Publication of an application for approval of an amendment, which is not minor, to a product specification 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

(2021/C 446/11)

This publication confers the right to oppose the amendment application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within three months from the date of this publication.

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 an amendment in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012

‘TROTE DEL TRENTINO’

EU NO: PGI-IT-0965-AM02 – 18 September 2020

PGI (X) PDO ( )

1. Applicant group and legitimate interest

Consorzio di Tutela delle Trote del Trentino IGP

Address: Via Galileo Galilei, 43 - 38015 Lavis (TN)

Email: consorziotroteigp@legalmail.it

The Consorzio di Tutela delle Trote del Trentino IGP [‘Trote del Trentino’ PGI Protection Association] is entitled to submit an amendment application pursuant to Article 13(1) of Decree No 12511 of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy of 14 October 2013.

2. Member State or Third Country

Italy

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

☐ Name of product

☐ Description of product

☐ Geographical area

☐ Proof of origin

☒ Method of production

☒ Link

☐ Labelling

☐ National requirements

☒ Other [Packaging]

4. Type of amendment(s)

☒ Amendment to product specification of a registered PDO or PGI not to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012

☐ Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI for which a Single Document (or equivalent) has not been published not to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012

5. Amendment(s):

Article 5(2) – Fish farming

It has been decided to also allow ceramic lining for the ponds, since its characteristics differ little from those of cement and can in some cases facilitate cleaning of the ponds. The use of ceramic lining does not entail negative changes to the farming practices or the organoleptic characteristics of the trout reared. Accordingly, the following sentence:

The ponds where the fingerlings and adult fish are reared must be constructed entirely using cement, or earth and cement, or with cement walls and an earthen floor, or fibre glass, or steel, and they must be laid out in series or in parallel so as to maximise re-oxygenation.

has been amended as follows:

The ponds where the fingerlings and adult fish are reared must be constructed entirely using cement, or earth and cement, or with cement walls and an earthen floor, or fibre glass, or steel, or ceramic, and they must be laid out in series or in parallel so as to maximise re-oxygenation.

Following the significant changes which the rearing area is undergoing as a result of global warming and the consequent changes to snow- and rainfall levels, the temperatures given in the product specification for the water in which the fish are reared are no longer representative of the real physical environment in which trout farms in Trentino now have to operate. It is thus necessary to raise the figures for the temperature of the water entering the ponds in the winter months (average temperature from November to March) from 10 °C to 12 °C. This explains the provision in Article 5(2)(a) whereby the average temperature in the months from November to March must not exceed 12 °C.

This amendment thus entails an adjustment to Article 6 of the product specification, with the reference to a water temperature of 10 °C being changed to 12 °C. The amendment also applies to point 5 of the single document published in OJ C 255 of 4 August 2015.

The figures for the number of daily changes of water and the associated pond stocking densities have been amended. Given the excellent condition of the water used, the aim was to avoid potential droughts or water shortages, including temporary ones, forcing facilities with >10 changes per day and a permitted density of 40 kg/m3 having to quickly reduce to 30 kg/m3 when the number of changes falls below 10 per day. Given that the distinctive characteristics of the PGI will not be undermined, it has been deemed appropriate to add an extra line to the table, allowing operators with >8 changes per day to have a density of up to 35 kg/m3. This will make it easier to manage potential water shortages in the short term. Accordingly, the following table:

Number of daily changes of water Maximum stocking density (kg/m3) 2 to 6 25 6 to 10 30 Over 10 40

has been amended as follows:

Number of daily changes of water Maximum stocking density (kg/m3) 2 to 6 25 6 to 8 30 8 to 10 35 Over 10 40

The list of permitted raw materials – which included cereals, grains and their products and by-products, including protein concentrates; oilseeds and their products and by-products, including protein concentrates and oils; legume seeds and their products and by-products, including protein concentrates; tuber meal and its products and by-products, including protein concentrates; fish and/or crustacean products and by-products, including oils; seaweed meal and products derived therefrom; non-ruminant blood products; and the use of processed animal proteins derived from non-ruminants and compound feeds containing such proteins – has been replaced with a provision prohibiting the use of the following raw materials:

— Crude corn oil;

— Corn gluten;

— Peanut cake or meal;

— Mustard seeds and protein products derived from the processing thereof;

— Sesame seeds and protein products derived from the processing thereof.

This amendment makes clear the ban on using certain raw materials that could negatively affect the colour or taste of the product. The amendment also applies to point 3.3 of the single document. The following text in the product specification and the single document:

To help enhance the typical quality of the flesh of ‘Trote del Trentino’ PGI, the following raw materials are permitted:

1) cereals, grains and their products and by-products, including protein concentrates;

2) oilseeds and their products and by-products, including protein concentrates and oils;

3) legume seeds and their products and by-products, including protein concentrates;

4) tuber meal and its products and by-products, including protein concentrates;

5) fish and/or crustacean products and by-products, including oils;

6) seaweed meal and products derived therefrom;

7) non-ruminant blood products.

It is also permitted to use processed animal proteins derived from non-ruminants and compound feeds containing such proteins.

has been reworded as follows:

Moreover, the use of the following raw materials is prohibited:

— Crude corn oil;

— Corn gluten;

— Peanut cake or meal;

— Mustard seeds and protein products derived from the processing thereof;

— Sesame seeds and protein products derived from the processing thereof.

The period of feed withdrawal has been specified more clearly, so that it no longer refers to the last day of feeding but rather to the suspension of the fattening ration. It has also been decided to allow a maintenance ration to be fed to the animals during the period after the fattening ration is withdrawn, provided that the intestinal tract is empty at slaughter.

The aim of the amendment is to clarify the rules on feeding the animals so as to ensure that, while respecting animal welfare, there is no undigested material in the intestinal tract at the time of slaughter. It has thus been deemed necessary to specify that the feed withdrawal period refers to the fattening ration. It has been observed that, in some circumstances, structural reasons have caused the fattening ration to be suspended for an entire pond for which slaughter is planned over quite a number of days, meaning that some of the animals could be left without feed for up to 15/20 days. Such a significant lack of feed cannot be in full compliance with animal welfare rules and, what is more, it can lead to a loss of muscle firmness and thus of the distinctive characteristics of the PGI, particularly in summer. Accordingly, a reference to the suspension of the fattening ration has been specifically included and it has been stated that, if necessary, the animals may be fed a maintenance ration, provided that the requirements concerning the absence of undigested material in the intestinal tract are complied with.

The following sentence in the product specification:

Before the adult fish are sent for processing, the following feed withdrawal periods, which depend on the water temperature and are counted from the day following the last day of feeding, must be complied with:

has been amended as follows:

Before the adult fish are sent for processing, the following periods of suspension of the fattening ration, which depend on the water temperature and are counted from the day following the last day of feeding, must be complied with:

and the following paragraph has been added:

In order to maintain a high level of animal welfare, the animals may be fed a maintenance ration during the period after the fattening ration is withdrawn, provided that the intestinal tract is empty at slaughter.

Article 5(4) – Packaging

The following paragraph:

The end product must be sold on polystyrene trays wrapped in film and/or in polystyrene boxes wrapped in film and/or in vacuum packs and/or in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP).

has been amended as follows:

The end product must be sold on trays wrapped in film and/or in polystyrene boxes wrapped in film and/or filled with ice and/or in plastic boxes wrapped in film and/or filled with ice and/or in standard vacuum packs or other vacuum-packed containers and/or in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP).

and the sentence:

Those sold whole and/or gutted must weigh at least 200 g.

has been supplemented as follows:

Those sold whole and/or gutted must have a pre-slaughter weight of at least 200 g.

In order to meet the requests of large retailers, the reference to the material the trays are made of has been removed so as to allow the product to be packaged on trays made of any material suitable for the uses envisaged in the legislation in force. An interpretative clarification has also been added regarding the use of ice, the possibility of using reusable plastic boxes with a view to reducing plastic consumption, and vacuum packing other than in standard vacuum packs. Lastly, it has been clarified that the minimum weight of the fish sold whole and/or gutted refers to the pre-slaughter weight.

This amendment applies to point 3.5 of the single document.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘Trote del Trentino’

EU No: PGI-IT-0965-AM02 – 18 September 2020

PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1. Name(s) [of PDO or PGI]

‘Trote del Trentino’

2. Member State or Third Country

Italy

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product [listed in Annex XI]

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 protected geographical indication ‘Trote del Trentino’ is granted to salmonid fish reared in the production area referred to in point 4 and belonging to the species Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), rainbow trout. When released for consumption, the trout must have the following characteristics: a greenish back with a pink stripe on both sides; a whitish belly; dark speckling on the body and the dorsal and tail fins. The condition factor must not exceed 1,25 for fish weighing up to 500 grams or 1,35 for fish weighing over 500 grams. The total fat content of the flesh must not exceed 6 %. The flesh is white or salmon pink, firm, tender and lean with a delicate flavour of fish and a slight, fragrant smell of fresh water, with no aftertaste of mud. Any off-flavours in the product must be limited, with a geosmin content below 0,9 μg/kg, and the muscle firmness must be characterised by peak force levels under compression that are greater than or equal to 4 N.

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

Feed rations must meet the requirements established by tradition, respecting faithful and consistent usage. For this reason, the feed used must not contain GMO raw materials.

Moreover, the use of the following raw materials is prohibited:

— Crude corn oil;

— Corn gluten;

— Peanut cake or meal;

— Mustard seeds and protein products derived from the processing thereof;

— Sesame seeds and protein products derived from the processing thereof.

The composition of the ration given must satisfy the animals’ needs during the various phases of the rearing cycle, in line with the aims of the product specification.

All additives intended for use in animal feed under the legislation in force are permitted. The salmon colour of the flesh must be obtained using predominantly the carotenoid pigment astaxanthin and/or natural carotenoids.

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

The rearing phases, which include the sac-fry, fingerling and adult trout stages, and slaughter must take place within the area specified in point 4.

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

The end product must be sold on trays wrapped in film and/or in polystyrene boxes wrapped in film and/or filled with ice and/or in plastic boxes wrapped in film and/or filled with ice and/or in standard vacuum packs or other vacuum-packed containers and/or in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP).

With regard to product types, the trout are sold as a fresh product: whole, gutted, filleted and/or sliced. Those sold whole and/or gutted must have a pre-slaughter weight of at least 200 g. The product sold filleted and/or sliced must weigh at least 90 g.

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

The wording ‘Indicazione Geografica Protetta’ [Protected Geographical Indication] or the abbreviation ‘IGP’ [PGI] must appear on every package/container in distinct, indelible characters, clearly distinguishable from any other text.

The latter must be translated into the language of the country where the product is sold. It is forbidden to add any description that is not expressly provided for.

Every package/container must clearly display the following logo on the label or packaging. Alternatively, the logo may be printed in greyscale.

The European PGI symbol must also appear on the label or on each individual item of packaging. The label or other appropriate marking must indicate the number or reference code for the producer and/or the batch.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The production area of ‘Trote del Trentino’ PGI includes the whole Autonomous Province of Trento and the municipality of Bagolino in the Province of Brescia. This area encompasses the main rivers of Trentino, and their side-valleys and tributaries.

5. Link with the geographical area

The production area was formed by the overlapping of multiple cycles of glacial and fluvial erosion. From a morphological point of view, it is essentially mountainous and characterised by valleys, cut to varying depths into the geological substrate, which constitute all the drainage basins in the area. The climate in the ‘Trote del Trentino’ production area is typical of an alpine area, with frequent precipitation, often as snow during the winter months, and cool temperatures even in the summer. The area has permanent snowfields and glaciers from which all the water used for trout production comes. The climatic and hydro-geological characteristics of the defined area, which are not transferable or imitable, thus give ‘Trote del Trentino’ the specific features that make it stand out. The chemical composition of Trentino spring waters has lower figures for trace elements (magnesium, sodium, potassium) than the European average, making the water extremely suitable for trout development. The watercourses that feed the trout farms in Trentino are of excellent biological quality with EBI (Extended Biotic Index) values above 8, corresponding to quality class I or II.

The application for recognition of ‘Trote del Trentino’ PGI is justified by the fact that the product in question differs from other products in the same category on account of its very low condition factor and its fat content. Furthermore, the flesh is firm, tender and lean with a delicate flavour of fish and a slight, fragrant smell of fresh water, without the aftertaste of mud that is often typical of farmed trout.

The particular qualities of ‘Trote del Trentino’ derive especially from the characteristics of the water used, which is plentiful as it comes from the area’s permanent snowfields and glaciers, is highly oxygenated, has a good chemical, physical and biological composition and a low temperature which is generally under 12 °C between November and March.

The waters are cold and low in nutrients, leading to slow growth, which, although reducing the yield, enhances the quality aspects of the flesh such as the low condition factor and the fat content. Thanks to the plentiful supply of water and the sloping terrain, the majority of trout farming in Trentino makes use of the differences in level between one pond and the next, which allow the water to be naturally re-oxygenated. The good water quality hampers the proliferation of algae and undesirable micro-organisms, the metabolites of which are responsible for unpleasant flavours, not least that of mud, caused by excessive geosmin.

The climatic conditions of the area together with the human input in terms of care and management of the fish farms link ‘Trote del Trentino’ firmly to the geographical production area.

The farming of ‘Trote del Trentino’ is very old and is rooted in a long tradition which has become established over time. The practice of fish farming in ponds dates back to the 19th century and the construction of an artificial fish farm in Torbole in 1879, which was intended to spread the practice of fish farming and repopulate public waters with trout sac-fry. The first private fish farms were set up in Predazzo in 1891, in Giustino in 1902 and in Tione in 1926, followed by many more after the Second World War. Over the years, these fish farms have each maintained their own separate broodstock, which they have reinvigorated from time to time by introducing new strains from other farms or from the wild, and thus pass on the specific characteristics of the farmed product to later generations.

This tradition was consolidated with the founding, in 1975, of the Associazione dei Troticoltori Trentini [Trentino Trout Farmers Association], which had such an important role in re-launching trout-farming in the production area that the ‘Trote del Trentino’ name surged into household and commercial parlance, as can easily be demonstrated by invoices, labels and publicity material.

Reference to publication of the product specification

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

The full text of the product specification is available on the following website:

http://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/3335”

or alternatively:

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

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