Publication of the amended single document following the approval of a minor amendment pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012

(2021/C 164/06)

The European Commission has approved this minor amendment in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 6(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 of 18 December 2013.

The application for approval of this minor amendment can be consulted in the Commission’s e-Ambrosia database.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘Kalix Löjrom’

EU No: PDO-SE-0650-AM01 – 13.5.2020

PDO (X) PGI ( )

1. Name

‘Kalix Löjrom’

2. Member State or Third Country

Sweden

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Product type

Class 1:7 Fresh fish, molluscs, and crustaceans and products derived therefrom.

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

The main characteristics of ‘Kalix Löjrom’ are as follows:

— The only additive in ‘Kalix Löjrom’ is 4,0 % salt (NaCl).

— The size of the roe varies during the 5-week fishing period, from approximately 0,8 mm in week 1 to approximately 1,3 mm in week 5.

— ‘Kalix Löjrom’ has a round, mild flavour of smooth fish oil and salt.

— The colour of the roe is orange according to colour scale S2070-Y50R (national colour scheme).

— The water content must not be high enough to cause the ‘Kalix Löjrom’ to fall out of an inverted spoon. The roe must also maintain its shape when placed on a flat surface.

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

Vendace feeds on planktonic crustaceans and insect larvae and the minerals washed into the area with the river water. Everything on which vendace feeds comes from the geographical area.

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

The preparation of ‘Kalix Löjrom’, including preliminary rinsing, whisking, sieving, drying, salting and thorough cleaning, must take place in the geographical area. This is due to the special knowledge found in the area, as well as the fact that it cannot tolerate being transported longer distances before undergoing preparation.

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

—

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

—

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area consists on land of the municipalities of Piteå, Luleå, Kalix and Haparanda; and at sea of an area delimited by the Åby river estuary to the south and the Torneå river estuary to the north and extending no more than 40 km from the coast.

5. Link with the geographical area

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area

Vendace lives in the geographical area described in point 4. It stays within this geographical area during the catch period because the archipelago, which consists of 1500 islands, is a natural spawning ground for vendace. The northern part of the Finnish coast does not have the same kind of natural spawning grounds. The salt content south of the Åby river estuary is too high because not enough fresh water runs into that part of the Bothnian Bay. The size of the actual catch area varies depending on how much fresh water flows into it during the spring floods. During a snowy winter, the fresh water from the spring floods forces back the salt water in the Bothnian Bay, extending the outer limit for catching vendace to 40 km from the coast. When the vendace can feed in a larger area, the stock also increases. The link between a rainy, snowy winter and a large stock of vendace is well-known. Eight large rivers and numerous smaller streams and watercourses channel fresh water into this part of the Bothnian Bay. Water from 25 % of the area of Sweden drains into these watercourses. Parts of Norway’s mountain watercourses are also included in this catchment area. The water is of drinking quality.

‘Kalix Löjrom’ is produced by hand and requires a high level of expertise and many years’ experience. Pressing the roe in particular requires many years’ experience and has a major impact on the quality of the product. There is much local knowledge of handling the roe due to a long tradition of preparing ‘Kalix Löjrom’.

5.2. Specificity of the product

It is its feed that distinguishes vendace in this geographical area from other freshwater species. The area does not have freshwater insects of any kind. The fish feed on planktonic crustaceans and insect larvae. The colour of ‘Kalix Löjrom’ is orange according to colour scale S2070-450R (national colour scheme), while roe from freshwater vendace is yellow. This difference is due to the feed. ‘Kalix Löjrom’ has a round, mild flavour of smooth fish oil and salt.

5.3. Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product:

‘Kalix Löjrom’ has a high-quality, exclusive market image. There are many reasons for this, including the cold, clean water and special feed. The water is of drinking quality. The special production method used in the geographical area also contributes to the product’s distinctive character. The special feed of vendace living in the geographical area gives ‘Kalix Löjrom’ its distinct flavour and colour.

Reference to publication of the product specification

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

https://www.livsmedelsverket.se/globalassets/produktion-handel-kontroll/livsmedelsinformation-markning-halsopastaenden/skyddade-beteckningar/1697-2006-ansokan-om-skyddad-ursprungsbeteckning-for-kalix-lojrom_rev20210204.pdf