EN Official Journal of the European Union C 387/16

Publication of an amendment application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

2012/C 387/08

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months from the date of this publication.

AMENDMENT APPLICATION

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

AMENDMENT APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 9

‘LENTILLES VERTES DU BERRY’

EC No: FR-PGI-0105-0948-06.02.2012

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)

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 sheet 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

— Modification of the lentils’ size: lentils less than 4 mm in size must be excluded to ensure the lentils are uniform in size and for cooking.

— Increase of the percentage of ‘cracks in seeds’ permitted from 0 % to 0,2 %: this is due to the fact that there is a higher risk of finding cracks in seeds because of the more frequent periods of drought affecting the geographical area. The rate of 0,2 % allows a quality product to be obtained, while respecting the technical constraints.

Method of production

— Abolition of the deadline for harvesting; the late harvest for the last two years having made it necessary to extend the harvesting period. The only criteria retained is the maximum humidity (18 %) for lentils when they are harvested in order to determine the stage at which they are harvested.

— Addition of a paragraph on the fumigation of the lentils after harvesting, which is indispensable for ensuring they are safe, trustworthy and marketable with regard to the risk of insects.

— Addition of a paragraph on the definition of a packaging period for ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’. This period is limited to one year from 1 September of year n until 31 August of year n + 1, the lentils generally being harvested in July. This period, which relates to the use-by or best-before date of no later than two years after the date of packaging, ensures the freshness of the products on sale and the constant quality of the product. Furthermore, the fact of being able to package the previous harvest until 31 August makes it possible to avoid running out of stocks of the finished product between harvests (during the time needed for fumigating and sorting the new harvest).

— Inclusion in the specifications of the requirement for ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ to be packaged only in bulk bags and in the geographical area of the protected geographical indication. The loose lentils, sorted to meet the standards for the finished product, may be packaged in bulk bags intended for external packagers for their own packaging, or for industries specialising in prepared meals. Bulk-bag packaging in the area makes it easier to ensure the identification and traceability of batches.

National requirements

The wording of the specifications was updated and a chapter on ‘national requirements’ was added, indicating the main points to check.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘LENTILLES VERTES DU BERRY’

EC No: FR-PGI-0105-0948-06.02.2012

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Name:

‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’

2. Member State or third country:

France

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:

‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ are dry seeds from the leguminous plant Lens culinaris, Anicia variety. The seeds are 4 mm to 6 mm in diameter and 2 mm to 2,5 mm thick. They are dark green in colour, more or less marbled with blue. After sorting, they should have the following characteristics:

— humidity: ≤ 16 %,

— foreign matter: ≤ 0,2 % of which mineral matter ≤ 0,001 per thousand,

— broken or split seeds ≤ 0,8 %,

— cracks in seeds ≤ 0,2 %,

— damaged seeds ≤ 0,8 %,

— unacceptable seeds ≤ 0,1 %.

They are rich in protein (31 % average).

Cooking time of no more than 30 minutes.

3.3. Raw materials (for processed products only):

Not applicable.

3.4. Feed (for products of animal origin only):

Not applicable.

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

Crop production

Harvesting

Storage before fumigation and sorting

Fumigation

Sorting

3.6. Specific rules on slicing, grating, packaging, etc.:

The packaging in bulk bags should also take place in the defined geographical area and be done only for loose lentils sorted to finished product standards. These bulk bags are intended for external packagers for their own packaging (consumer sales units, catering), or for industries specialising in prepared meals.

Bulk bag packaging in the area makes it easier to ensure the identification and traceability of batches because this type of packaging is more secure than bulk transport by lorry. It also minimises the risk of mixing.

‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ may be packaged in consumer sales units and shipped from the PGI area or from the external packagers (outside the PGI area).

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling:

The label of the PGI product bears:

— the name of the food: ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’,

— the name and address of the certification body, preceded by the words ‘certified by’,

— the European Union’s PGI logo.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area:

This area covers 49 municipalities of Berry located in the departments Indre and Cher.

Cher: Charost, Mareuil/Arnon, Civray, St. Ambroix, Saugy.

Indre: St. Georges/Arnon, Migny, Diou, Ste Lizaigne, Paudy, Giroux, Meunet-sur-Vatan, Vatan, St. Florentin, La Chapelle St. Laurian, Guilly, Fontenay, Bouges-le-Château, Liniez, Ménétréols-sous-Vatan, Lizeray, Les Bordes, St. Aoustrille, Issoudun, Chouday, Ségry, St. Aubin, Meunet-Planches, Vouillon, Brives, Ste Fauste, Diors, Neuvy-Pailloux, Thizay, Montierchaume, Levroux, Coings, La Champenoise, St. Valentin, Vineuil, Villegongis, Francillon, Bretagne, Brion, Luçay le Libre, Chezelles, Villers-les-Ormes, Condé, Moulins-sur-Céphons.

5. Link with the geographical area:

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area:

5.1.1. Soil factors

All the soils used for growing Berry green lentils are lime-clay soils. They may be either ‘rendzina’ or ‘calcareous brown soil’ types. The soils are healthy in hydromorphic terms, not very consolidated, rich in organic matter, not very compact. They have an average water reserve (60 mm to 100 mm), which helps the lentils reach maturity.

They are shallow, promoting the plant’s growth, which contributes to excellent yields: over 20 quintals on average over the last 15 years. Record yields, such as an average of almost 40 quintals for example, have even been obtained on lands not known as excellent for cereal cultivation, and that without irrigation or fertilisation.

These lime-clay soils are thus healthy, easy to work and perfectly suited to lentil cultivation.

5.1.2. Climate factors

The geographical area enjoys a temperate climate with regular rainfall in the spring and high temperatures (27 °C to 30 °C) from the end of June.

5.1.3. Human factors

The first growing techniques for improving the quality and the yields of green lentils were developed in the 1950s in Champagne Berrichone. This expertise was passed on from farmer to farmer growing ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’, which allowed the development of this crop in the geographical area of the PGI.

Initially grown by a number of farmers in the region during the 1960s, cultivation expanded to reach 7 200 hectares in 1983 and 79 % of French lentil production.

Since 1994 when the ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ association was created and the achievement of PGI status in 1998, the share of PGI ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ has increased. The production under PGI went from an initial 170 hectares to its present level of some 400 hectares.

The expertise of ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ producers is typified by:

— sowing the lentils in lime-clay soils,

— sowing density adapted to the soil type,

— mastery of weed control adapted to this type of cultivation and limiting the risk of grey rot,

— the lentils’ uniform maturity before harvesting,

— the quality of sorting to eliminate split, broken, cracked or damaged lentils.

5.2. Specificity of the product:

5.2.1. Characteristic properties

‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ are characterised by the dark green colour of their husks, marbled with blue. They have a fine tender skin encasing a soft kernel, with a mild chestnut flavour.

The rigorous sorting of ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ makes it possible to obtain a uniform size (4 mm to 6 mm in diameter), eliminate all impurities and thus ensure the absence of mineral matter (maximum content = 0,001 per thousand).

The uniform size favours the quick, uniform cooking of ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’, a highly valued feature for consumers and processors.

5.2.2. Reputation

The expansion of this crop has allowed ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ to gain a strong local and regional renown. Its renown was assessed in 1993 by a public awareness survey where 31 % of the people surveyed spontaneously said they knew ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ and 51 % did when asked by the surveyor.

‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ play a part in the local tourism industry:

— a lentil museum (maison de la lentille) was established in Chouday, the home of the first farmer to grow the lentils,

— in 1993 the ‘Confrérie des Fins Mangeux d’Lentilles vertes du Berry’ association was established to promote ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’,

— in Vatan in the Indre department, a lentil festival was established in 1993, the second weekend of September, to showcase the early lentils.

As far as gastronomy is concerned, since 1972 ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ have been referred to in national newspapers (Le Figaro), with the original creation by Alain Nonnet, Maître Cuisinier de France (master chef), of ‘la crème de lentilles du Berry’ (cream of Berry lentils) at ‘La Cognette’ restaurant in Issoudun. This soup has since become a major culinary staple, mentioned in numerous cookbooks and even in the Larousse encyclopaedia of regional cuisine. In 2004, the cream of lentil soup featured in the competition to find the best apprentice chef in Europe.

The restaurateurs of the Berry gourmand association have also actively contributed to the reputation of ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ by featuring this local product in their menus.

Numerous partnerships have developed between the restaurateurs and they all promote ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ on their menus.

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 another characteristic of the product (for PGI):

The lime-clay soils have a strong effect on the uniform size and green colour of the lentils. The fact that these soils are healthy in hydromorphic terms, not very compact and not very consolidated means that they favour the cultivation of the crop, thus helping to fight diseases.

The temperate climatic conditions do not expose the crop to any stress factors. The high temperatures at the end of the growing cycle put a rapid end to the flowering period, which contributes to a uniform degree of maturity.

The correlation of the climatic conditions with this soil type ensures that the lentils are uniform in colour, size and maturity.

The lime-clay soils are also easy to work, which limits the presence of mineral matter in the crops harvested. The know-how developed for sorting the lentils in the PGI area then contributes to this special quality of an absence of mineral matter in the finished product.

Furthermore, these soil types, unlike the more acidulous or hard mountain soils, give ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ a mild flavour with a slight hint of chestnut, highly prized by consumers. Many say that they have a delicate flavour and can distinguish them from other lentils.

It is thus the soil characteristics of the area and the growing techniques used for 30 years by the region’s farmers which give this local production its specific characteristics. Thanks to Paul Dufour’s work in developing this cultivation, which is perfectly adapted to the lime-clay soil types of the PGI area, the quality of the product and the yields have improved. This is how ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ obtained its reputation, which has gone from strength to strength over time thanks to the region’s chefs showcasing its gastronomic potential.

Reference to publication of the specification:

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

https://www.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/CDCIGPLentilleVerteDuBerry.pdf

(1) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.