Commission Regulation (EC) No 1215/2004 of 30 June 2004 amending the specification of a name appearing in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 on the registration of geographical indications and designations of origin (Scotch Beef)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs(1), and in particular Article 9 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Under Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92, the United Kingdom authorities have requested amendments to the description and the method of production of 'Scotch Beef', registered as a protected designation of origin by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 of 12 June 1996 on the registration of geographical indications and designations of origin under the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92(2).

(2) Following examination of this request for amendment, it has been decided that the amendments concerned are not minor.

(3) In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 and since the amendments are not minor, the Article 6 procedure applies mutatis mutandis .

(4) It has been decided that the amendments in this case comply with Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92. No statement of objection within the meaning of Article 7 of the Regulation has been sent to the Commission following the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (3) of the above amendments.

(5) Consequently, these amendments must be registered and published in the Official Journal of the European Union ,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The amendments set out in Annex I to this Regulation shall be registered and published in accordance with Article 6(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

A summary of the main points of the specification is given in Annex II to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 30 June 2004 .

For the Commission

Franz Fischler

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 148, 21.6.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 526/2004 (OJ L 85, 23.3.2004, p. 3).

(3) OJ C 99, 25.4.2003, p. 2 (Scotch Beef).

ANNEX I

Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92

AMENDMENT TO THE SPECIFICATION OF A PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION (Article 9)

No EC: UK/0274/ 25.1.1994

1. Registered name : PGI Scotch Beef 2. Amendments(s) requested : Specification heading:

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

Name

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

Description

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

Geographical area

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

Proof of origin

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

Method of production

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

Link

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

Labelling

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

National requirement 3. Amendment(s) Description

So as better to reflect current practice, take account of consumer concerns about more transparent labelling and improve the quality of Scotch Beef, the current description:

芦The product is derived from cattle finished, for a minimum period of three months, slaughtered and dressed in the designated area.禄

is hereby amended as follows:

芦The product is derived from cattle born, reared throughout their lives, slaughtered and dressed in the designated geographical area. The animals will have been produced and slaughtered in accordance with quality assurance schemes accredited to European Standard EN 45011 (ISO Guide 65) and having the same standards, assessments and assessment frequencies as those set by the applicant.禄

Method of production

As a result of the amendment to the description described above it is necessary to amend the details of the method of production. In addition, when the original application was submitted, Scotch Beef was almost never sold frozen. While this practice is still not widespread, the applicant would like to remove the words 芦Only fresh or chilled product may be sold禄 to allow Scotch Beef to be sold frozen if a processor so wishes.

Accordingly, the current description:

芦Cattle are finished in Scotland for a period of not less than three months. They are slaughtered and dressed in accordance with the specifications. Only fresh or chilled product may be sold.禄

is hereby amended as follows:

芦Cattle are born and reared throughout their lives in the designated geographical area. The animals will have been produced and slaughtered in accordance with quality assurance schemes accredited to European Standard EN 45011 (ISO Guide 65) and having the same standards, assessments and assessment frequencies as those set by the applicant. They are slaughtered and dressed in the designated geographical area in accordance with the specifications.禄

ANNEX II

SUMMARY Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 芦SCOTCH BEEF禄

No EC: UK/0274/ 25.1.1994 PDO ( ) PGI (X)

This summary has been drawn up for information purposes only. For full details, in particular the producers of the products covered by the PDO or PGI concerned, please consult the complete version of the product specification obtainable at national level or from the European Commission(1).

1. Responsible department in the Member State : Name : Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Food Chain Marketing and Competitiveness Division Address : Room 338

Nobel House

17 Smith Square

London, SW1P 3JR

United Kingdom

Tel. : (44-207) 238 66 87 Fax : (44-207) 238 57 28 e-mail : rlf.feedback@defra.gsi.gov.uk 2. Group : 2.1. Name : Quality Meat Scotland

2.2. Address : Rural Centre

West Mains

Ingliston

Newbridge

Midlothian, EH28 8NZ

United Kingdom

Tel. : (44-131) 472 40 40 Fax : (44-131) 472 40 38 e-mail : info@qmscotland.co.uk

2.3. Composition : producers (8969), processors (32), other (310).

3. Type of product : Group 1.1 Fresh meat (and offal) 4. Specification : (summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1. Name : 芦Scotch Beef禄 4.2. Description : The product is derived from cattle born, reared for the entirety of their lives, slaughtered and dressed in the designated geographical area. The animals will have been produced and slaughtered in accordance with quality assurance schemes accredited to European Standard EN 45011 (ISO Guide 65) and having the same standards, assessments and assessment frequencies as those set by the applicant. 4.3. Geographical area : The area is defined as the mainland of Scotland, including the islands off the west coast, Orkney and Shetland. 4.4. Proof of origin : Since the 19th century Scotch beef has been renowned for its consistently superior qualities due to traditional feeding systems and it has established a high reputation in the UK meat market and beyond. 4.5. Method of production : Cattle are born and reared throughout their lives in the designated geographical area. The animals will have been produced and slaughtered in accordance with quality assurance schemes accredited to European Standard EN 45011 (ISO Guide 65) and having the same standards, assessments and assessment frequencies as those set by the applicant. They are slaughtered and dressed in the designated geographical area in accordance with the specifications. 4.6. Link : Scotch beef has a quality and characteristics arising from extensive grazing on the characteristic pastures of Scotland. 4.7. Inspection body : Name : Scottish Food Quality Certification Address : Royal Highland Centre

10th Avenue

Ingliston

Edinburgh, EH28 8NF

United Kingdom

Tel. : (44-131) 335 66 15 Fax : (44-131) 335 66 01 e-mail : enquiries@sfqc.co.uk 4.8. Labelling : PGI 4.9. National requirements : - (1) European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture, Agricultural product quality policy, B-1049 Brussels.