EN Official Journal of the European Union C 56/18

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

2011/C 56/10

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

AMENDMENT APPLICATION

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

AMENDMENT APPLICATION ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 9

‘RISO DI BARAGGIA BIELLESE E VERCELLESE’

EC No: IT-PDO-0105-0337-06.03.2008

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1. Heading in the product 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):

3.1. Description of product:

— In Article 2 of the product specification, which contains the PDO ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’ product description, the glutinosity parameters for each of the seven rice varieties have been revised. The parameters proposed are the result of a thorough analysis which was conducted according to an in-house method drawn up and developed by the Ente Nazionale Risi (National Rice Body). The method employs new analysis apparatus which provides results that are more precise in comparison with those previously used. This is because, in addition to being regularly calibrated with reference samples certified by the SIT (Servizio di Taratura Italiano — Italian Calibration Service) for the force, distance and velocity parameters which the glutinosity test entails, it completely automates some of the phases of the analytical process and hence minimises the sources of variability and improves the reproducibility of the aforementioned method of analysis. It is precisely because of this automation that the glutinosity results differ, in terms of numerical value, from the former values observed using the previous apparatus and analytical technique, which are now considered obsolete. Furthermore, since glutinosity is a parameter that varies according to the maturity and ageing conditions of the rice, the time when the rice is to be analysed has been specified in the product specification, i.e. in the autumn, at the end of the harvest when the glutinosity values are greatest. It should also be noted that a substantive error regarding the unit of measurement for glutinosity has been corrected. It had been incorrectly expressed in g/cm2 but is now correctly expressed in g/cm in the single document enclosed with this amendment application. To summarise, by defining more precise parameters, correcting a substantive error and detailing the stage of the production chain when the rice's glutinosity is to be analysed, the amendment application aims to provide clearer and more precise elements which allow the rice's glutinosity to be better evaluated. This is to the advantage of both producers and consumers.

— A tolerance of 10 % has been introduced in the table of physio-chemical characteristics for the length, width, consistency, glutinosity, clarity and weight values of the grains. It was considered appropriate to propose this tolerance as it can be deduced from the available analysis data that the aforementioned characteristics are highly influenced by the weather of the year in which the rice is cultivated.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘RISO DI BARAGGIA BIELLESE E VERCELLESE’

EC No: IT-PDO-0105-0337-06.03.2008

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1. Name:

‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’

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 PDO ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’ exclusively denotes the rice product obtained by processing rough rice into ‘whole-grain’, ‘white’ and ‘parboiled’ rice.

The varieties of rice grown are those listed and described below:

Variety Colour of pericarp Length Shape Pearl Striation Notch Section Head Arborio White Long Semi-round Central extended Absent Pronounced Flattened Oblong Baldo White Long Semi-tapered Absent Absent Regular Roundish Regular Balilla White Short Round Lateral Short Regular Roundish Stumpy Carnaroli White Long Semi-tapered Central-lateral Absent Pronounced Roundish Oblong S. Andrea White Long Semi-tapered Central-lateral Short Regular Roundish Regular Loto White Long Semi-tapered Absent Absent Regular Roundish Oblong Gladio White Long Very tapered Absent Absent Receding Flattened Oblong

In addition to the above parameters, the biometric properties and physio-chemical characteristics identifying and defining the varieties of rice concerned are set out below.

Size of grain Consistency Glutinosity Clarity Weight of 1 000 grains Length Width kg/cm2 g/cm % g mm mm Whole-grain White Variety No more than No less than No more than No less than No more than Arborio 7,2 3,5 0,65 7,5 — 38 34 Baldo 7,2 3,2 0,61 7,5 50 35 31 Balilla 5,2 3,2 0,64 5,1 — 25 22 Carnaroli 7,0 3,4 0,86 3,2 — 35 31 S. Andrea 6,6 3,3 0,58 8,5 — 34 30 Loto 6,4 3,1 0,72 7,5 40 28 25 Gladio 7,0 2,2 0,86 1,5 70 22 20

A tolerance of 10 % is permitted for the values given above. The glutinosity measurement was undertaken in autumn, at the end of the harvest.

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 identified geographical area:

All production operations of ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’, the cultivation, harvesting, preparation and/or processing of the PDO product, must be carried out within the production area referred to in point 4.

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

Packaging may be carried out solely under the supervision of the inspection body.

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling:

The PDO product ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’ must bear on the packaging a label with the specific name of the variety grown in the area (not an equivalent, even if authorised under the applicable rules). Various types of processing and packaging are available depending on the end market.

The following names must be printed on the packaging:

— the EU PDO mark,

— the logo of PDO ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’, which must be clearly distinguishable on the packaging by its size and colour, together with the PDO mark as above,

— the rice mill and husking plant brand, company names and name of variety.

Promotional or misleading information is not authorised.

The logo of the PDO ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’ is a circle with three grains of straight, white rice depicted side-by-side at the base, as they are usually presented and visible to the consumer. At the top of the grains is the tiny gap where the embryo of the rice caryopsis is located before refining. The white background to the logo contains the image of the Monte Rosa massif. The mountain's glaciers are the source of the water which directly and primarily irrigate the Baraggia rice crops, which produce the rice exclusively designated ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’. In addition to the logo, the top part bears the name ‘Riso di Baraggia’ and the lower part the represented area, Biellese e Vercellese. Packages of PDO ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’ released for consumption must be of the following weights in kg: 0,25, 0,5, 1,0, 2,0, 5,0, 10,0 or 25,0 and must be presented in bags, small bags of fabric or plastic that are suitable — in health and safety terms — for containing food products or boxes of various materials provided they are authorised under the rules governing the health and safety conditions for food products.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area:

The defined area for the protected designation of origin ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’ is in the North-East of Piedmont, comprising the following municipalities: Albano Vercellese, Arborio, Balocco, Brusnengo, Buronzo, Carisio, Casanova Elvo, Castelletto Cervo, Cavaglià, Collobiano, Dorzano, Formigliana, Gattinara, Ghislarengo, Gifflenga, Greggio, Lenta, Massazza, Masserano, Mottalciata, Oldenico, Rovasenda, Roasio, Salussola, San Giacomo Vercellese, Santhià, Villanova Biellese and Villarboit in the Provinces of Biella and Vercelli.

5. Link with the geographical area:

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area:

The production area as defined in 4 is made up of one core zone characterised by the difficulty of levelling land due to its particular clay and iron-rich structure, which leads to uneven levels of submersion. The climate is another feature, characterised by rather cool summer months and frequent thermal inversions due to the winds blowing from the mountains. In addition, cold water sources in the area, located at the foot of the Alps, make it the first to be irrigated by mountain springs.

5.2. Specificity of the product:

The specific characteristics of ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’ are that it is highly suitable for cooking, has a superior consistency and low glutinosity.

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 diversity of Baraggia and its rice was described for about 50 years in the Giornale di Risicoltura (Journal of Rice Growing), which was published monthly between 1912 and 1952 by the former Institute for Experimental Rice Growing in Vercelli, which often published technical-scientific articles demonstrating the particular features of the Baraggia area and the rice produced there. In 1931, this Institute acquired a rice producer in the municipality of Villarboit (centre of the rice area in Baraggia) and used it as a research centre for the purpose of perfecting the specific features of production in the Baraggia area. In 1952, this monthly journal gave way to the publication Il Riso (Rice), published by the Ente Nazionale Risi (National Rice Body), in which several articles mentioned the specific qualitative features of rice produced in this area. As a result of these characteristics of the production area, a feature of ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’ is that it is highly suitable for cooking, has a superior consistency and low glutinosity. These characteristics are unanimously recognised by consumers and are partly due to lower yields and lower growing cycles than varieties from other areas.

Rice was grown in the area defined in Baraggia in the early 17th century and was also recorded in notarised documents in 1606 in the Municipality of Salussola, which is part of the defined area.

Ever since the early 1900s, rice — a historic crop in Baraggia — also had symbolic use in public events, including sporting events, especially cycling, used by the champions Coppi, Bartali and Magni.

Reference to publication of the specification:

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

The Ministry launched the national objection procedure with the publication of the proposed amendments to ‘Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese’ PDO in Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 23 of 28 January 2008.

The full text of the product specification is available on the following website: http://www.politicheagricole.it/DocumentiPubblicazioni/Search_Documenti_Elenco.htm?txtTipoDocumento=Disciplinare%20in%20esame%20UE&txtDocArgomento=Prodotti%20di%20Qualit%E0>Prodotti%20Dop,%20Igp%20e%20Stg

or by going directly to the home page of the Ministry (http://www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Prodotti di Qualità’ (on the left of the screen) and finally on ‘Disciplinari di Produzione all’esame dell’UE [regolamento (CE) n. 510/2006]’.

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