99/315/EC: Commission Decision of 27 April 1999 approving the conditions governing the use of the graphic symbol for quality agricultural products specific to the French overseas departments (notified under document number C(1999) 1051) (Only the French text is authentic)

• Articles: 4

Article 1

The conditions governing the use of the graphic symbol for quality agricultural products specific to the French overseas departments, as presented by the French authorities and set out in the Annex hereto, are approved.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.

Article 3

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels, 27 April 1999.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 356, 24.12.1991, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 267, 9.11.1995, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 182, 23.7.1996, p. 9.

(4) OJ L 280, 31.10.1996, p. 1.

Schedules & Appendices

ANNEX

Extract from the draft circular of the French authorities setting out the conditions governing the use and the administrative rules for the application of the graphic symbol for agricultural products specific to the French overseas departments.

EXTRACT

1. The graphic symbol introduced pursuant to Article 20 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3763/91 shall be used solely for quality processed and unprocessed agricultural and fishery products specific to the overseas departments as most remote regions.

2. Unprocessed agricultural and fishery products must have been obtained in the overseas departments.

Where the main characteristic of processed products specific to the overseas departments in the raw material used, 100 % of the ingredient(s) characterising the processed product must have been obtained locally.

Where the main characteristic of processed products is the method of production or manufacturing, consideration shall be given to the specific nature of that method.

3. The products must possess special characteristics as products of the overseas departments; these may cover the conditions, methods and techniques of cultivation, production and manufacturing and compliance with standards of presentation and packaging.

4. The graphic symbol shall be used solely for products of superior quality. Quality shall be defined by reference to Community Regulations or, where none such exist, to international standards.

Where no Community or international standards exist, the characteristics shall be defined by the "Commission régionale pour les produits alimentaires de qualité" on the basis of proposals from the trade organisations.