EN Official Journal of the European Union C 120/6

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

(2015/C 120/05)

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).

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE PRODUCT SPECIFICATION OF PROTECTED DESIGNATIONS OF ORIGIN/PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS WHICH IS NOT MINOR

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FIRST SUBPARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 53(2) OF REGULATION (EU) NO 1151/2012

‘POMME DU LIMOUSIN’

EU No: FR-PDO-0105-01285 – 21.11.2014

PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

1. Applicant group and legitimate interest

Syndicat de défense de l’AOC Pomme du Limousin Le Bois Redon 19230 Pompadour Tel. +33 555733151 Fax +33 981383423 E-mail: info@pomme-limousin.org

The Syndicat de défense de l’AOC ‘Pomme du Limousin’ consists of ‘Pomme du Limousin’ PDO operators (producers and storers/packagers), and has a legitimate interest in submitting the application.

2. Member State or Third Country

France

3. Heading in the product specification affected by the amendment(s)

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4. Type of amendment(s)

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5. Amendment(s)

— Description of product

In addition to the 65 mm minimum size, a minimum weight of 115 g has been set, its equivalent in accordance with a national inter-branch agreement of April 2011. A weight indication can be checked more easily by the consumer.

The specific reference to Commission Regulation (EC) No 85/2004 (2) defining commercial apple categories has been deleted. It is stated that the commercial categories Extra and 1 are those defined by EU legislation without specifying the references of the regulation in question, which may change.

The sentence ‘Any product derived from this apple (juice, compote, etc.) may not use the PDO “Pomme du Limousin”’ has been deleted as only products covered by the product specification may use the designation.

The colour of the apples has been specified: colours 2 (C3 and C4), 3 (C5 and C6), 4 (C7 and C8) with reference to the national colour code of the Golden laid down by the Centre Technique interprofessionnel des fruits et légumes [Inter-branch technical centre for fruit and vegetables]. This complements the provisions on sugar content, firmness and acidity, which describe the maturity level of the apples.

— Statement of grouping of UHPs

The option of grouping UHPs (Units of Homogeneous Production) together has been introduced to simplify the management of stored and packaged batches on the operator’s premises and at the packaging/storage site. The separation of UHPs throughout the orchard’s lifespan, as described in the current product specification, causes:

— for the producer: extra work and hence extra costs as the producer may have a large number of UHPs just on the basis of the planting year. UHPs that have reached their fourth leaf less than three years apart will be managed in exactly the same way in terms of orchard work. Within these UHPs, apples will be homogeneous and have the same date of harvesting,

— for the packaging/storage site: extra work and above all extra costs because the apples need to be divided into lots at the site.

A grouping together of UHPs must be notified to the group in a written statement before 1 January preceding the harvest.

— Harvesting of the fruit

The date of the annual summary harvest declaration to the harvesting group has been brought forward to 30 November of the year of harvesting (from 15 December) to allow for better monitoring.

— Monitoring by operators involved in the storage and/or packaging of the fruit

It is proposed that the ‘data on the identification label’ be entered in the output register instead of the ‘identification data of the apples’.

Depending on the packaging/storage site, the data displayed on each packaged batch must include:

— either the data on the identification label (producer, UHP No) and the day of packaging directly,

— or a batch number referring to these identification data, such as the producer, UHP No and day of packaging.

In any case, this change does not affect the traceability of the apples. The producer and the UHP producing the apples can always be identified.

— Cultivation techniques

The agronomic yield target of 58 tonnes/ha, which was set when the AOC registration was applied for, has been changed. The following wording is proposed: ‘The holding’s average yield, based on all UHPs with PDO status in operation, should not exceed 70 tonnes of apples per hectare.’

The current yield target has fallen behind the actual yields that are being recorded as producers have increased their technical skills and practices have improved overall. The layout of an orchard and the maximum authorised density allow the target yield to be attained and exceeded without affecting the quality of the fruit with PDO status.

— Irrigation

To facilitate checks, clarifications have been made on the monitoring of irrigation: it is specified that, from the first day, irrigation should be less than the actual loss to evapotranspiration minus total effective rainfall over the irrigation period.

The data to be entered in the individual water management record have been specified in order to ensure the content, which is subject to documentary checks.

These specifications guarantee moderate irrigation which merely compensates for the actual loss to evapotranspiration minus effective rainfall, as provided for in the product specification.

— Labelling

The amendments aim to bring the wording of this paragraph into line with Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

An exception to the requirement for individual apples to be labelled has been added for pre-packaged fruit as it cannot be mixed when marketed. The lack of individual labelling does not create any risk of confusing the consumer. This amendment also facilitates the handling of the apples at the packaging/storage site.

— Other amendments

The contact details in the sections ‘Responsible department in the Member State’ and ‘Applicant group’ have been updated.

In the section ‘Product type’ the title of the product class to which the apple belongs has been specified to bring it into line with Annex XI to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 668/2014 (3).

In the section ‘Definition of the geographical area’ the sentence listing the steps that must take place in the geographical area has been amended to avoid ambiguity. It is specified that all stages from production to packaging must take place in the geographical area. In this same section, the term ‘cultivated’ is replaced by the more appropriate term ‘produced’ in the following sentence: ‘Within orchards, apples are cultivated produced in units of homogeneous production (UHP) …’.

The wording of the section ‘Details bearing out the link with the geographical area — Specificity of the product’ has been improved in line with the requirements of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘POMME DU LIMOUSIN’

EU No: FR-PDO-0105-01285 – 21.11.2014

PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

1. Name

‘Pomme du Limousin’

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 the product to which the name in (1) applies

‘Pomme du Limousin’ is a fresh apple with the following characteristics:

— it has a slightly elongated shape, with a clearly marked eye and eye cavity,

— it has a minimum size of 65 mm or a minimum weight of 115 g,

— the flesh is white, firm, crispy, juicy and non-floury,

— the flavour is balanced as regards sweetness and acidity.

The apples are of the ‘Golden delicious’ variety or of one of the mutants authorised for the ‘Pomme du Limousin’ designation of origin (standard characteristics similar to those of ‘Golden delicious’).with the exception of Cala golden.

‘Pomme du Limousin’ has a refractive index of at least 12,5 % Brix, firmness of at least 5 kg/cm2 and acidity of at least 3,7 g/l of malic acid.

The apple falls within marketing classes ‘Extra’ and ‘1’, within the meaning of EU legislation, or marketing class 2 purely because of the degree of russetting.

‘Pomme du Limousin’ is greeny-white to yellow in colour and may have a pink blush.

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

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

The entire production process takes place within the geographical area.

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

The apples must be stored cold in order to preserve their firmness, texture and juiciness.

The geographical area has a local expertise in storage: storage sites

— manage their storage plans, drawn up on the basis of analysis of the fruit carried out at harvest, and coordinate the deliveries of fruit by producers,

— optimise the method and the time for filling the storage rooms,

— control oxygen levels after the fruit is cooled, the stability of the temperature, and oxygen and carbon dioxide levels as long as the fruit is being marketed.

Packaging must take place in the geographical area of origin of ‘Pomme du Limousin’, in view of:

— the packaging sites’ expertise in managing stored fruit (monitoring the rooms, checking the fruit during storage),

— the fragility of the fruit and its sensitivity to shock and rough handling,

— special packaging facilities which limit impacts and preserve the quality of the fruit,

— the requirement for the fruit to be traceable: the fruit is not shipped in bulk and each piece is individually labelled to enable consumers to clearly identify the product and avoid any mixing with fruit of different origin.

The apples are packaged in clean containers to preserve the characteristics and quality of the fruit.

Therefore, packages may contain no more than 20 kg of apples and the use of plastic bags and paper bags is prohibited.

The apples may no longer be released for circulation after a specified date under the designation of origin ‘Pomme du Limousin’. This is determined on the basis of the colour of the apples and varies from 1 June to 1 August of the year following the harvesting date.

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

Each apple is identified by a sticker bearing:

— the AOP symbol of the European Union and/or the indication ‘AOP’ in characters at least as large as the largest characters on the sticker,

— the name ‘Pomme du Limousin’, in characters at least half as large as the letters ‘AOP’ or larger than 1,5 mm if there is no AOP indication.

However, this requirement for the apples to be individually labelled does not apply to pre-packaged fruit.

The labels on unit packages include, on the side with the information on standards:

— the name of the designation of origin ‘Pomme du Limousin’ written in characters at least as large as the largest characters on the label except those of the indication ‘AOP’ or ‘appellation d’origine protégée’,

— the AOP symbol of the European Union.

On the label, nothing must appear between ‘AOP’ or ‘appellation d’origine protégée’ and the name of the designation of origin.

Besides the label, all the accompanying documents and invoices must bear the name of the designation of origin ‘Pomme du Limousin’ and the words ‘appellation d’origine protégée’ or ‘AOP’.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

Municipalities belonging to the Corrèze department:

Allassac, Arnac-Pompadour, Beyssac, Beyssenac, Chabrignac, Chameyrat, Concèze, Condat-sur-Ganaveix, Donzenac, Espartignac, Estivaux, Juillac, Lagraulière, Lascaux, Lubersac, Montgibaud, Objat, Orgnac-sur-Vézère, Perpezac-le-Noir, Sadroc, Saint-Aulaire, Saint-Bonnet-l’Enfantier, Sainte-Féréole, Saint-Germain-les-Vergnes, Saint-Julien-le-Vendômois, Saint-Martin-Sepert, Saint-Pardoux-Corbier, Saint-Pardoux-l’Ortigier, Saint-Solve, Saint-Sornin-Lavolps, Saint-Ybard, Salon-la-Tour, Ségur-le-Château, Seilhac, Troche, Uzerche, Vigeois, Vignols and Voutezac.

Municipalities belonging to the Creuse department:

Bénévent-l’Abbaye, Chauchet (Le), Grand-Bourg (Le), Marsac, Montboucher, Nouzerolles, Sardent, Saint-Agnant-de-Versillat, Sainte-Feyre, Saint-Germain-Beaupré, Saint-Julien-le-Châtel and Saint-Pierre-Chérignat.

Municipalities belonging to the Dordogne department:

Angoisse, Anlhiac, Clermont-d’Excideuil, Dussac, Excideuil, Firbeix, Genis, Jumilhac-le-Grand, Lanouaille, Payzac, Saint-Cyr-les-Champagnes, Saint-Médard-d’Excideuil, Saint-Mesmin, Saint-Paul-la-Roche, Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie, Saint-Priest-les-Fougères, Salagnac, Sarlande, Sarrazac and Savignac-Ledrier.

Municipalities belonging to the Haute-Vienne department:

Boisseuil, Bussière-Galant, Chalard (Le), Champnétery, Château-Chervix, Cognac-la-Forêt, Coussac-Bonneval, Geneytouse (La), Glandon, Glanges, Janailhac, Ladignac-le-Long, Linards, Meyze (La), Nieul, Oradour-sur-Vayres, Pensol, Roche-l’Abeille (La), Roziers-Saint-Georges, Sainte-Anne-Saint-Priest, Saint-Hilaire-la-Treille, Saint-Jean-Ligoure, Saint-Laurent-les-Eglises, Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, Saint-Mathieu, Saint-Méard, Saint-Paul-d’Eyjeaux, Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche and Vicq-sur-Breuilh.

5. Link with the geographical area

Specificity of the geographical area

The geographical area consists of a crystalline basement formed by the pedogenic development of metamorphic and granitic rocks, including local formations of alterites and formations on colluvial or old residual alluvial soils.

The light, deep soil has good water-retention properties.

The geographical area has a humid, ocean climate, with fairly abundant, albeit not excessive, rainfall (average annual rainfall of less than 1 300 mm) and temperatures that do not reach extremes (average temperature above 9 °C).

Another factor is altitude: orchards are located on well-ventilated hilltop plateaux, at an altitude generally between 350 and 450 metres.

Limousin is a region with a strong fruit-growing tradition. ‘Golden Delicious’, which has been grown in Limousin since 1950, has continued to develop there. In this area, apple growing complements livestock farming and is based on traditional cultivation practices such as moderate irrigation and hand-picking.

The area also has local expertise in storage. Once harvested, the apples are stored in dedicated rooms with a controlled atmosphere and whose technical and maintenance parameters are set every year (waterproofing, volume, number of hours of operation, etc.). Regular monitoring is carried out to check that the batches are preserved properly at all times.

Specificity of the product

‘Pomme du Limousin’ is characterised by its excellent eating qualities and its presentation: it has a slightly elongated shape, a particular colour, firm flesh, a high amount of juice, a good balance between sweetness and acidity and a long shelf life, which allows it to be marketed until 1 August.

Causal link

The natural environment combined with the tree-growing tradition make the area well suited to the growing of the ‘Golden Delicious’ variety and have enabled the original characteristics of the ‘Pomme du Limousin’ to be preserved.

At higher altitude, there is more sunshine than in the plains, while the highest temperatures are moderate. The combination of cold nights and hot, sunny days on the plateaux of the geographical area favours the development of a good sweetness/acidity balance and the pink skin pigmentation resulting from the anthocyanins that are characteristic of the ‘Pomme du Limousin’.

Because they are grown at higher altitude at contrasting temperatures between night and day, the apples have a more elongated shape and are firmer and juicier.

Apple growing in the Limousin draws on specific cultivation practices. Moderate irrigation, for instance, allows the fruit to develop and keep its qualities better, and makes for better flower induction the following year. In addition, harvesting is done by hand to ensure that the fruit keeps all its qualities.

The area also has local expertise in storage which is geared towards the ‘Pomme du Limousin’ variety’s long shelf life. After harvesting the fruit is cooled to the core as quickly as possible. The rooms are filled in the shortest time possible and immediately put in a controlled atmosphere to preserve the quality of the fruit.

The ‘Pomme du Limousin’ represents a dynamic sector, employing some 1 500 permanent and 2 500 seasonal workers (2011 figures).

Reference to publication of the specification

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

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-ef0066e6-042a-4314-b995-0860cb54033a/telechargement

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

(2) OJ L 13, 20.1.2004, p. 3.

(3) OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, p. 36.