Publication of an application for registration of a name 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

(2020/C 203/06)

This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within three months from the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς’ (Loukaniko Pitsilias)

EU No: PGI-CY-02369 – 15.9.2017

PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1. Name(s)

‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς’ (Loukaniko Pitsilias)

2. Member State or third country

Cyprus

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 1.2. Meat products (cooked, salted, smoked, etc.)

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

The name ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’ is used for an aged, smoked meat product marinated in wine, with the following characteristics:

Physical characteristics:

The product is presented for consumption as a series of ‘links’ in pairs or as individual sausages.

Each individual sausage is long, narrow and cylindrical in shape.

Organoleptic characteristics

Colour: dark greyish brown to black on the outside and pale purple on the inside with distinct white areas of fat at intervals

Aroma: aroma of smoke, red wine, coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and cumin (Cuminum cyminum)

Taste: lightly salted with distinctive flavours of red wine, smoke, coriander, cumin and black pepper (Piper nigrum)

Texture: cohesive in texture; when being cut each slice remains cohesive without the minced meat mixture being dispersed.

Chemical characteristics

Moisture content: 40–60 %

Sodium chloride: 1,5 % –3 %

Maximum fat percentage: 35 %.

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

‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’ is produced without the addition of any preservatives (e.g. nitrates, nitrites, polyphosphates), flavour enhancers or any other additives. The raw materials used to prepare it also do not contain any additives or preservatives (e.g. nitrates or nitrites).

The raw materials used in the preparation of ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’ are:

— fresh pork mince from healthy animals that have been slaughtered in accordance with the law (completely bled and immediately refrigerated). Upon receipt, checks are carried out on the colour (characteristic light red), the smell (good) and the internal temperature (between 0 °C and 4 °C),

— pork casing, which has already been cleaned and cured with salt at a temperature below 4 °C. Upon receipt, checks are carried out on its purity and smell (good),

— coarse (sea) salt,

— crushed coriander (Coriandrum sativum), ground cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and ground black pepper (Piper nigrum),

— dry red wine produced in the defined geographical area from vineyards which contain grapevines of the local ‘Mavro’ variety that is predominant in the region, and which may also contain vines of the ‘Maratheftiko’ (Vamvakada) variety. These vineyards are located in the area where Pitsilia Wines with a Controlled Designation of Origin are produced. Upon receipt, checks are carried out on the aroma (characteristic of the variety), the alcohol content (between 12 and 15 %) and the sugar content (less than 4 g/litre).

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

The different steps in the preparation of ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’ which must take place within the defined geographical area are: (dry-)salting the mince and soaking it in wine, addition of spices, filling the mixture into pork casing, tying the casings at intervals to form a series of ‘links’ of ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’, smoking the links and aging them (where appropriate).

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

The ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’ may be sold packaged or unpackaged, whole or sliced.

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

In whatever form the product is presented (packaged or unpackaged, whole or sliced), it must bear appropriate labelling stating the registered name and the details of the plant where it was produced and/or sliced and packaged (if slicing and packaging do not take place in the production plant).

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The defined geographical area, Pitsilia, is known for being mountainous. It comprises those areas which have an altitude of 700 metres or more and are within the administrative boundaries of the following localities:

Nicosia District: Agia Eirini, Alithinou, Alona, Apliki, Askas, Gourri, Kannavia, Kourdali, Lagoudera, Lazanias, Livadia (Nicosia), Palechori, Platanistasa, Polystypos, Saranti, Spilia, Farmakas, Fikardou, Fterikoudi, Kambi

Larnaca District: Odou

Limassol District: Agios Theodoros, Agios Ioannis, Agios Konstantinos, Agios Pavlos, Agridia, Agros, Kato Amiantos, Pano Amiantos, Dymes, Zoopigi, Kato Mylos, Kyperounta, Pelendri, Potamitissa, Sykopetra, Chandria.

5. Link with the geographical area

The application to register the name ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’ PGI is based on the product’s physical, chemical and organoleptic characteristics, which are developed and preserved as a result of a production process which does not require the use of any additives or other auxiliary substances.

The characteristics of ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’ are a result of its producers’ know-how, in particular the following:

The meat selected is not very fatty, as high fat content will lead to a product that is softer in texture than desired.

The minced meat is salted as the producers deem appropriate based on their experience and mixed at intervals in order to achieve both a uniform distribution of the salt throughout the minced meat and the desired saltiness of the final product.

Salting and immersion in wine take place at the same time. The salted minced meat remains in the wine and at intervals it is mixed to ensure that the characteristic taste, aroma and colour of the wine are consistent throughout the minced meat.

The characteristic intense wine flavour and aroma and the characteristic colour of the inside of the ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’ are influenced by the choice of the appropriate dry red wine (in terms of aroma and chemical characteristics) from vineyards which contain grapevines of the local ‘Mavro’ variety that is predominant in the area (accounting for around 80 % of the total area planted with vines), and which may also contain vines of the red ‘Maratheftiko’ variety, and by the length of time the mince mixture is immersed and soaked in the wine.

In a similar way to the salt and wine, spices are also added to the mince.

The processes of salting, soaking in wine, adding spices and mixing the preparation are important elements of the production process in order to ensure that the sausages prepared from the same mix of minced meat have the same quality characteristics.

Once the mix has acquired what the producer deems to be the desired characteristics, it is fed into a natural pork casing. The casing is sealed at the ends and tied in a knot at intervals to form a series of ‘links’ of ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’. An important element of producers’ know-how, when filling and tying the casings, is the creation of small holes that will prevent excess moisture from being locked in. If this were to happen, the final product would be very uneven and would have pockets of air.

Smoking is an important element of the producers’ know-how as it determines the flavour, aroma, texture and colour of the final product. Smoking is also the stage of the production process which will alter the colour of the outside of the ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’, which becomes darker at the end of the smoking, the smoking process itself being mild, gradual and cold. The intensity of the fire, the duration of smoking, the distance of the sausage links from the fire itself and how regularly the position of the sausage links in the smoke house is changed are decided on the basis of the producers’ experience, resulting in a final product which is smoky without altering the flavour and aroma obtained at the stage where the pork mince is soaked in the wine and spices. The intensity of the fire varies depending on the climatic conditions to ensure that the flavour and texture of the product are not affected. If the fire is intense during smoking the texture of the final product will be crunchier and the outer colour will be darker; these are not desirable characteristics.

Smoking and aging (where applicable) are the processes which give the product the desired moisture levels and the characteristic firmer texture when consumed, as opposed to similar products which are not smoked or aged.

The climate of the Pitsilia region, which is characterised by cool dry summers and mild winters, combined with sloping land that is relatively infertile, helped to develop the process of producing and preserving processed meat products under ambient room conditions, which made it possible to have meat available to the family throughout the year without the need to store it in fat (as in other regions). Expertise in producing these products has remained unchanged and been handed down from generation to generation; this know-how is still used today by producers in the Pitsilia region in their modern facilities.

The soil and climate of the Pitsilia region have also always contributed to the production of a lesser volume of grapes than other regions, with juice that is richer in polyphenols. Along with other production know-how, the producers of ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’ also inherited the excellent black wine referred to by N. Ierides (1903: Brief History of Cyprus); this further strengthens the link between the product and the region, giving it the intense aroma and taste characteristic of the local ‘Mavro’ [black] wine.

It is because of the characteristics of ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’, which are the result of the producers’ know-how and the use of the region’s wine, that the product has acquired such a reputation as to be ranked together with Pafítiko Loukaniko as the best Cypriot sausages, according to P. Xioutas, 1978: Kypriaki Laografia ton Zóon (Animals in Cypriot Folklore).

Pitsilia’s processed meat products, including ‘Λουκάνικο Πιτσιλιάς/Loukaniko Pitsilias’, are inextricably linked to that region, so that any publications and/or websites with information on tourism and/or gastronomy make specific reference to them (Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, 2011: Gastronomikos Chartis tis Kyprou (Culinary Map of Cyprus), and Florentia Kithraiotou, 2009: Trofi: aformi schesis (Food: a basis for a relationship).

Reference to publication of the product specification

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

http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/da/da.nsf/All/FE9A90EB4A75497BC22583A9003E9C46?OpenDocument

(1) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.