EN Official Journal of the European Union C 112/17

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

2009/C 112/07

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 from the date of this publication.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘MARRONE DI CAPRESE MICHELANGELO’

EC No: IT-PDO-0005-0455-12.04.2005

PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

This summary sets out the main elements of the product specification for information purposes.

1. Responsible department in the Member State:

Name : Ministero delle Politiche agricole e forestali Address : Via XX Settembre n. 20 00187 Roma ITALIA Tel. : +39 0646655104 Fax : +39 0646655306 E-mail : saco7@politicheagricole.gov.it

2. Group:

Name : Comitato Promotore per il riconoscimento della D.O.P. ‘Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo’ Address : Località Manzi 180/b 52033 Caprese Michelangelo (AR) ITALIA Tel : +39 0575791114/0575791009 Fax : +39 0575730510 E-mail : moronline79@inwind.it Composition : Producers/processors ( X ) other ( )

3. Type of product:

Class 1.6 — Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed.

4. Specification:

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

4.1. Name:

‘Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo’

4.2. Description:

The production of ‘Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo’ is, in the case both of the fresh and the dried product, based on nuts of the ‘Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo’, a local ecotype of the ‘Marrone’ variety. The fresh chestnut has the following carpological characteristics at the point of consumption: for the nuts, a Havana-brown shell with chestnut-brown streaks of varying intensity, elliptical to rounded in shape, or in the case of the nut kernel itself, roughly quadrangular. Ivory-white flesh, barely marked by the episperm, and characterised by hints of almond and vanilla. At the point of consumption, the characteristics of the dried product must be as follows: healthy, whole nuts, no more than 5 % of which may be deformed or show traces of worm damage or mould. Ivory or light straw-yellow in colour.

4.3. Geographical area:

The PDO ‘Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo’ is produced in the mountain regions of the following municipalities in the province of Arezzo: the whole of the administrative territory of the municipality of Caprese Michelangelo and part of the municipality of Anghiari to the north, i.e. from the strada provinciale 57 ‘Catenaia’, which marks the administrative border with Caprese Michelangelo, to the border with the municipality of Sabbiano.

4.4. Proof of origin:

Every production phase must be monitored, in each case documenting incoming and outgoing products. In this way, and through the registration of producers, cultivation areas, dryers and packers on special lists managed by the inspection body, the traceability of the product from one end of the production chain to the other in both directions is guaranteed. All natural or legal persons on the relevant lists will be subject to checks by the inspection body, as established in the product specification and relevant inspection plan. Products found by the inspection body not to be in conformity with the product specification may not be sold using the ‘Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo’ protected designation of origin.

4.5. Method of production:

The specification states in particular that in the case of chestnut groves in production the density of the trees must not exceed 120 per hectare. A maximum of 10 % of plants may come from other varieties for pollination purposes. Harvesting may begin from 20 September but may not be carried out by shaking the branches or using other mechanical and/or chemical methods to anticipate or accelerate the nuts’ separation from the tree. Mechanical collection, separation of the husks using suitable machines, mechanical beating of the husk heaps, and tidying up the leaves using power fans are permitted, provided that they do not impair the characteristics of the product. Only nuts from the ‘Marrone’ variety may be used for fresh consumption. Sorting takes place manually to remove nuts damaged by pathogens or other factors. The maximum percentage of nuts that do not conform to the above characteristics must not exceed 5 % of the total weight. The number of nuts must not exceed 90 per kg. The nuts need not be cleaned. Fruits of the Marrone variety are used for the production of dry chestnuts. The product is produced by drying and then peeling the nuts. They are dried by traditional methods, using a wood-fired or hot-air dryer. This process is completed within 40 days of the chestnuts being placed on the drying mats. The chestnuts are peeled mechanically. Production and packing must take place within the production area in order to ensure quality, traceability and inspection. ‘Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo’ PDO must be packed in the area described in point 4.3 of this product description to prevent damage to the product as a result of long intervals between collection, packing and transport, or excessive handling. When harvested the product is fresh, includes burs and may give off heat when brought together in large numbers. This, together with the high moisture content, may result in an increase in mould, rotting or unpleasant smells and severely compromise the quality of the product. Prompt packing is therefore essential.

4.6. Link:

The specific features of Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo are the presence of a high level of amides, due to the consistent water content of the land in which these chestnuts are grown. Other features leading to the accumulation of amides include the exposure of the chestnuts, which ensures that they have access to sunlight from the early morning, resulting in any summer dew disappearing more quickly, the geomorphology and altitude, which ensure frequent and moderate natural ventilation. The optimum access to light enjoyed by the foliage is due to the low planting density and thinning in combination with branching. The consistent, traditional and unique character of the product is, moreover, determined by specific soil and climate factors. The land consists of brown, brown-acidic and brown-leached soil, usually with a zero or very low carbon content which is therefore acidic or sub-acidic. The climate is typical of the sub-continent, with averagely harsh winters and mild summers and variable rainfall in the region of 800 mm per year. The combination of all these factors gives the product the typical morphological and organoleptic characteristics which make it highly prized and easily recognisable.

Caprese chestnut groves are found everywhere on the slopes of the Alpe di Catenaria. The local community has for generations followed a system of forestry plantation which began in the 9th and 10th centuries under the Arimanni. Since then, with the introduction of grafting, the wild chestnut tree has slowly evolved into the domestic chestnut, and tending chestnut trees has been the main concern of practically every local family. Chestnut-growing has therefore provided a major source of food and income for all inhabitants of the area. Nursery rhymes, folk songs and recipes for numerous traditional local dishes have grown up around chestnut production and been passed down to the present day.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name : Camera di Commercio di Arezzo Address : Viale Giotto, 4 52100 Arezzo ITALIA Tel. : +39 05753030 Fax : +39 0575300953 E-mail : segreteriagenerale@ar.camcom.it

4.8. Labelling:

Sealed containers of 1, 2, 3,5, 10 or 25 kg are intended to be used for packaging the fresh product. The label must bear the words Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo and Denominazione di Origine Protetta in larger lettering than any other information, together with the words Prodotto della Montagna (mountain product). The PDO logo and the business name of the packing station are obligatory. Sealed containers of 0,5, 1, 2, 3,5, 10 or 25 kg are to be used for packaging the dry product. The label must bear the words ’Castagne secche Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo‘ and ‘Denominazione di Origine Protetta’ in larger lettering than any other information, together with the words ‘Prodotto della Montagna’. The PDO logo and the business name of the packing station are obligatory. The product logo is a stylised chestnut, the main body of which frames the image of Michelangelo Buonarroti, as described in detail in the product specification.

Denominazione d’ Origine

Protetta

Prodotto della Montagna

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