4. Filing an application with the CARTV

4.1 The organization applying for recognition shall send a complete file, including all the documents required for the designation or added-value claim applied for, to the current address of the CARTV’s Secretariat (35, rue de Port-Royal Est, 5^e étage, bureau 5.26, Montréal QC H3L 3T1).

Ten copies of the required documents shall be provided (see the appendices of these regulations) as well as an electronic copy of the file (in text format).

4.2 In order for the Standards Committee (SC) concerned to be able to review a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) application that was filed on the basis of an already recognized Attestation of Specificity (AS) or Production Method (PM), the applicant organization must send the CARTV the specification manual for the PGI product. This is the old validated and approved AS/PM specification manual, with additional information on the PGI added. This information includes:

Validated PGI region(s) according to a map;
Operations carried out in these region(s);
PGI traceability;
Labelling (with the letters PGI);
Reference to the PGI on the cover page of the specification manual.

4.3 The Secretariat shall determine whether or not the file is admissible based on the following criteria:

Inclusion of all the required documents indicated on the checklist in the appendix, according to the designation category in question;
A sufficient amount of information in each of the required documents.

If the file is admissible, it shall be forwarded to:

The MAPAQ office concerned, for reference purposes;
The Standards Committee (SC) concerned, for assessment purposes.