Publication of an approved standard amendment to a product specification of a protected designation of origin or protected geographical indication in the sector of the agricultural products and foodstuffs, as referred to in Article 6b(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 2023/C 141/11
Date: 2023-04-24
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: France, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, beef, consumer information, designation of origin, fresh meat, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products








C_2023141EN.01003401.xml










24.4.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 141/34






Publication of an approved standard amendment to a product specification of a protected designation of origin or protected geographical indication in the sector of the agricultural products and foodstuffs, as referred to in Article 6b(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014
(2023/C 141/11)
This communication is published in accordance with Article 6b(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 (1).

Communicating the approval of a standard amendment to the product specification of a protected designation of origin or protected geographical indication originating in a Member State


‘Taureau de Camargue’


EU No: PDO-FR-0041-AM05 - 3.2.2021


PDO (X) PGI ( )

1.   Name of product

‘Taureau de Camargue’
2.   Member State to which the geographical area belongs

France
3.   Member State authority communicating the standard amendment

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
4.   Description of the approved amendment(s)

1.   Group
Description
The contact details of the applicant group have been updated.
The amendment does not affect the single document
2.   Description of the product
Description






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The crossing of the two breeds has been deleted. The name of the breed ‘de combat’ has been changed to ‘Brave’ in order to comply with the official name.










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The characteristics of the carcasses have been supplemented according to the EUROP classification grid (fat cover and muscle development).










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The description of the meat at the marketing stage has been supplemented (fresh and raw meat).




The amendment affects the single document.
3.   Geographical area
Description
The requirement for cutting plants to be in the geographical area has been removed.
The single document has been amended under section 3.2 ‘Description of the product to which the name in (1) applies’; 3.4. ‘Specific steps in production that must take place in the defined geographical area’; 3.5. ‘Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to’ and 4 ‘Concise definition of the geographical area’.
The date on which the National Committee on Agri-Food Products of the National Institute for Origin and Quality approved the boundaries of the area has been amended. This amendment does not affect the geographical area.
Two corrections have been made to the list of municipalities: the name of one has been changed (from Mézoargues to Saint-Pierre-de-Mézoargues); the other is an input error (Saint-Geniès-de-Varensal is to be replaced by Saint-Geniès-des Mourgues)
Corrections have been made to the spelling of certain municipalities, and the date of the Official Geographic Code (COG) relating to the demarcation of the municipalities listed in the product specification has been added.
The amendment does not affect the single document
4.   Evidence that the product originates in the area
Description






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Clarification of the identification declaration transmission dates for breeders and slaughterers.










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Change in the terminology of the various declarations and data submitted by breeders and slaughterhouses.










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Abolition of reporting requirements for cutting plants.










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Change in the number of stamps applied to the carcass (in six points instead of eight)




The amendment affects the single document.
5.   Production method
Description
—   Sub-section ‘Farming method’:






—


The stocking density has been changed from 0,6 LU/ha to 1,4 LU/ha
This amendment does not affect the single document.










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In addition, the method of calculating the LU has been changed by introducing a difference between males and adult females: one male older than 24 months corresponds to 1 LU (unchanged for this category) and one female older than 24 months old corresponds to 0,8 LU. The rate for animals aged between 6 months and 2 years remains the same (0,6 LU) and also for animals under 6 months of age (0 LU).
This amendment does not affect the single document.










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In the sentence ‘They must be reared unrestrained, exclusively in the open air and extensively to ensure that they remain wild’, the word ‘exclusively’ has been added.
Point 3.3 ‘Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only) of the single document’ has been amended.










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The fixed period during which the animals remain in the wetland area from April to November has been abolished, but the requirement of a minimum of six months without feeding in this area is maintained, guaranteeing the designation's link to the area.
Point 3.3 ‘Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only) of the single document’ has been amended.










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The feed has been changed by replacing the term ‘hay’ with ‘fodder’ for the feed supplement. The composition of the fodder is described. Authorisation of wrapping for wet fodder only has been added. The possibility of feeding fodder containing 20 % fodder from outside the area has been added.










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The possibility of a seed- and seed derivative-based supplement has been added, along with a description of its composition, which is fed to bovines selected to become bulls for sport.




—   Sub-section ‘Slaughter’:
It is specified that as soon as animals are held they must be stunned ‘immediately’ and not ‘in less than 5 seconds’.
No effect on the single document.
The provisions on the slaughter of animals have been amended and supplemented: details regarding the unloading of the animals, the size of the corridor, the pen adapted to the size of the animals and bleeding have been added. A prohibition on removing external fat has been added.
This amendment does not affect the single document.
The amendment affects the single document.
6.   Link
Description
The section ‘Link with the geographical area’ has been brought into line with the European Commission’s requirements (shortened history, redrafting of certain parts to make it more consistent) and more clearly demonstrates the link between ‘Taureau de Camargue’ and its geographical area, without any substantive changes to the link.
The sub-section ‘Specificity of the product’ has been revised to remove historical references and to add a description of the meat at the marketing stage.
The amendment affects the single document.
7.   Labelling
Description
The identification of the carcasses has been moved to the section ‘Evidence that the product originates in the geographical area’. The requirement for an identification stamp issued by the INAO has been removed.
Clarifications have been provided:






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The slaughterhouse number may replace the slaughter number;










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The holding herd number may replace the name of the farm written clearly;










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The method of slaughter by stunning is indicated on the labelling;










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The name and address of the cutting plant or slaughterhouse have been deleted, because the requirement for cutting plants to be in the area has been removed and because the name and address of the slaughterhouse is included in the slaughter number.




The amendment affects the single document.
8.   Inspection body
Description
The name and contact details of the certification body have been deleted. This section now provides the contact details of the authorities responsible for national inspections, i.e. the National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO) and the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF). The name and contact details of the certification body can be consulted via the website of the INAO and the European Commission’s database.
The amendment does not affect the single document.
9.   National requirements
Description
Certain points have been amended to comply with the changes made to the body of the product specification.
The amendment does not affect the single document.
10.   Summary
Description
Withdrawal
The amendment does not affect the single document.
SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘Taureau de Camargue’


EU No: PDO-FR-0041-AM05 - 3.2.2021


PDO (X) PGI ( )

1.   Name(s)

‘Taureau de Camargue’
2.   Member State or Third Country

France
3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

Class 1.1. Fresh meat (and offal)
3.2.   Description of product to which the name in (1) applies

The designation of origin ‘Taureau de Camargue’ applies to fresh meat from male or female animals obtained from local breeds, that is, the ‘raço di Biou’ and ‘Brave’ breeds born, reared and slaughtered in the geographical area.
The animals must be at least 18 months old.
Carcasses must be hung in the slaughterhouse for not less than 48 hours and not more than five days. The weight of carcasses for tax purposes must be 100 kg or more, except for heifers of between 18 and 30 months, for which the weight is set at 85 kg.
The meat of ‘Taureau de Camargue’ has a distinctive uniform dark red colour; it is glossy, lean, firm and with very little marbling.
3.3.   Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

The main feed must consist of pasture; a feed supplement may be given based exclusively on fodder containing 80 % fodder from the geographical area, up to a maximum of six months per year and a maximum of 5,5 kg dry matter equivalent per LU per day. Complete compound feeds, including medicated feedingstuffs, are not authorised under any circumstances.
3.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the defined geographical area

The animals must be born, reared and slaughtered in the geographical area.
3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

—
3.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

‘Taureau de Camargue’ PDO meat is identified when the carcass is whole, at the stage of the weighing of the carcass for tax purposes. A stamp identifying the PDO is then immediately applied to the different quarters (in six spots). The stamp is issued by the National Institute of Origin and Quality. Up to the final distribution stage, the carcass and pieces of meat cut from it are accompanied by an identification label displaying at least:






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the designation;










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the slaughter or slaughterhouse number;










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the name of the farm written clearly or the holding herd number;










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the method of slaughter by stunning;










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the European Union PDO logo in the same visual field as the name of the designation.




4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

In order to be entitled to the designation of origin, the meat must come from bull herds of the ‘raço di Biou’ breed or from livestock farms for the ‘Brave’ breed located in the geographical area.
The animals must be born, reared and slaughtered in the following geographical area:
Department of Bouches-du-Rhône:






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Canton of Arles: all municipalities.










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Canton of Châteaurenard: all municipalities.










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Canton of Eyguières: Aureilles, Eyguières, Lamanon and Mouriès.










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Canton of Istres: Fos-sur-Mer, Istres.










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Canton of Orgon: all municipalities.










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Canton of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône: Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône.










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Canton of Salon-de-Provence: Grans, Miramas, Salon-de-Provence.










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Canton of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer: Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer:










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Canton of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence: all municipalities.










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Canton of Tarascon-sur-Rhône: all municipalities.




Department of Gard:






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Canton of Aigues-Mortes: all municipalities.










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Canton of Aramon: all municipalities, with the exception of the municipalities of Estézargues and Domazan.










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Canton of Beaucaire: all municipalities.










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Canton of Lédignan: Mauressargues.










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Canton of Marguerittes: all municipalities.










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Canton of Nîmes: all municipalities.










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Canton of Quissac: all municipalities, with the exception of the municipality of Quissac.










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Canton of Remoulins: Argilliers, Collias, Remoulins, Vers-Pont-du-Gard.










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Canton of Rhony-Vidourle: all municipalities.










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Canton of Saint-Chaptes: all municipalities, with the exception of the municipalities of Aubussargues, Collorgues, Baron, Foissac, Saint-Dézéry.










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Canton of Saint-Gilles: all municipalities.










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Canton of Saint-Mamert: all municipalities.










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Canton of Sommières: all municipalities.










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Canton of Uzès: Arpaillargues-et-Aureillac, Blauzac, Sanilhac-Sagriès, Saint-Maximin, Uzès.










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Canton of Vauvert: all municipalities.










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Canton of Vistrenque (La): all municipalities.




Department of Hérault:






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Canton of Castries: all municipalities.










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Canton of Claret: Campagne, Fontanès, Garrigues, Sauteyrargues, Vacquières.










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Canton of Lunel: all municipalities.










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Canton of Matelles: Prades-le-Lez, Saint-Bauzille-de-Montmel, Sainte-Croix-de-Quintillargues, Saint-Vincent-de-Barbeyrargues.










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Canton of Mauguio: all municipalities.










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Canton of Montpellier: Castelnau-le-Lez, Clapiers, Le Crès, Lattes, Montpellier, Pérols.




A wetland area has been marked out within this geographical area.
5.   Link with the geographical area

The geographical area of the PDO corresponds to the winter pasture area of ‘Taureau de Camargue’, that is, the municipalities in which the animals traditionally remain for the winter, in the vast stretches of scrubland and grassland. This area includes a wetland area that follows the borders of the Camargue and in which the animals remain for at least six months during the summer period.
These vast pastures composed of halophilous plants in the Camargue and of dry grasslands in the winter growth zone influence the physical and mental development of the animals. In turn, their rearing plays a significant environmental role, as it affects the evolution of the vegetation in the natural environments (salt marshes, salt meadows, swamps and open lawns): the bulls limit the growth of certain plant species and use large areas of vegetation composed of a mosaic of juxtaposed and interconnected habitats.
Reference has been made in numerous works to the highly original nature of ‘Taureau de Camargue’, which stems partly from the isolation of the breed owing to the particular features of the Camargue and partly from a rearing method developed by breeders in order to adapt to the constraints of the environment.
These animals are nearly wild, non-domesticated, hardy and resistant. They are suspicious of humans and can therefore be aggressive.
As a result, the meat from these animals has particular characteristics as described in an INRAE study (5 December 2007 – conference entitled ‘Rencontres autour des Recherches sur les Ruminants’), the main findings of which show that the muscles of these animals have a deep red colour and the meat is lean.
The fresh meat of ‘Taureau de Camargue’ is dark red, glossy, firm and with very little marbling.
The particularity of ‘Taureau de Camargue’ meat is closely linked to its environment and to the objective of the rearing, which is to produce bulls for sport. This requires nearly wild animals that have been reared in a preserved and safeguarded natural environment.
The excitable and aggressive nature of these animals means that they are perfectly suited to the purpose for which they are intended and gives the meat its characteristic features.
‘Taureau de Camargue’ is obtained from traditional local breeds, Camarguaise and Brave, and is particularly well adapted to the Camargue environment.
Reared unrestrained, the animals feed on pasture and remain in the wetland area for at least six months. The area has flat landscapes that are the result of a particular geology and pedology and are characterised by the presence of varying amounts of salt. These agronomically poor soils are home to specific ecosystems (salicornia, obione, glasswort).
The organoleptic qualities and particular nature of the meat can be explained by the diversity of the plant varieties found in the pastures:






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halophilous plants (salicornia, glasswort, obione, etc) in high-salt environments,










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reeds and fescue in low-salt environments,










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natural vegetation of the scrubland in dry areas,










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grassland vegetation throughout the geographical area.




The deep red colour of the meat is caused by its pH, which is influenced by the alkaline nutrients of the halophilous plants. Its fine grain is characterised by muscle fibre that develops through the regular movement of the animal in the free-range pastures (pasture land). The voluntary and frequent movement of these animals means that their muscles ‘feed’ on fats, making their meat low-fat.
‘Taureau de Camargue’ has highly specific qualities linked to the combined action of the soil, environment and living conditions.
Shaped by its environment and bred according to the free-range method since ancient times, ‘Taureau de Camargue’ has become an important partner in efforts to maintain biodiversity in the Camargue.

Reference to publication of the specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-34669263-8fe4-49be-8b70-41cf3a389500


(1)  OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, p. 17.