EN Official Journal of the European Union C 305/30

Publication of an application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2017/C 305/14)

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 (1).

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF A MINOR AMENDMENT

Application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2)

‘MARRONI DEL MONFENERA’

EU No: PGI-IT-02282 — 19.1.2017

PDO ( ) PGI ( X ) TSG ( )

1. Applicant group and legitimate interest

Associazione Produttori Marroni della Marca Trevigiana Piazza Case Rosse 14 31040 Onigo di Pederobba (TV) ITALIA E-mail : marronimonfenera.igp@pec.it info@asso-marronimonfenera-igp.it

The producer association Produttori Marroni della Marca Trevigiana is entitled to submit an amendment application pursuant to Article 13(1) of Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy Decree No 12511 of 14 October 2013.

2. Member State or Third Country

Italy

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

— ☒ Description of product — ☐ Proof of origin — ☐ Method of production — ☐ Link — ☒ Labelling — ☒ Other [packaging]

4. Type of amendment(s)

— ☐ Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, that requires no amendment to the published single document. — ☒ Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, that requires an amendment to the published single document. — ☐ Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, for which a single document (or equivalent) has not been published. — ☐ Amendment to product specification of registered TSG to be qualified as minor in accordance with the fourth subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

5. Amendment(s)

Description of product

The following two paragraphs of Article 2 of the product specification:

1. ‘Fruit: generally ovoid in shape, with apex protruding only slightly, with one largely flat side and the other markedly convex. Number of fruit per kilogram: 90 or fewer.’ […] ‘The following are eligible for the PGI: fruit belonging to the “Extra” category (fruit size greater than 3 cm — maximum 4 % by weight of fruit with endocarp affected by insects; maximum 3 % by weight of fruit with damage to the pericarp) and category I (fruit size between 2,8 cm and 3 cm — maximum 6 % by weight of fruit with endocarp affected by insects; maximum 5 % by weight of fruit with damage to the pericarp).’ and of point 3.2 of the Single Document:

2. ‘fruit: ovoid in shape, with apex protruding only slightly, with one largely flat side and the other markedly convex. Number of fruit per kilogram: 90 or fewer.’ […] ‘The following are eligible for the PGI: fruit belonging to the “Extra” category (fruit size greater than 3 cm — maximum 4 % by weight of fruit with endocarp affected by insects; maximum 3 % by weight of fruit with damage to the pericarp) and category I (fruit size between 2,8 cm and 3 cm — maximum 6 % by weight of fruit with endocarp affected by insects; maximum 5 % by weight of fruit with damage to the pericarp).’ are amended as follows: ‘Fruit: generally ovoid in shape, with apex protruding only slightly, with one largely flat side and the other markedly convex. Number of fruit per kilogram: 120 or fewer.’ […] ‘The following are eligible for the PGI: fruit belonging to the “Extra” category (fruit size greater than 3 cm — maximum 4 % by weight of fruit with endocarp affected by insects; maximum 3 % by weight of fruit with damage to the pericarp), category I (fruit size between 2,8 cm and 3 cm — maximum 6 % by weight of fruit with endocarp affected by insects; maximum 5 % by weight of fruit with damage to the pericarp), and category II (fruit size between 2,6 and 2,8 cm — maximum 6 % by weight of fruit with endocarp affected by insects; maximum 5 % by weight of fruit with damage to the pericarp).’ Grounds: The amendments in points 1 and 2 are due to the fruit having become smaller, which means that there is a larger number of fruit in 1 kg of product. Indeed, the particularly dry summers of recent years have resulted in smaller fruit, making it necessary to also market chestnuts of smaller sizes under the protected geographical indication. Moreover, an inconsistency between the description of the shape of the fruit in the Single Document and that in the technical specification has been corrected. This being a natural product, it is not possible to guarantee absolute regularity in terms of shape, which is why the wording ‘Fruit: generally ovoid in shape’, already contained in the product specification, has been taken over into the Single Document. As the other characteristics set out in Article 2 and in point 3.2 of the Single Document are not affected either by the shape or by the size of the fruit, its specific quality characteristics remain unchanged. It is therefore considered that the amendment can be classified as ‘minor’ under points (a)-(e) of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

Labelling and packaging

Article 8 of the product specification — Points 3.6 and 3.7 of the Single Document

3. ‘The product must be packaged in net bags intended for food use, the tops of which must be heat sealed or sewn shut.’ is amended as follows: ‘The product must be packaged in net bags intended for food use or in containers suited for food use of various sizes and material. All types of packaging are sealed in such a way that the fruit cannot be removed without breaking the seal.’

4. ‘The product is marketed in net bags for food use, in packages weighing 1 kg, 2 kg, 3 kg (heat sealed), 5 kg or 10 kg (sewn shut).’ is amended as follows: ‘The packages may weigh 0,5 kg, 1 kg, 2 kg, 3 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg or 25 kg.’ Grounds: Amendments 3 and 4 reflect the need not to limit the type of packaging, given that the availability of packaging material may vary (heat-sealing systems are no longer available on the Italian market, for example) and that other types of packaging material could become an option in future, for instance material that is more environmentally-friendly. As the amendment affects only the packaging and weight of the product, it is considered that it can be classified as ‘minor’ under points (a)-(e) of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

5. The point: ‘— the commercial category (“Extra” or “I”);’ is amended as follows: ‘— the commercial category (“Extra”, “I” or “II”);’ A reference to category II is inserted. As this amendment is designed to ensure consistency with the amendments in points 1 and 2 and affects only the labelling of the product, it is considered that it can be classified as ‘minor’ under points (a)-(e) of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘MARRONI DEL MONFENERA’

EU No: PGI-IT-02282 — 19.1.2017

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

1. Name

‘Marroni del Monfenera’

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

‘Marroni del Monfenera’ are fresh chestnuts from the local ecotype of plants of the species Castanea sativa Mill. var. sativa. When released for consumption, they must have the following characteristics: kernel: one per fruit, largely smooth or slightly rough; flesh: light hazel colour tending towards straw yellow, pasty/floury texture, sweet and pleasant taste; pellicle: hazel colour, fibrous and resistant pellicular structure, penetrating to only a very minor degree into the kernel; pericarp: bright brown colour, with darker vertical streaks, a coriaceous and resistant structure and a tomentose surface with tomentose style remnants; hilum: largely ovoid in shape, lighter in colour than the pericarp, with more or less evident ‘rays’ spreading out from the centre towards the edge, and which does not extend to the sides of the fruit; fruit: generally ovoid in shape, with apex protruding only slightly, with one largely flat side and the other markedly convex. Number of fruit per kilogram: 120 or fewer. The husk contains at most three fruit.

The following are eligible for the PGI: fruit belonging to the ‘Extra’ category (fruit size greater than 3 cm — maximum 4 % by weight of fruit with endocarp affected by insects; maximum 3 % by weight of fruit with damage to the pericarp), category I (fruit size between 2,8 cm and 3 cm — maximum 6 % by weight of fruit with endocarp affected by insects; maximum 5 % by weight of fruit with damage to the pericarp), and category II (fruit size between 2,6 and 2,8 cm — maximum 6 % by weight of fruit with endocarp affected by insects; maximum 5 % by weight of fruit with damage to the pericarp).

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

—

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

Harvesting, grading, cleaning, sizing and ‘curatura’ soaking must take place in the geographical production area. Produce not placed on the market within 48 hours of harvest undergoes ‘curatura’. This consists in immersing the ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ in water at room temperature for a maximum of nine days. Subsequently, the ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ are removed from the water and dried using a dryer. This process allows the product to be stored fresh for up to three months. ‘Curatura’ must be carried out within a few hours of harvesting, in order to prevent the onset of fermentation inside transport vehicles, especially in years when harvesting occurs during rainy periods or when the temperature is still high.

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

The product must be packaged in net bags intended for food use or in containers suited for food use of various sizes and material. All types of packaging are sealed in such a way that the fruit cannot be removed without breaking the seal. The packages may weigh 0,5 kg, 1 kg, 2 kg, 3 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg or 25 kg.

The product may not be released for consumption before 15 September each year.

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

In addition to the EU graphic symbol and the relevant wordings and information required by law, the following additional information/wordings must feature on the label of the packages: ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ followed by the acronym ‘IGP’ (Italian for ‘PGI’) in characters larger than all the others on the label, such as the name, the company name, the address of the packaging firm, the relevant category, i.e. Extra, I or II, and the gross weight as sold.

The logo is made up of two concentric ovals, inside which are depicted the hills of the Pedemontana del Grappa area. The plain below is divided by the Piave river, which flows down the centre and splits the logo into two asymmetrical parts. There are two chestnut trees, one on the left of the river and one on its right, on which chestnuts are growing abundantly. There are two husks and ten chestnuts, wrapped in two leaves. The drawing extends slightly towards the left beyond the edge of the oval.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area for ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ is made up of the territory of the following municipalities in Treviso province: Borso del Grappa, Crespano del Grappa, Paderno del Grappa, Possagno, Cavaso del Tomba, Pederobba, San Zenone degli Ezzelini, Fonte, Asolo, Maser, Castelcucco, Monfumo, Cornuda, Montebelluna, Caerano di San Marco, Crocetta del Montello, Volpago del Montello, Giavera del Montello and Nervesa della Battaglia.

5. Link with the geographical area

The majority of the areas in which ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ are produced come under category No 21 in the Soil Map of Italy (Carta dei Suoli d’Italia), i.e. ‘acidic brown soils, leached brown soils, brown soils and lithosols’. In this zone, this category is to be found exclusively on the hilly right bank of the Piave river along the foothill level, occupying the majority of the geographical production area. These areas are characterised by reactivity ranging from very acidic to acidic, low base saturation and a high rate of mineralisation of organic substances. The area has a lower subalpine, hyper-humid climate, influenced by the steep, very high south-facing slopes of the Alpine foothills. This particular configuration and exposure means that air masses rise up from the plain, causing abundant precipitation, that spring frosts are limited, and that rainwater drains away quickly. This environmental balance makes the land areas and the surrounding environment particularly well suited to the cultivation of ‘Marroni del Monfenera’.

The characteristics that render the protected geographical indication product ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ unique and sets it apart it from other products in the same category are the very sweet flavour of the flesh, the uniform, compact structure of the fruit and its pasty/floury texture. These characteristics, and in particular the flavour, are the result of the distinctive average chemical composition of ‘Marroni del Monfenera’. A comparison by INRAN (Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione (National Research Institute for Food and Nutrition)) with the chemical composition values of other chestnuts shows that ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ have a higher carbohydrate, lipid and potassium content, and less sodium.

The chemical composition of the fruit, and thus its quality, is linked to the fact that the chestnut tree, a markedly acidophile species, benefits within the ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ cultivation area from the presence of largely acidic foothill soils, with opposite reactivity from those of the bordering areas, which are not present in other foothill areas of Treviso province. This leads to a higher quantity of potassium and a lower quantity of sodium in ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ as compared to other chestnuts, as demonstrated by a comparison between the chemical composition values for the two products, based, in the case of the other chestnuts, on the INRAN tables. The quality of the fruit also derives from the fact that the chestnut trees benefit from the abundant annual average precipitation, which allows leaching of the bedrock of the land, thereby keeping it acidic. Moreover, the particular configuration and exposure of the foothills significantly reduces spring frosts, to which the plant is especially susceptible.

In addition to these important environmental factors, the human factor is also fundamentally important. ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ have been grown since medieval times, as proven by a document from 1351 regulating the harvest between heads of family in the area. The protection of chestnut woods in the ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ area is also confirmed by notarial sources from subsequent centuries, setting out complaints to the relevant authorities concerning illegal cutting in the chestnut woods or the presence of grazing animals out of season which were detrimental to the chestnut harvest. The tradition of such cultivation has been maintained to the present day, in part as a result of the development of numerous events, including the ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ Fair, inaugurated in 1970. The importance of ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ chestnuts to the local economy and their reputation are demonstrated by the many initiatives that take place every year. Furthermore, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Fair, the Municipality of Pederobba, which hosted the event, issued a series of postcards and a special postal cancellation mark.

Reference to publication of the specification

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

The Ministry has launched the national objection procedure with the publication of the proposal for recognising ‘Marroni del Monfenera’ as a protected geographical indication in Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 256 of 2 November 2016.

The consolidated text of the product specification can be consulted on the following website: http://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/3335

or alternatively:

by going directly to the homepage of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy (www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Prodotti DOP e IGP’ (at the top right-hand side of the screen), then on ‘Prodotti DOP, IGP e STG’ (on the left-hand side of the screen), and finally by clicking on ‘Disciplinari di Produzione all’esame dell’UE’.

(1) OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, p. 17.

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