EN Official Journal of the European Union C 153/8

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 153/08

This publication confers the right to oppose the amendment application pursuant to Article 51 of Council Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 (1).

AMENDMENT APPLICATION

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

on protected geographical indications and protected designations of origin (2)

AMENDMENT APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 9

‘CILIEGIA DI MAROSTICA’

EC No: IT-PGI-0105-01057-27.11.2012

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Heading in the product specification affected by the amendment

—  Name of product — ☒ Product description —  Geographical area —  Proof of origin — ☒ Method of production —  Link — ☒ Labelling —  National requirements —  Other (to be specified)

2. Type of amendment(s)

— ☒ 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. Amendment(s)

Description of product

The minimum diameter of the ‘Ciliegia di Marostica’ PGI for consuming fresh has been increased from 20 mm to 23 mm, in line with the changes made to the varietal range in Article 5 of the specification.

For the commercial characteristics of the fresh product reference is made to the applicable Community provisions.

It has been specified that products that are partly intact, without stalk and in general of a poorer quality may be used for industrial processing, even if they are less than 23 mm in size. This is meant to clarify the rules on using the product for processing.

Method of production

Broadening of the varietal range: the list of permitted varieties has been updated to include varieties that perform better and are better tuned to the current market in terms of production and, above all, quality (larger, tastier and better keeping fruit). The aim is to promote the replacement of cultivars that no longer meet market demand while maintaining local biodiversity as much as possible.

The ‘Ulster’ variety has been removed as it is currently no longer cultivated in the area.

Rearranged and simplified description of the cultivation method: the description of the cultivation method has been rearranged and simplified by setting out concise and comprehensive rules for new cherry plantations and for already established plantations. With regard to the cultivation methods permitted for new plantations, specific provisions on soil preparation and plant material have been added. In addition, amendments have been made to several requirements for any type of plantation with regard to the characteristics of the land, the density of trees, the type of farming, pest control, soil management, fertilisation and irrigation.

Storage of the product: rules have been laid down on how to handle fruit that has not been sold within 48 hours of harvesting: it must be refrigerated or treated by other appropriate methods to slow down respiration in order to safeguard the quality of the cherries.

Labelling

Packing: a minimum container capacity of 250 g has been added to meet the new demand for smaller packs.

Tolerance: provision has been made for 10 % tolerance in size and colour by number or weight of cherries in individual packs.

Logo: the colour of the leaf on the logo of the geographical indication has been changed to match the colour of the stalk of the fruit that represents the ‘Ciliegia di Marostica PGI’. In addition, a simplified version of the logo caption is proposed: ‘Ciliegia di Marostica IGP’ instead of ‘Ciliegia di Marostica Ciliegia IGP’ to facilitate product recognition by consumers.

Finally, to enable the logo to be used more effectively on promotional materials, the size requirements have been removed, while the compulsory height/base ratio of 1,2 has been maintained.

Provision has been made to allow the IGP acronym to be replaced by the words in full. It is expressly stated that the EU symbol must be used.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

on protected geographical indications and designations of origin (3)

‘CILIEGIA DI MAROSTICA’

EC No: IT-PGI-0105-01057-27.11.2012

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Name

‘Ciliegia di Marostica’

2. Member State or third country

Italy

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Product type

Class 1.6. Fruit, vegetables, cereals, fresh or processed

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

The name ‘Ciliegia di Marostica’ refers to the fruit obtained from the cultivation of varieties that belong to the following groups:

— the very early varieties ‘Sandra’ and ‘Francese’, the latter comprising the ‘Bigarreau Moreau’ and ‘Burlat’ varieties,

— the medium-early variety ‘Roana’ and the early Durone variety ‘Roman’,

— the late variety ‘Milanese’, ‘Durone Rosso’ (similar to ‘Ferrovia’) and ‘Bella Italia’,

— ‘Sandra Tardiva’,

— the ‘Van’, ‘Giorgia’, ‘Ferrovia’, ‘Durone Nero I’, ‘Durone Nero II’ and ‘Mora di Cazzano’ varieties.

In addition, the following varieties are allowed: ‘Bella di Pistoia’ (‘Durone Rosso’), ‘Black Star’, ‘Early Bigi’, ‘Grace Star’, ‘Kordia’, ‘Lapins’, ‘Marostegana’, ‘Prime Giant’, ‘Regina’ and ‘Folfer’.

The ‘Ciliegia di Marostica’ for consuming fresh is large in size and intense in colour, varying from bright red to dark red depending on the variety.

The fruit marketed for consuming fresh must be intact, healthy, with stalk, clean and free of visible impurities on the surface.

The minimum size of the fruit for consuming fresh is 23 mm.

The fruit intended for other uses (e.g. in confectionery) may be without stalk, partly intact and smaller than 23 mm.

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

All stages in the growing and harvesting of the ‘Ciliegia di Marostica’ must take place in the identified geographical area.

Cherries marketed for consuming fresh must be harvested by hand.

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

The fruit must be packed in containers with rigid sides. Substandard and undersized fruit should be sorted and removed on the production site.

Until the fruit is marketed, it must be stored in a cool and shaded place to prevent loss of quality and shelf life.

Products that have not been sold within 48 hours of harvesting must be properly refrigerated or treated by other methods designed to slow down the fruit’s metabolic processes.

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling

The ‘Ciliegia di Marostica’ marketed for consuming fresh must be packed in special containers of sizes varying between 250 g and 10 kg.

The materials used must be non-toxic, new and clean, and preferably made of wood, plastic or cardboard.

The contents of each package must be uniform and consist exclusively of cherries of the same variety and quality.

Non-uniformity in size and colour is tolerated up to 10 % by number or weight of products in individual packs.

The use of the EU symbol is compulsory.

Each package must bear the following geographical indication logo:

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The production area of the ‘Ciliegia di Marostica’ comprises the administrative territories of nine municipalities in the province of Vicenza: Marostica, Salcedo, Fara Vicentino, Breganze, Mason, Molvena, Pianezze, Bassano and Schiavon.

5. Link with the geographical area

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area

The production area of the ‘Ciliegia di Marostica’ has long been documented as a territory well suited to the growing of cherries. The quality of the cherries harvested in the area has been acknowledged by several authors.

The northern part of the area extends across a range of hills about 100 to 400 metres high, while the southern part covers a territory of high plains mostly about 90 to 100 metres above sea level.

The land on which the cherries are cultivated and which derives in large part from Tertiary basalt rock is particularly fertile, poor in nitrogen but rich in potassium.

This type of substrate, together with the sloping southern exposure, prevents the stagnation of water and the build-up of sugars.

The area has a moderate and breezy climate with almost no fog and is protected by the Alps and Dolomites to the north.

5.2. Specificity of the product

The cherries are heart-shaped, large in size, bright red to dark red in colour and their flesh is moderately juicy, with a sweet and very pleasant flavour.

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)

The link between the ‘Ciliegia di Marostica’ and the production area is the traditional renown of the fruit, which dates back to the 15th century and continues to the present day.

The growing of cherries on the hills of Marostica has been documented in historical records going back to Roman times and later eras.

The renown of the ‘Ciliegia di Marostica’ seems to hark back to the ancient story of a game of chess played with live pieces in 1454 between two knights who were vying for the hand of a young lady, the daughter of Taddeo Parisio, lord and governor of the ‘noble lands and castle of Marostica’. After the game was played in this way, the winner married the daughter while the loser married the governor’s sister. In memory of the happy event, Taddeo Parisio ordered that cherry trees be planted throughout the area.

The ‘Mostra regionale delle ciliegie’ (Regional Cherry Fair), which is held in the production area every year at the end of May, commemorates this event with the election of two young ladies who take on the role of the brides in the re-enactment of this piece of history.

A cherry market has operated in the Marostica area since 1882, which testifies to the territory’s age-old propensity for the growing of cherries.

The Marostica region also has a ‘Cherry trail’, which runs from the city of Bassano along a route that starts off flat and then cuts across hills and valleys, taking in all the areas involved in the production of cherries.

A key reason for the renown of the ‘Ciliegia di Marostica’ is the producers’ know-how both in planting and tending the cherry orchards, which are often located on hills and slopes, and in the special care with which the cherries are harvested by hand.

The skill with which they have consistently and continuously grown cherry trees on hillsides in the mild climate of Vicenza province has, for several centuries, produced a fruit appreciated for its colour, juiciness and sweet flavour.

Reference to the publication of the specification

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

The Ministry launched the national objection procedure with the publication of the proposal for recognising the protected geographical indication ‘Ciliegia di Marostica’ in Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 245 of 19 October 2012.

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 (http://www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Qualità e sicurezza’ (in the top right-hand corner of the screen) and then on ‘Disciplinari di produzione all’esame dell’UE’.

(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) Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

(4) See footnote 3.