EN Official Journal of the European Union C 157/10

Publication of an 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 157/07

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

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘LIMONE DI ROCCA IMPERIALE’

EC No: IT-PGI-0005-0818-26.07.2010

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Name:

‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’

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 protected geographical indication ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ is reserved for fruit from the cultivars of the Femminello group, which belongs to the Citrus Limon Burm. botanical species. These lemons are known locally as ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’.

When released for consumption, ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ lemons have the following characteristics:

— colour of peel: light green to yellow,

— shape: ellipsoid/oblong to spheroid,

— size: medium to large, at least 53 mm long,

— weight: at least 100 g,

— flavedo: rich in essential oil, strong and intense aroma and flavour, limonene content exceeding 70 % (% of total terpene hydrocarbons),

— flesh: lemon yellow in colour, almost no seeds,

— juice: lemon yellow in colour, yield greater than or equal to 30 %, acidity less than 5 % (5/100 ml).

Only lemons belonging to commercial classes ‘Extra’, ‘I’ and ‘II’ may use the designation ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ PGI.

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 stages in the growing and harvesting of ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ must take place in the identified geographical area.

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

Fruit that are not marketed immediately after harvesting may be stored at a low temperature not exceeding 11 °C. The fruit must be packaged within no more than 60 days after harvesting.

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling:

The labels on the packaging must bear the following in clear and legible print:

— the designation ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ in print larger than that used for other words on the label,

— the logo shown below,

— the EU's PGI symbol,

— the commercial class (‘Extra’, ‘I’ or ‘II’).

4. Concise definition of the geographical area:

The production area of ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ is the administrative territory of the municipality of Rocca Imperiale.

5. Link with the geographical area:

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area:

Although Rocca Imperiale municipality is an area falling within the Mediterranean climate zone, its particular topography means that it has a distinctive microclimate that is favourable to the growth and development of this crop. It is protected from northerly winds by the hills located to the west, north and south and enjoys the mitigating effect of the sea to the south-east. This is a natural environment capable of enhancing the quality characteristics of the product. In this area, water, a limiting factor in lemon growing, is present with average annual rainfall of 600 mm. The rainfall is well distributed, being most common in the autumn/winter period and at average levels in spring at the beginning of the growing cycle. At later stages, the crop needs to be irrigated, with the water supplies coming from aquifers fed by waters from the Pollino massif and, to a lesser extent, the streams that flow during the winter months.

5.2. Specificity of the product:

The distinctive characteristics on which the reputation of ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ are founded are its juice yield of more than 30 %, and its limonene content exceeding 70 % which, together with other components, gives the fruit a strong, intense aroma. These characteristics give ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ its own identity on local, regional and national markets.

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 festivals that have been held since the beginning of the 1980s, featuring tastings of traditional local products including dishes based on ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’, are important in the production area. The longstanding presence of the product in the area and its reputation are reflected in the use of ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ lemons in traditional cuisine, where its peel rich in essential oils and its juice are used to bring out, or characterise, the aroma and flavours of dishes. Demonstrating the vitality of a tradition that is very well rooted in the locality, the first half of August sees the ‘Sagra dei Limoni di Rocca Imperiale’ festival, which is held in the village of the same name and has, for several years, been the most famous occasion for tasting the product. The intense, lasting aroma given off by the fruit leads consumers to associate the product with the Rocca Imperiale area, and thus become accustomed to distinguishing it from, and preferring it over, others. In addition, at almost all fairs, patronal festivals and other traditional events it is the local practice to hold street markets with ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ lemons in baskets or special displays.

‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ is on the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy's 2006 list of traditional agri-food products and the use of the name ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ has been established for over 25 years. The name is in common use for the product in question in neighbouring regions too, as demonstrated by commercial and transport documents of firms in the area, parish documents, and meetings organised by professional organisations in the agriculture sector. Lastly, it should be pointed out that nowadays ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ growing is a very significant component of the agricultural landscape in the Alto Jonio Cosentino area. Lastly, the districts in Rocca Imperiale municipality where the crop is grown are known as the ‘Giardini dei limoni di Rocca Imperiale’ (‘Gardens of “Limone di Rocca Imperiale” lemons’).

The cultural, economic and landscape link between ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ and the local context is thus particularly strong.

Reference to publication of the specification:

The Ministry launched the national objection procedure with the publication of the proposal for recognising ‘Limone di Rocca Imperiale’ as a protected geographical indication in Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 135 of 12 June 2010.

The full text of the product specification is available:

— at 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 display) and then on ‘Disciplinari di Produzione all'esame dell'UE [regolamento (CE) n. 510/2006]’.

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