EN Official Journal of the European Union C 188/54

Application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(2016/C 188/09)

The European Commission has approved this minor amendment in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 6(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 (1).

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF A MINOR AMENDMENT

Application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2)

‘CRUDO DI CUNEO’

EU No: PDO-IT-02118 — 4.2.2016

PDO ( X ) PGI ( ) TSG ( )

1. Applicant group and legitimate interest

Consorzio di Tutela della denominazione di origine protetta ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ [Consortium for the protection of the protected designation of origin ‘Crudo di Cuneo’] Corso Dante Alighieri n. 51 C/o Unione Industriali della Provincia di Cuneo 12100 Cuneo ITALIA

The Consorzio di Tutela (protection consortium) for the protected designation of origin ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ is entitled to submit an amendment application pursuant to Article 13(1) of Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy Decree No 12511 of 14 October 2013.

2. Member State or Third Country

Italy

3. Heading in the product specification affected by the amendment(s)

— ☒ Product description — ☒ Proof of origin — ☒ Production method — ☐ Link — ☐ Labelling — ☒ Other [updated legal references]

4. Type of amendment(s)

— ☐ Amendment to the product specification of a registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, that requires no amendment to the published single document. — ☒ Amendment to the product specification of a registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, that requires an amendment to the published single document. — ☐ Amendment to the product specification of a registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, for which a single document (or equivalent) has not been published. — ☐ Amendment to the product specification of a registered TSG to be qualified as minor in accordance with the fourth subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

5. Amendment(s)

Product description

The amendments to the following two points are interlinked:

— The following sentence from the last paragraph of point 2.2 of Article 2 of the product specification: ‘The pigs must be capable of achieving average weights per animal of 156 kg (live weight), plus or minus 10 %.’ is amended as follows: ‘The pigs must be capable of achieving average weights per animal of 165 kg (live weight), plus or minus 10 %.’

— The following requirement of point 2.6 of Article 2 of the product specification: ‘weight (after ageing): 7-10 kg’ has been amended as follows: ‘weight (after ageing): 8,5-12,00 kg’. The amendment provides for an increase in the average weight per pig and an ensuing increase in the weight of the cured hams. Over recent years, farmers have observed that pigs are heavier at slaughter than they were 10 or 15 years ago. Genetic selection, while maintaining the intrinsic qualities of the meat used to make the ham, enables the pigs to achieve heavier weights at slaughter than a few years ago. The new genetic types have improved their daily liveweight gain (DLG) and their feed conversion ratio (FCR); they are fed on more balanced and efficient rations that overall, combined with the improvement in animal welfare conditions, enable greater weight increases over the same period of time and succeed in producing hind legs of optimum quality. The increase in the average weight of the pigs at slaughter and the ensuing increase in the weight of the cured hams covered by the amendment to the production specification therefore combine two objectives: updating the specification to match the actual production conditions on the farms, and guaranteeing the quality of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ PDO ham by using the hind legs of pigs that have reached optimal maturity. This amendment is to be regarded as ‘minor’ under the third paragraph of Article 53(2), points (a) to (e) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

Production method

— The following sentence of point 5.5 of Article 5, the salting phase: ‘After salting, which lasts a minimum of 2 weeks,’ is amended as follows: ‘After salting, which lasts a minimum of 12 days’. The need to decrease the minimum salting period from 14 to 12 days can be attributed to research and improvements in meat preservation and processing techniques such that less salt can be used than was required some years back. This results in an ensuing shortening of the time required for the salting phase. Especially for hind legs that are trimmed and not particularly heavy, 12-13 kg in weight, the length of the salting phase must be reduced to avoid the meat absorbing too much salt and producing a ham that does not meet consumers' current food requirements. This amendment is to be regarded as ‘minor’ under the third paragraph of Article 53(2), points (a) to (e) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

Other — Updating of legislation

— The terms of Article 8 ‘For the implementation of this product specification, the protected designation of origin “Crudo di Cuneo” ham shall be subject to inspections by a body authorised in accordance with Article 10 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 510/2006.’ are amended as follows: ‘Verification of compliance with the product specification is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012. The body responsible for verifying the product specification is the Istituto Nord Ovest qualità Soc. Coop., Piazza Carlo Alberto Grosso, 82, 12033 Moretta (CN), ITALIA.’ Following the entry into force of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, it was considered appropriate to update the legal references in this Article and include the details of the control body.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘CRUDO DI CUNEO’

EU No: PDO-IT-02118 — 4.2.2016

PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

1. Name(s)

‘Crudo di Cuneo’

2. Member State or Third Country:

Italy

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 1.2. Meat products (cooked, salted, smoked, etc.)

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

Only fresh legs of pork from animals born, reared and slaughtered in the designated area of production may be used in the production of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ ham.

The ham must be aged for at least 10 months — calculated from the beginning of the manufacturing process — before being released for consumption; weight (after ageing): 8,5-12,00 kg; cutting into the ham reveals an even red colour; the external and the soft internal lean meat are firm, not flaccid; the visible (outer) fat is white, bordering on yellow, and firm, not greasy; aroma and taste when cut: fragrant, seasoned, mild; the internal fat is white and present in small quantities between and within the main muscle tissue; absence of any anomalous smell. When pricked, the fat must not have an excessively rancid or a milky, fishy or other anomalous smell. The lean meat must conform to the following maximum and minimum chemical composition as a proportion of the femoral biceps: salt, between 4,5 and 6,9; moisture content between 57 % and 63 %; and 22 % to 31 % of proteolytic compounds. Absence of external anomalies: the rind and bone must be whole, without any visible incrustation or any excessive softness. Colour when cut: cutting must reveal an even colour, without stains or streaks.

3.3. Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

Feedstuffs

The feed intake is geared to obtaining an analytic composition tailored to the animals' requirements in three discrete phases: early growth, growing-finishing and fattening:

1. EARLY GROWTH (to 30 kg live weight)

Characteristics of the feed intake:

— Crude protein from 16 % to 22 %

— Digestible energy/day from 3 230 to 3 900

— Lysine (g/kg) from 10 % to 16 %

— Crude fibre from 3 % to 5 %

Daily ration (broken down into percentages represented by the various components; ration is 4 % of live weight)

— Maize from 35 to 40

— Soya (flour) from 16 to 20

— Wheat from 12 to 15

— Barley from 13 to 17

— Soya bean oil from 1 to 3

— Soft wheat bran from 8 to 12

— Mineral and vitamin supplements from 3 to 5

Spray-dried pig plasma, fresh milk products, milk by-products and milk concentrates may not be used during this phase.

2. GROWING-FINISHING (30 to 80 kg live weight)

Characteristics of the feed intake:

— Crude protein from 15,50 % to 18 %

— Digestible energy/day from 3 200 to 3 600

— Lysine (g/kg) from 7 % to 16 %

— Crude fibre from 3,5 % to 5 %

Daily ration (broken down into percentages represented by the various components; ration is 3 % of live weight)

— Maize from 45 to 49

— Soya (flour) from 14 to 18

— Wheat from 10 to 13

— Barley from 9 to 12

— Fat from 1,5 to 2

— Soft wheat bran from 10 to 14

— Mineral and vitamin supplements from 3 to 5

3. FATTENING (80 to 165 kg final live weight)

Characteristics of the feed intake:

— Crude protein from 13,5 % to 17,5 %

— Digestible energy/day from 3 100 to 3 400

— Lysine (g/kg) from 6 % to 9 %

— Crude fibre from 3,5 % to 5,5 %

Daily ration (broken down into percentages represented by the various components; ration is 2,3 % of live weight)

— Maize from 49 to 53

— Soya (flour) from 12 to 16

— Wheat from 9 to 12

— Barley from 8 to 11

— Fat from 1 to 1,5

— Soft wheat bran from 10 to 14

— Mineral and vitamin supplements from 3 to 5

In this phase it is prohibited to use table scraps, fish-oil (for animals over 40 kg live weight), feed-cakes with over 4 % fat content (animals over 120 kg), biscuits, breadsticks, snacks (from 60 kg live weight to slaughter), all rendering products and animal meal, and rice by-products.

Requirements within each phase may vary depending on the pigs' rate of growth or following unusual weather conditions due to exceptionally hot summers.

The raw materials used in the feed come mainly from the area in which the ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ is produced and the cereals are in large part grown on the farms where the pigs are reared.

Raw materials

The breeds or genetic types to which animals intended for the production of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ ham must belong are the traditional Italian Large White and Landrace breeds, as improved by the Italian herd book, or offspring of boars of those breeds, offspring of boars of the Italian Duroc breed, as improved by the herd book, and offspring of boars of other breeds or of mixed-breed boars, provided they come from selection or cross-breeding schemes whose aims are in keeping with those of the herd book for the production of heavy pigs.

The use of frozen pork legs is not allowed in the production of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’. Boars and brood sows may not be used. Pork legs used in the production process must come from animals slaughtered 24 hours or more but not more than 120 hours previously.

3.4. Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

Only fresh legs of pork from animals born and reared according to high welfare standards may be used in the production of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ PDO. Such standards are ensured by not subjecting the animals to the stress of transport or rehousing in the weaning, growing-finishing or fattening phases. In addition, the farm must ensure that the fattening phase produces results that are consistent with the characteristics of the final product. One of the trademark characteristics of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ is that it has just the right amount of external fat. This is why the animals must be born and reared in the area of production.

Slaughter must also take place within the production area, partly because no more than a certain time should elapse between slaughter and processing the meat and partly because transport over a long distance could lead to bruising and the formation of haematomas and streaking, which would jeopardise the processing requirements.

The processing and ageing of the hams are strictly tied to human and natural factors in the production area; it is thus imperative that the production of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ be limited to that area.

3.5. Specific rules concerning the slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

‘Crudo di Cuneo’ may be sold whole, bone-in and boneless, vacuum packed, in thick slabs or sliced.

‘Crudo di Cuneo’ must be sliced in such a way that the producer's seal with which the ham was marked during production is visible on the rind of each slice.

3.6. Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

When released for consumption, ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ PDO must bear the distinctive seal guaranteeing the origin and identification of the product. The seal, which is made up of a logo, is branded — at the factory — on the two largest sides of the ham.

The following must be printed clearly and indelibly, and must be readily distinguishable from any other information present, on the packaging of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ PDO or on labels placed on the product or on cards, rings and tags tied to it: the specific, unmistakeable logo, the Community symbol referred to in Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012; and the identification number given to each producer within the checking system. The two major components of the ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ PDO logo in terms of product recognition are a stylised representation of a ham and a triangle or wedge, in reference to Cuneo, the provincial capital, which was originally in the shape of a wedge (in Italian: cuneo).

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The area in which ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ PDO is produced lies within the Ligurian Alps between the Colle di Cadibona and the Colle di Nava, the Maritime Alps to the Colle di Tenda massif, and the Cottian Alps. These mountainous areas form a U-shaped rim surrounding a high plain, crossed from north to south by the Tanaro and Po rivers and their tributaries. This area comprises the provinces of Cuneo and Asti and the following municipalities of the Province of Turin: Airasca, Andezeno, Arignano, Baldissero Torinese, Bibiana, Bricherasio, Buriasco, Cambiano, Campiglione Fenile, Candiolo, Cantalupa, Carignano, Carmagnola, Castagnole Piemonte, Cavour, Cercenasco, Chieri, Cumiana, Frossasco, Garzigliana, Isolabella, Lombriasco, Luserna S. Giovanni, Lusernetta, Macello, Marentino, Mombello di Torino, Montaldo Torinese, Moriondo Torinese, None, Osasco, Osasio, Pancalieri, Pavarolo, Pecetto Torinese, Pinerolo, Pino Torinese, Piobesi Torinese, Piossasco, Piscina, Poirino, Pralormo, Prarostino, Riva, Roletto, Rora', S. Secondo di Pinerolo, Santena, Scalenghe, Trofarello, Vigone, Villafranca Piemonte, Villastellone and Vinovo. Thanks to the breezes in the area, humidity levels remain stable (between 50 % and 70 %) and these, together with average temperatures that are neither excessively cold in the winter nor too hot in the summer, allow for a uniform ageing process that gives ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ its characteristic protein breakdown and low moisture content.

5. Link with the geographical area

The link between the PDO production area, pig farming and the manufacture and ageing of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ dates back to ancient times, thanks to special conditions with regard to soil and climate which help to differentiate the area in relation to others and give the product typical qualitative characteristics that are easily recognisable by the final consumer.

The moisture content of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’, which is closely linked to the salt content, is influenced by mountain breezes that blow in opposing directions in the morning and at night and reduce the moisture in the air, thus providing ideal conditions for curing a product with the low moisture levels, ageing times and protein breakdown that characterise ‘Crudo di Cuneo’. The raw materials also constitute a close link between the product and the environment; indeed, the proteolysis of the ham is brought about by the characteristics of those raw materials. The Cuneo pig is reared at an average of 350 metres above sea level, where the absence of winter fog and summer heat haze are conducive to good animal health. In addition to the healthy air and the purity of the water, it is the traditional healthy and natural nutrition — based on locally produced cereals — which helps to speed up the maturing of the meat. Proteolysis is linked to the development of micro-organisms on the surface of the meat: the delicate salting carried out by the craftsmen ensures that the moisture that is still present in the flesh of the leg of pork rises to the surface by capillary action. This produces microclimatic conditions on the lean surfaces of the ham that lead to a slight increase in moisture; this in turn encourages the formation of moulds and yeasts which, by breaking down the proteins present in the lean, release peptides that have a major influence on both the flavour and smell of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’.

Over the centuries it is man who has made a key contribution to the quality of the PDO ham by developing special manufacturing techniques handed down from generation to generation to the present day. In ‘Clypeo del gentilhuomo’, a work dating back to 1618, Guglielmino Prato describes in detail the work done by Piedmont's norcini (ham craftsmen).

The consumption of ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ is well documented, with numerous historical records of hams ordered by noble households, convents and abbeys in the area. It was indeed the growing demand for ham that encouraged many processors to set up in business.

‘Crudo di Cuneo’ PDO is the outcome of a combination of several human and environmental factors which over time have had an influence on the end product and have contributed to its qualitative characteristics.

Reference to publication of the specification

(second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of this Regulation)

The Ministry launched the national opposition procedure with the publication of the amendment application regarding ‘Crudo di Cuneo’ PDO in Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 265 of 13 November 2015.

The consolidated text of the product specification is available on the internet: http://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/3335

or alternatively:

by going directly to the homepage of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy (www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Prodotti DOP IGP’ (at the top right-hand side of the screen), then on ‘Prodotti DOP IGP STG’ (on the left-hand side of the screen), and finally by clicking on ‘Disciplinari di Produzione all'esame dell'UE’.

(1) OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, p. 17.

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