Commission Regulation (EC) No 1856/2004 of 26 October 2004 supplementing the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2400/96 as regards the entry of a name in the Register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Lardo di Colonnata)

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 7(5)(a) and the first indent of Article 6(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92, Italy forwarded to the Commission an application for the registration of the name ‘Lardo di Colonnata’ as a geographical indication.

(2) In accordance with Article 6(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92, the application has been found to meet all the requirements laid down therein and in particular to contain all the information required in accordance with Article 4 thereof.

(3) Spain sent the Commission a statement of objection in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 following the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (2) of the main elements relating to the application for registration.

(4) The objection related to non-compliance with the conditions referred to in Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 and was admissible in accordance with Article 7(4) of that Regulation. Pursuant to a complaint from an exporter of fresh meat, Spain contested the method used to define the geographical area of production of the raw material used to produce ‘Lardo di Colonnata’ and the geographical area of processing.

(5) By letter of 29 January 2004, the Commission asked the Member States concerned to seek agreement among themselves in accordance with their internal procedures. Italy explained the method used to define the geographical areas of production of the raw material and of processing in more detail, and Spain subsequently agreed to the registration.

(6) Further information has been added to the summary of the product specifications for the indication in question, in particular to paragraph 4(3) on the geographical area.

(7) The name ‘Lardo di Colonnata’ should therefore be entered in the Register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications and hence be protected throughout the Community as a geographical indication.

(8) The Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2400/96 (3), should therefore be supplemented accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The name in Annex I to this Regulation is hereby added to the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2400/96.

The name referred to in the first paragraph is hereby entered in the Register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications provided for in Article 6(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 as a protected geographical indication (PGI).

Article 2

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

Article 3

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, 26 October 2004.

For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1215/2004 (OJ L 232, 1.7.2004, p. 21).

(2) OJ C 131, 5.6.2003, p. 10.

(3) OJ L 327, 18.12.1996, p. 11. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1486/2004 (OJ L 273, 21.8.2004, p. 9).