EN Official Journal of the European Union C 293/10

Publication of an amendment application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

2013/C 293/07

This publication confers the right to object to the amendment application in accordance with Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1).

AMENDMENT APPLICATION

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (2)

AMENDMENT APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 9

‘LENTEJA PARDINA DE TIERRA DE CAMPOS’

EC No: ES-PGI-0105-01002-07.06.2012

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Heading in the specification affected by the amendment

— ☒ Name of product — ☒ Description of product — ☒ Geographical area — ☒ Proof of origin — ☒ Method of production — ☒ Link — ☒ Labelling — ☒ National requirements — ☒ Other (to be specified): Inspection body

2. Type of amendment

— ☒ Amendment to single document or summary sheet —  Amendment to specification of registered PDO or PGI for which neither the single document nor the summary has been published —  Amendment to specification that requires no amendment to the published single document (Article 9(3) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006) —  Temporary amendment to specification resulting from imposition of obligatory sanitary or phytosanitary measures by public authorities (Article 9(4) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

3. Amendments

Name of product: the name of the PGI is simplified, with the removal of the word ‘Pardina’ such that the PGI is now called ‘Lenteja de Tierra de Campos’. Lentils of the Pardina variety are the only ones covered by the specification for the PGI ‘Lenteja de Tierra de Campos’, which means that to say ‘Pardina’ and ‘Tierra de Campos’ is to say the same thing twice. Taking into account that a PGI covers a product which is produced in a given region or district, it is considered more appropriate to keep the name ‘Tierra de Campos’ than the name ‘Pardina’. Furthermore, removing the name of the variety from the geographical indication will prevent confusion with other Pardina lentils grown outside the geographical confines of the PGI, in line with the provisions of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006.

Description: the section on the chemical characteristics of the product is deleted.

The specification defines the minimum fat content in the dried lentils. The supporting study links the lentils' fat content to the level of phosphorus in the soil. As the minimum level of phosphorus is defined in the section on the ‘Method of production’, this indirectly determines the minimum fat content. Furthermore, the lentils' fat content is very low, as it generally is for all legumes, and the differences that may exist between some varieties do not give the product any added value or quality attribute.

The specification also defines the minimum raffinose content in the dried lentils. The supporting study shows that a lower raffinose level is a characteristic of the Pardina but not the Tierra de Campos variety, since Pardina lentils grown outside this area have the same levels. For this reason, it makes no sense for it to be a characteristic of lentils produced under this PGI.

The relevant changes are made concerning the above amendment ‘Name of product’.

Geographical area: references to authorisation or inspection by the Regulatory Council are deleted so they do not restrict the freedom of movement.

Proof of origin: references to authorisation or inspection by the Regulatory Council are deleted so they do not restrict the freedom of movement.

Method of production: the minimum level of phosphorus in the soil is reduced from 100 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg. The machinery used in the packaging industry is not described in detail. The types of packaging are deleted in favour of ‘compliance with the relevant legislation’. References to authorisation or inspection by the Regulatory Council are also deleted so they do not restrict the freedom of movement.

Phosphorus (P2O5) ≥ 10 mg/kg. The specification requires a minimum content of 100 mg/kg in the soils of PGI-registered parcels, based on the analyses performed on 176 parcels in the area. Indeed, the ‘Link’ section of the specification refers to an ‘average phosphorus content in the soil of 151,69 mg/kg, relatively low and rather variable’. We consider that there was a mistake in the wording of the original specification because the leading soil experts in Spain, Urbano Terrón, André Gros-Domínguez Vivancos and López Ritas-López Medina [sic], consider that phosphorus levels for soil with very high levels would be 22,90 mg/kg in general and between 41,22 mg/kg and 80,15 mg/kg for clay-loam soils in particular (the soils in Tierra de Campos are loamy). In the most favourable situation, that of clay-loam soils, the very high phosphorus content is less than 100 mg/kg, which is that specified in the specification. In view of the data from those three authors, we can confirm that the phosphorus level (mg/kg P2O5) of 151,69 is a very high value.

The soil analyses performed over four years on 950 parcels within the PGI area on which the Pardina lentils from Tierra de Campos were grown revealed that the end product lentils from parcels with phosphorus levels ≥ 10 mg/kg had very satisfactory organoleptic characteristics in line with the requirements of the specification.

In view of the above, we believe there was an error in transcribing the results and phosphorus levels from the study, which must have been 15,16 mg/kg with a standard deviation of ± 8,2. This numerical data would be consistent with the phrase in the supporting study ‘Average phosphorus content relatively low and rather variable, though higher in neighbouring areas’. Therefore, we consider that the correct minimum requirement for phosphorus P2O5 in the soil is 10 mg/kg.

Packaging industry: the specification describes each and every one of the machines used in cleaning and conditioning the lentils. This machinery is liable to change due to ‘technological advances’ which would involve amending the specification. Therefore, the references to the types of machinery used in the packaging industry are removed, in line with the provisions of Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006.

Types of packaging: the current specification requires that the lentils be packaged in packages of between 1 kg and 10 kg, but the current demand from canteens and the catering industry is for packages of 15 kg. Given that the ‘Quality standard for certain packaged, dried (and decorticated) pulses destined for the domestic market’ in Spain provides for some types of packaging of up to 25 kg, it was considered better to comply with the current legislation than to specify particular types of format. Furthermore, the type of packaging is not an aspect that affects the quality of the product, so it is considered better not to specify package sizes.

Link: the quantitative information on the average phosphorus content in the soil is removed, in line with what was said in the previous section.

Labelling: the wording of this section is amended to adapt it to Community Regulations (EC) No 510/2006 and (EC) No 1898/2006.

The relevant changes are made concerning the amendment described in the ‘Name of product’ section.

References to authorisation or inspection by the Regulatory Council are deleted so they do not restrict the freedom of movement.

All references to the label of products that use this PGI product as an ingredient are removed from the ‘Labelling’ section of the current specification, because Commission guidelines on this subject already exist (OJ C 341, 16.12.2010, p. 3), and the Commission recommended that provisions governing the use of a name registered as a PDO or PGI in the labelling of other foodstuffs should not be included, in principle, in the specification for that name.

National requirements: this section is updated and the Vine and Wine Law is included, along with the Decree regulating the process for the handling of applications for registration in the Community register.

Inspection body: the competent authority for official controls in Castille and Leon, which is responsible for ensuring compliance with the specification, is the Castille and Leon Institute of Agricultural Technology.

The applicant group for the proposed changes is the Regulatory Council for the Protected Geographical Indication ‘Lenteja Pardina de Tierra de Campos’.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (3)

‘LENTEJA DE TIERRA DE CAMPOS’

EC No: ES-PGI-0105-01002-07.06.2012

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Name

‘Lenteja de Tierra de Campos’

2. Member State or Third Country

Spain

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 1.6: Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed

3.2. Description of product to which the name in point 1 applies

The protected product is the seeds separated from the pod, the species Lens culinaris ssp. Culinaris, microsperma variety, Europeae group, intended for human consumption. The commercial variety is called ‘Pardina’.

Physical and morphological characteristics

The colour of the seeds' outer surface is brown or grey-brown with black flecks that may sometimes be speckles covering the whole surface. The cotyledons are yellow. No more than 2 % of lentils that do not correspond to the characteristics set out above may be accepted, provided that they do not compromise the general appearance. The minimum diameter of any given seed in its narrowest axis is 3,5 mm. No more than 4 % of the lentils may have a smaller diameter.

Organoleptic properties

Smooth skin, softish skin and albumen; albumen somewhat buttery and only slightly grainy/floury; low astringency.

3.3. Raw materials (for processed products only)

—

3.4. Feed (for products of animal origin only)

—

3.5. Specific steps in production that must take place in the defined geographical area

The agricultural production of the lentils takes place in the defined geographical area.

3.6. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc.

Bulk lentils may not be marketed under the protected geographical indication.

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling

Every type of packaging in which the lentils are transported for consumption must be provided with a numbered label which must contain the Community symbol indicating the protected geographical indication and the designation ‘Lenteja de Tierra de Campos’.

The labels must be attached by the packaging industry in such a way that they cannot be reused.

The logo of the Protected Geographical Indication is:

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area of agricultural production (with a surface area of 9 175 km2 covers part of the four northwest provinces of Castille and Leon (León, Palencia, Valladolid and Zamora).

The districts that make up the defined geographical area are:

— in the province of Leon: the district of Esla-Campos and the district of Sahagún,

— in the province of Palencia: the district of Campos, the district of Cerrato and the district of Saldaña-Valdavia,

— in the province of Valladolid: the district of Centro, the district of Sur and the district of Tierra de Campos,

— in the province of Zamora: the district of Benavente y Los Valles, the district of Campos-Pan and the district of Duero Bajo.

5. Link with the geographical area

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area

Climate: the climate is semi-arid, with average precipitation of 464 mm per year, an average minimum temperature of – 9 °C and average maximum temperature of 18,6 °C. The coldest month is January and the hottest is July.

The frost period lasts almost 8 months and the months with the highest rainfall are May and November.

These characteristics create moisture levels ideal for promoting germination in the most usual sowing period (November), and promote good seed formation (the following May) and rapid and effective drying of the seeds in June and July, when the temperature and hours of sunshine are most favourable, coinciding with the summer solstice and enabling the crop to be stored with no problems of fungus or bacteria. The low winter temperatures also provide natural protection against pests.

Soils: the main properties of the soil in the production area are: the high percentage of clay that is characteristic of Tierra de Campos; its neutral or alkaline pH; the low levels of organic material; normal levels of potassium and relatively low levels of phosphorous (although these are higher than in neighbouring areas). In order to obtain a product that meets most of the required organoleptic properties, the soil must have minimum levels of organic material (to make the product less floury), potassium (giving a more buttery and less astringent product) and phosphorous (contributing to softer skins and lower astringency).

Physical geography: with an average altitude of 750 m above sea level, the production area is flat and has the typical relief of farming land with no major obstacles to working, although it is exposed to erosion. The land rises slightly in the north to over 1 000 m, falling to 650 m in the south-west, near the river Valderaduey.

5.2. Specificity of the product

The plant material is derived from local ecotypes that have adapted to the growing conditions in the area over a period of many years as well as from commercial varieties obtained from these ecotypes.

The plant material used is hardy, resistant to most pests and diseases, well adapted to drought and gives moderate yields.

5.3. Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for PGI)

Altitude is considered a very important factor in the product characteristics since the area's low average altitude (750 m) in comparison with other neighbouring areas contributes to a smoother skin and a more buttery, less astringent product.

The minimum organic content established for the soils makes the product less floury; the potassium content makes it more buttery and less astringent; and the phosphorus content contributes to softer skins, lower astringency and higher fat content.

Reference to the publication of the specification

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (4))

http://www.itacyl.es/opencms_wf/opencms/informacion_al_ciudadano/calidad_alimentaria/4_condiciones_DOP/index.html

(1) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12. Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

(3) See footnote 2.

(4) See footnote 2.