EN Official Journal of the European Union C 130/7

Publication of an 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 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2018/C 130/06)

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)

‘CANINO’

EU No: PDO-IT-01506-AM01 — 28.11.2017

PDO ( X ) PGI ( ) TSG ( )

1. Applicant group and legitimate interest

Oleificio Sociale Cooperativo di Canino with its registered office at Via Montalto 48, 01011 Canino (VT), Italy. The cooperative is made up of producers and 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)

— ☐ Description of product — ☐ Proof of origin — ☒ Production method — ☐ Link — ☐ Labelling — ☒ Other: The word ‘controlled’ has been replaced by the more correct word ‘protected’. A specific article on proof of origin, which was not present in the specification in force, has been added. A specific article on the link, which was not present in the specification in force, has been added. The option of marketing the product in ceramic containers has been added. The articles of the specification have been renumbered.

4. Type of amendment(s)

— ☐ Amendment to product specification of 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 product specification of 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 product specification of 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 product specification of 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)

Production method

It is proposed to delete the paragraph relating to planting distances and growing and pruning methods.

The deleted paragraph reads as follows:

‘The planting distances and the growing and pruning methods must be those generally used or, in any case, they must not affect the characteristics of the olives or the oil.’

This amendment is justified as this is a generic sentence. It does not specify any details with regard to planting distances or pruning methods, and therefore adds nothing to the product specification. The amendment is to be considered minor, as deleting this paragraph does not change the growing and pruning methods, but serves to streamline the product specification.

The maximum number of trees per hectare of olive groves has been increased from 300 to 700.

Thus the current wording:

‘In particular, in addition to the traditional growing methods, under which mixed olive groves have a planting density of up to 60 trees per hectare, other growing methods are permitted for specialised olive groves with a planting density of up to 300 trees per hectare.’

has been replaced as follows:

‘In particular, in addition to the traditional growing methods, under which mixed olive groves have a planting density of up to 60 trees per hectare, other growing methods are permitted for specialised olive groves with a planting density of up to 700 trees per hectare.’

This amendment stems from the need to adapt olive-growing in the defined area to a more professional type of management capable of combining olive-growing tradition with the profitability of businesses in the sector. Years of testing have shown that in the territory covered by the PDO, bearing in mind the varieties of olive trees used, a density of 700 trees per hectare does not affect the product’s unique physico-chemical and organoleptic characteristics set out in the product specification, but reduces plantation management costs, thereby increasing the holdings’ profitability.

The maximum output per hectare has been increased from 9 to 12 tonnes per hectare, and the maximum output in combined or mixed groves has been specified.

Thus the current wording:

‘The maximum output of olives per hectare may not exceed 9 000 kg in specialised olive groves.’

has been replaced as follows:

‘The maximum output of olives per hectare is 12 tonnes in specialised olive groves, while in mixed groves the maximum production of olives per tree may not exceed 0,15 tonnes.’

The maximum output per hectare has risen to 12 tonnes due to the increase in the maximum number of trees per hectare.

Furthermore, it has become clear over the years that the maximum yield laid down in the specification was an underestimation, in that it was considered to be an average value that did not account for the fact that some cultivars grown in the area form large, rather strong trees subject to biennial bearing. This results in a cyclical output which remains limited for one or more years, followed by a year in which the accumulated reserves push output to rather high levels.

The specification also now states the maximum yield per single tree for mixed olive groves, which does away with the need to perform calculations based on the actual surface area under olives.

The amendments set out above are to be considered minor as they do not relate to the essential characteristics of the product or come under any of the cases set out in Article 53(2) of the Regulation.

The starting date for harvesting has been brought forward.

Thus the current wording:

‘The olives are harvested between 10 October and 15 January of each olive crop year.’

has been replaced as follows:

‘The olives are harvested between 1 October and 31 December of each olive crop year.’

The olive harvesting period has been brought forward due to various factors, primarily relating to the environment and the climate, ongoing changes in which are causing early ripening.

Furthermore, from an agricultural point of view, it is now recognised that quality of the oil improves if the harvest takes place earlier. Finally, from a plant health point of view, an early harvest minimises the qualitative and quantitative damage caused by flies.

The above amendment is to be considered minor on the basis of Article 53(2) of the Regulation.

The final two paragraphs have been deleted as they are no longer in line with the legislation, and as the checks to ensure that the product is compliant with the specification are carried out by the public authority designated in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

The deleted paragraphs are as follows:

‘The olives must be declared in accordance with the procedure set out in Ministerial Decree No 573 of 4 November 1993 on the implementing rules for Law No 169 of 5 February 1992 by the deadline laid down for the entire harvest. However, during harvesting operations, it is permitted to request a provisional certificate for the product already obtained by providing the required documentation and reporting the details of the operation in the final production declaration.’

Other

The articles of the specification have been renumbered, as articles which do not appear in the specification in force have been added.

The word ‘controlled’ has been replaced by the more correct word ‘protected’.

A specific article on proof of origin, which was not present in the specification in force, has been added.

‘Article 4 Proof of origin Each phase of the production process is monitored, recording the respective inputs and outputs. The traceability of the product is ensured by entering the olive-growers (agricultural holdings), millers and packagers in special registers managed by the inspection body. All natural and legal persons entered in the relevant registers are subject to checks by the inspection body, according to the terms of the specification and the corresponding inspection plan.’

A specific article on the link has been added, which is not present in the specification in force but is present in the summary sheet sent to the Commission.

‘Article 7 Link with the geographical area Olive-growing in this area, which was the cradle of the Etruscan civilisation, goes back to ancient times. Olive trees grow wild here, and have provided many place names still in use, such as “Poggio Olivastro”. As far back as Etruscan times, people would gather the fruit of these trees, knocking them loose from the branches using long sticks, as evidenced by vase paintings and tomb frescoes. The centuries-old olive trees, which have grown to a great, majestic size, comparable to oaks, are evidence of the local inhabitants’ ancient tradition of olive-growing, and the gently rolling landscape is characterised by their silvery-green colour. More recently the Canino area formed part of the estate of Prince Torlonia, until the 1950s when the land was given to the peasants as part of the land reform. With the arrival of the agricultural reform, olive-growing expanded rapidly. In a short space of time, the estate’s bare terrain was transformed into a verdant expanse of new olive groves. Later, in the 1960s, a great change in olive-growing began with the introduction of the concept of specialised intensive olive groves. In Canino alone, 694 hectares of olive groves were planted using this system. In 1965, the Cooperative Oil Mill of Canino was promoted and founded on the initiative of the local land reform body Ente Maremma. The cooperative now has around 1 140 members, who produce over 60 % of the area’s total output. Canino, cradle of the Etruscan civilisation, owes its fame to the olive, which has always been a fundamental part of its economy. A village of Etruscan origin, in the Middle Ages Canino was part of the Papal States. Later it came under the rule of the Duchy of Castro. After returning to the Papal States, in 1808 it was granted in fee to Lucien Bonaparte, who lived in the palace built by the Farnese family. The Canino coat of arms is represented by a dog, in reference to the name of the locality, and by the three fleurs-de-lis of the Farnese family. The spread of olive-growing was made easier by the fact that the oil produced in Canino was of renowned quality and had always been known on oil markets. Canino and its oil were the subject of an important epidemiological study in the 1970s conducted by a team of researchers led by Professor Ancel Keys. The results showed that the rural inhabitants of Canino, who habitually consume the extra virgin olive oil produced in the area, are better protected against the risk of thrombosis than people in Finland and America who normally consume animal fats. Popular tradition has raised the profile of Canino extra virgin olive oil through the Sagra dell’olivo olive festival, a rural event which began in 1939 and which takes place every year on 8 December. Besides promoting the excellent quality of the oil, this event is an occasion for meetings and conferences among top experts in nutrition and technology. From 1989 to 1993 the Cooperative Oil Mill of Canino, along with the Regional Agricultural Development Board, conducted a careful characterisation study of local oil output. The Cooperative has also worked with the most important research agencies working on the development of olive-growing and olive processing techniques. “Canino” PDO extra virgin olive oil is characterised both by its strong link with the production area referred to in Article 3, which has an unmistakeable influence on the product’s organoleptic and quality characteristics, and by its centuries-old reputation. The area’s soil and climate characteristics, including volcanic soils with a pH level between 6,5 and 7,5, average annual temperatures between 15 °C and 16 °C tempered by the sea breeze of the Viterbo coast, and annual rainfall around 600-800 mm, all have a significant impact on the quality of “Canino” oil. The oil is harmonious and always balanced, has a mild fruitiness with herbaceous and/or artichoke notes, and is slightly bitter with sharp tones. The olive tree is not only a productive resource in the area, but also characterises its landscape and environment. Expert olive-growers and millers have been able to adapt and modernise their growing and processing techniques, never failing to give the oil unique qualities which have always been highly valued by the most demanding of consumers.’

The option of marketing the product in ceramic containers has been added.

Thus the current wording:

‘“Canino” extra virgin olive oil must be packaged for release for consumption in glass or metallic containers with a maximum capacity of 5 litres.’

has been replaced as follows:

‘“Canino” extra virgin olive oil must be packaged for release for consumption in glass, ceramic or metallic containers with a maximum capacity of 5 litres.’

This amendment arises from the need for producers to be able to use containers especially suitable for gift packaging.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘CANINO’

EU No: PDO-IT-01506-AM01 — 28.11.2017

PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

1. Name(s)

‘Canino’

2. Member State or Third Country

Italy

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 1.5. Oils and fats (butter, margarine, oils, etc.)

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

When released for consumption, ‘Canino’ protected designation of origin extra virgin olive oil must have the following characteristics:

— colour: emerald green with golden highlights,

— aroma: fruity, reminiscent of healthy, fresh olives harvested at the optimum point of ripeness,

— flavour: strong, with a bitter, sharp aftertaste,

— total maximum acidity expressed as oleic acid: not exceeding 0,5 g per 100 g of oil,

— peroxide value ≤ 10 mEq O2/kg.

Other chemical/physical parameters that are not expressly mentioned must comply with legislation on extra virgin olive oil.

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

‘Canino’ protected designation of origin oil must be entirely or partially obtained from the following varieties of olive tree: Caninese and its derived clones, Leccino, Pendolino, Maurino and Frantoio, present in the olive groves either on their own or in combination. Other varieties present in the olive groves, accounting for not more than 5 %, may also be used.

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

All production steps (growing and harvesting the olives and extracting the oil) must take place within the defined geographical area.

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

In order to maintain the product’s specific characteristics throughout the production process and guarantee compliance with the quality chain, ‘Canino’ olive oil must always be packaged within the geographical production area defined in point 4. ‘Canino’ extra virgin olive oil must be packaged for release for consumption in glass, ceramic or metallic containers with a maximum capacity of 5 litres.

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

The label of the packaged product must indicate the following word in clear, indelible letters that are larger than all other writing: ‘Canino’. The word ‘Canino’ must be accompanied by the Union’s PDO symbol. The indication ‘denominazione di origine protetta’ (‘protected designation of origin’) or its acronym ‘DOP’ (‘PDO’) may appear on the label.

It is forbidden to add any description that is not expressly provided for to the name ‘Canino’, including the following adjectives: fine (fine), scelto (choice), selezionato (selected), superiore (superior) or genuino (genuine).

The designation’s logo is shown below.

It is prohibited to use additional geographical references or geographical or topographical indications referring to municipalities, subdivisions of municipalities or geographical areas within the production area.

However, the use of names, company names and private brands is authorised, provided that they have no laudatory purport and are not such as to mislead the purchaser about geographical names, especially as regards geographical names referring to areas of oil production with a protected designation of origin.

It is permitted to use the names of holdings, estates and farms and to refer to packaging at an olive holding, at an association of olive holdings or at a business located in the production area, only if the product is made exclusively from olives harvested from olive groves belonging to the holding in question, and if the oil is extracted and packaged on the holding.

The name of the ‘Canino’ protected designation of origin must appear on the label in distinct, indelible lettering of a colour that strongly contrasts with that of the label itself and in such a way that it can be clearly distinguished from the other information given on the label.

The year of production of the olives from which the oil was made must be indicated on the label.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The production area includes all or part of the administrative territory of the following municipalities: Canino, Arlena di Castro, Cellere, Ischia di Castro, Farnese, Tessennano, Tuscania (part) and Montalto di Castro (part), all situated in the province of Viterbo.

5. Link with the geographical area

Olive-growing in this area, which was the cradle of the Etruscan civilisation, goes back to ancient times. Olive trees grow wild here, and have provided many place names still in use, such as ‘Poggio Olivastro’. As far back as Etruscan times, people would gather the fruit of these trees, knocking them loose from the branches using long sticks, as evidenced by vase paintings and tomb frescoes.

The centuries-old olive trees, which have grown to a great, majestic size, comparable to oaks, are evidence of the local inhabitants’ ancient tradition of olive-growing, and the gently rolling landscape is characterised by their silvery-green colour. More recently the Canino area formed part of the estate of Prince Torlonia, until the 1950s when the land was given to the peasants as part of the land reform. With the arrival of the agricultural reform, olive-growing expanded rapidly. In a short space of time, the estate’s bare terrain was transformed into a verdant expanse of new olive groves.

Later, in the 1960s, a great change in olive-growing began with the introduction of the concept of specialised intensive olive groves.

In Canino alone, 694 hectares of olive groves were planted using this system.

In 1965, the Cooperative Oil Mill of Canino was promoted and founded on the initiative of the local land reform body Ente Maremma. The cooperative now has around 1 140 members, who produce over 60 % of the area’s total output.

Canino, cradle of the Etruscan civilisation, owes its fame to the olive, which has always been a fundamental part of its economy. A village of Etruscan origin, in the Middle Ages Canino was part of the Papal States. Later it came under the rule of the Duchy of Castro. After returning to the Papal States, in 1808 it was granted in fee to Lucien Bonaparte, who lived in the palace built by the Farnese family. The Canino coat of arms is represented by a dog, in reference to the name of the locality, and by the three fleurs-de-lis of the Farnese family. The spread of olive-growing was made easier by the fact that the oil produced in Canino was of renowned quality and had always been known on oil markets. Canino and its oil were the subject of an important epidemiological study in the 1970s conducted by a team of researchers led by Professor Ancel Keys. The results showed that the rural inhabitants of Canino, who habitually consume the extra virgin olive oil produced in the area, are better protected against the risk of thrombosis than people in Finland and America who normally consume animal fats. Popular tradition has raised the profile of Canino extra virgin olive oil through the Sagra dell’olivo olive festival, a rural event which began in 1939 and which takes place every year on 8 December. Besides promoting the excellent quality of the oil, this event is an occasion for meetings and conferences among top experts in nutrition and technology. From 1989 to 1993 the Cooperative Oil Mill of Canino, along with the Regional Agricultural Development Board, conducted a careful characterisation study of local oil output. The Cooperative has also worked with the most important research agencies working on the development of olive-growing and olive processing techniques.

‘Canino’ PDO extra virgin olive oil is characterised both by its strong link with the geographical area, which has an unmistakeable influence on the product’s organoleptic and quality characteristics, and by its centuries-old reputation.

The area’s soil and climate characteristics, including volcanic soils with a pH level between 6,5 and 7,5, average annual temperatures between 15 °C and 16 °C tempered by the sea breeze of the Viterbo coast, and annual rainfall around 600-800 mm, all have a significant impact on the quality of ‘Canino’ oil. The oil is harmonious and always balanced, has a mild fruitiness with herbaceous and/or artichoke notes, and is slightly bitter with sharp tones.

The olive tree is not only a productive resource in the area, but also characterises its landscape and environment. Expert olive-growers and millers have been able to adapt and modernise their growing and processing techniques, never failing to give the oil unique qualities which have always been highly valued by the most demanding of consumers.

Reference to publication of the specification

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

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

or alternatively:

by going directly to the home page of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy (www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Qualità’ (at the top right of the screen), then on ‘Prodotti DOP, IGP e STG’ (on the left-hand side of the screen) and finally 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.