EN Official Journal of the European Union C 371/22

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

(2014/C 371/15)

This publication confers the right to oppose the amendment application pursuant to 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 ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 9

‘ASPARAGO BIANCO DI CIMADOLMO’

EC No: IT-PGI-0105-01202-4.3.2014

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Heading in the product specification affected by the amendment

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2. Type of amendment

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3. Amendment(s)

3.1. Description of product

— The following new cultivars and varieties have been introduced: Zeno and Vittorio (formerly AM840), Darbella, Voltaire and Cumulus. These cultivars and varieties have been produced from the old existing varieties used for ‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’ PGI, which have been developed for many years in the area, in order to maintain the organoleptic and physical characteristics of this well-known asparagus.

— The Gladio JM2001 and JM2004 cultivars have been deleted, as they are no longer sold by the seed producers.

— Following the repeal of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2377/1999 (3) laying down the marketing standard for asparagus, it has been decided to indicate the diameter and length requirements for the Extra and Premium categories in the specification for ‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’ PGI.

3.2. Proof of origin

The paragraph on proof of origin has been updated based on the requirements of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

3.3. Method of production

Planting and production system

— The transplanting period has been indicated in the specification in order to make this clearer for the producers; the period from March to May is the most appropriate from the climate point of view for transplanting and for the subsequent success of the crop.

— The obligation to carry out parcel soil analyses and the frequency thereof have been clarified.

Soil management and plant nutrition

— The information on the crop’s average nutrient requirements has been deleted from the specification as this was general in nature and therefore not relevant to fertiliser use. This must be based on the soil analyses and on the actual requirements of the plants.

— The fact that irrigation may take place only as an emergency measure has been clarified.

Phytosanitary protection

— The word ‘chemical’ has been replaced by the word ‘phytosanitary’, as this is more appropriate to organic production.

Harvesting

— The imprecise information on the date when harvesting is to begin has been deleted. The harvesting period itself has not been amended.

3.4. Labelling

— The paragraph on affixing the label both to the bundles and to the packages of loose asparagus has been reworded. Specifically, the label which goes around the bundle of asparagus is placed lower than at present, in order to make the tips of the asparagus more visible. The packages of loose asparagus are now to be closed and the label placed under the material used to close the packages. This avoids the asparagus being tampered with and gives the consumer the guarantee that the package has not been opened.

— To provide the consumer with more information, the obligation to indicate the commercial category and the relative diameter class on the label has been added.

— The option of replacing the words ‘Indicazione Geografica Protetta’ by the acronym ‘IGP’ on the label, in printed letters of the same size and colour, has been provided for.

— There is now the obligation to use the EU logo.

— The product logo now includes the acronym ‘IGP’ so as to improve the quality of the consumer information.

— Some references to the description of the logo’s technical characteristics have been corrected.

3.5. Other

Updated legal reference

The references to EU legislation have been updated. References to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 (4) have been replaced by references to Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

Packaging

In order to avoid tampering and to guarantee product quality for the consumer, the packaged non-bundled (or loose) product now has a maximum weight limit of 5 kg, and there is an obligation to close the package with nets or other suitable material and for it to have a band containing the PGI logo.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (5)

‘ASPARAGO BIANCO DI CIMADOLMO’

EC No: IT-PGI-0105-01202-4.3.2014

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Name

‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’

2. Member State or Third Country

Italy

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 (1) applies

The ‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’ PGI is reserved for asparagus shoots from planting areas containing the following varieties: Precoce d’Argenteuil, Larac, Dariana, Cumulus, Darbella, Vittorio (ex AM 840), Voltaire, Zeno.

Other cultivars up to a maximum of 20 % may also be present in the areas.

‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’, when put up for sale, must present the following marketing and quality characteristics:

— The shoots must be completely white. They must also be whole, with a fresh, healthy appearance and aroma, free of rodent or insect damage, practically free of bruising, clean, free of external moisture, i.e. adequately ‘dried’ if they have been washed or cooled with cold water, and free of any foreign smell and/or taste; the shoots must not be hollow, split, peeled or broken. Small cracks which have appeared after harvesting are, however, allowed.

— ‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’ is classified in the following categories, each subdivided into two classes according to diameter: — Extra Category: — Diameter class: from 19 to 24 mm — Diameter class: from 15 to 19 mm — Premium Category: — Diameter class: from 12 to 15 mm — Diameter class: from 8 to 12 mm The asparagus must be between 20 and 22 cm long.

3.3. Raw materials (for processed products only)

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3.4. Feed (for products of animal origin only)

—

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

All steps in producing ‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’, from planting to harvesting, must take place in the identified geographical area.

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

After harvesting, the asparagus shoots must be delivered to the processing centre within 12 hours, in bundles or loose.

For keeping, the product’s metabolism must be slowed down by cooling the shoots quickly and keeping them at a suitable temperature.

The asparagus must be packed in such a way as to protect the produce adequately.

At the time of packaging the product must be free of any foreign body.

The shoots must be sold in one of the following forms:

(a) in tightly tied bundles of between 0,5 kg and 3 kg. The shoots on the outside of each bundle must have the same appearance and size as the average shoot within the bundle. The bundles must be placed into the package in a regular fashion; each bundle may be protected by paper. The bundles in a package must have the same weight and length;

(b) loose, in packages weighing a maximum of 5 kg; these packages must be closed with a net or another material suitable for food products, and with a band containing the PGI logo, so as to protect the product from possible tampering. The contents of each package or bundle within a package must be homogeneous and must contain only shoots of the same quality category and size.

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling

The label must be placed on the band around the bundles or under the material used to close the packages in the case of loose asparagus.

To protect the consumer, each bundle’s label must indicate both the category referred to in point 3.2 and the relative diameter class.

The PGI designation must be shown on the label by means of the words

‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’ and ‘Indicazione Geografica Protetta’, the latter possibly replaced by the acronym ‘IGP’, in printed letters of the same size and colour.

The label must bear the guarantee seal containing the logo, i.e. the distinctive symbol of the Protected Geographical Indication.

The use of the EU symbol is obligatory.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area of production of ‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’ falls within the Province of Treviso and comprises the whole of the municipalities of: Breda di Piave, Cimadolmo, Fontanelle, Mareno di Piave, Maserada sul Piave, Oderzo, Ormelle, Ponte di Piave, San Polo di Piave, Santa Lucia di Piave and Vazzola.

5. Link with the geographical area

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area

The climate of the production area is typically temperate and humid, with heavy rainfall in spring.

The production area is located in the flood plain of the river Piave, characterised by alluvial sandy-loamy soils which are loose, soft, neutral to subalkaline, permeable and well-drained.

5.2. Specificity of the product

‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’ is famous for its white, tender and non-fibrous shoots.

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 temperate, damp climate and the sandy, loamy, loose and fresh soil promote the growth of asparagus, enabling it to grow rapidly due to the soil’s low resistance and produce shoots which are white, tender and non-fibrous.

The product’s fame is also proven by the annual ‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’ fair, which since 1975 has attracted consumers and fans alike during the first weeks of May. There is also a tourist route called the ‘strada dell’asparago’ (‘asparagus route’) running through the municipalities which produce ‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’.

Today ‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’ appears in numerous books on farming systems and on typical products from the Province of Treviso (L’asparago — la storia, le tradizioni e le ricette (Asparagus — history, traditions and recipes) by Paolo Morganti and Chiara Nardo, published by Morganti Editori; La qualità come risorsa: il caso delle produzioni tipiche della provincia di Treviso (Quality as an ingredient: the traditional products of the Province of Treviso) by V. Boatto, E. Defrancesco and A. Scudeller, 1995), as well as in a huge number of recipes and on the menus of the province’s best restaurants.

The long historical tradition of cultivating ‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’ is illustrated by quotes found in the works of various writers of the past, such as Agostinetti’s ‘I centodieci ricordi che formano il buon fattore di Villa’ (1679), which can be found in the Cimadolmo municipal archives.

Reference to publication of the specification

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (6))

The Ministry launched the national opposition procedure with the publication of the proposal for amending the product specification for the ‘Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo’ PGI in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 5 of 8 January 2014.

The full 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 direct to the home page of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy (www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Prodotti DOP e IGP’ (at the top right of the screen), then on ‘Prodotti DOP, IGP e STG’ (in the left-hand side column) and finally 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) OJ L 287, 10.11.1999, p. 6.

(4) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1.

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

(6) See footnote 5.