohibited and gravity decantation must be used.
5.2.   Specificity of the product:

A.   Physico-chemical characteristics







Moisture content


≤ 17,5 %




Hydroxymethylfurfural


≤ 15,0 mg/kg




Free acidity


≤ 35,0 meq/kg




Electrical conductivity


≤ 0,62 mS/cm




Colorimetry


L*
10 ≥ 55,0; – 2,0 ≤ a*
10 ≤ + 22,0; hab, 10 ≥ 74,0




B.   Pollen characteristics







Type of ‘Miel de La Alcarria’


Percentage of pollen grains




Monofloral lavender honey


Lavender pollen > 10 %




Monofloral rosemary honey


Rosemary pollen ≥ 15 %




Multifloral honey


Total grains of thyme (Thymus t.), savory (Satureja spp.), rosemary and lavender ≥ 5 %




In addition, the following conditions must be complied with.






—


The percentage of grains of pollen of plants of the heath family (Ericaceae), with the exception of common bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L. Sprengel), must be ≤ 1 %.










—


The percentage of grains of pollen of rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.) must be ≤ 3 %.










—


The percentage of grains of pollen of French lavender (Lavandula stoechas L.) must be ≤ 3 %.










—


The total percentage of pollens of non-ornamental plants, excluding aromatic plants, cultivated in the production area must be ≤ 15 %.




C.   Organoleptic characteristics

The honeys must have the organoleptic characteristics, as far as colour, aroma and flavour are concerned, that are specific to the flower from which they originate.
5.3.   Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for PGI):

The situation of Alcarria at an altitude of between 900 and 1 000 metres, its cool, temperate Mediterranean climate and the basic soils produce wild flora rich in labiates such as rosemary, thyme, lavender, savory, hyssop and marjoram, as well as other plants such as common bearberry and common gorse, giving multifloral, monofloral rosemary and monofloral lavender ‘Miel de La Alcarria’ their specific characteristics, which differ from those of other honeys and depend on the percentages of pollen they contain and the organoleptic and physico-chemical properties of moisture content, hydroxymethylfurfural content, free acidity, electrical conductivity and colorimetry.

Reference to the publication of the specification:

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)
http://pagina.jccm.es/agricul/paginas/comercial-industrial/consejosreguladores/pliegos/pliego_condiciones_miel_alcarria.pdf


(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.