Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin
Date: 2001-06-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Italy, designation of origin, leguminous vegetable, location of production

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Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EEC)
No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin

(2001/C 179/11)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of the abovementioned
Regulation. Any objection to this application must be submitted via the competent authority in the
Member State concerned within a time limit of six months from the date of this publication. The
arguments for publication are set out below, in particular under 4.6, and are considered to justify the
application within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2081/92

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION: ARTICLE 5

PDO (

)

PGI (x)

National application No: 3/2000

1. Responsible department in Member State

Name:

ministero delle politiche Agricole e forestali

Address: Via XX Settembre 20, I-00187 Roma

Tel.

Fax

(39-06) 481 99 68

(39-06) 42 01 31 26

E-mail:

qualit(cid:224)@politicheagricole.it

2. Applicant group

2.1. Name: Associazione dei piccoli produttori fagioli di Sorana (cid:151) Il Ghiareto (cid:151) Onlus

2.2. Address: Via del Pozzo 2, Frazione Sorana, I-51010 Pescia (PT)

2.3. Composition: Producer/processor (x)

other (

).

3. Type of product: Legume

Class 1.6: Fruit, vegetables, cereals, whether or not processed.

4. Specification

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2)).

4.1. Name: Fagiolo di Sorana

4.2. Description: Climbing legume of the species Phaseolus Vulgaris L.

The main characteristics of the dry seeds are as follows:

(cid:151) insubstantial or very thin seed integument that is not lost on cooking,

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(cid:151) milky white in colour with light pearly veins, or red wine coloured with darker streaks,

(cid:151) flattened in shape, the white beans being almost flat and the red beans being practically

cylindrical with a thicker integument.

4.3. Geographical area: The area of cultivation of (cid:145)Fagiolo di Sorana(cid:146) haricot beans extends over
approximately 660 ha, comprising part of the municipality of Pescia (Pistoia) on the eastern
and western banks of the Pescia di Pontito torrent, which represents the north-western part of
the Pescia di Pescia torrent.

4.4. Proof of origin: (cid:145)Fagiolo di Sorana(cid:146) haricot beans are produced in a small valley through which the
Pescia torrent flows. The beans are grown along the banks of the torrent and owe their reputation
to a combination of environmental and natural factors that cannot easily be replicated in other
areas.

The area has sandy alluvial soils and is sheltered from bad weather, with limited exposure to
sunlight even in summer months, and humid air.

Low in mineral (calcium and nitrate) content, the waters of the Pescia torrent contribute to the
characteristics of (cid:145)Fagiolo di Sorana(cid:146) haricot beans.

The reputation of (cid:145)Fagiolo di Sorana(cid:146) haricot beans has long been recorded. Gioacchino Rossini
knew and appreciated their organoleptic qualities and once wrote a letter to his friend Giovanni
Pacini to ask for some of these rare and highly prized beans in exchange for revising some music
scores.

The product’s traceability is guaranteed by the fact that producers of (cid:145)Fagiolo di Sorana(cid:146) haricot
beans who intend marketing the beans under a protected geographical indication must enter their
land on a special list and are required to present the inspection body with a declaration of planting
covering their plots by 31 May and a declaration of quantities produced by 31 October each year.

4.5. Method of production: (cid:145)Fagiolo di Sorana(cid:146) haricot beans are grown on sandy soils easily irrigated
with the surface waters of the Pescia. Basic fertilisation is mainly organic. Drilling is carried out
using seeds from the local population.

The beans are harvested by hand on dehiscence. For completion of drying, the beans are exposed
to sunlight for three to four days. They are stored in special containers with added peppercorns,
valerian roots or bayleaves.

Production must not exceed 200 kg of dry seeds per 1 000 m2 sown.

4.6. Link: (cid:145)Fagiolo di Sorana(cid:146) haricot beans have been a typical product of the geographical area for

centuries.

from their organoleptic qualities, beans of

that have
Quite apart
developed over time in this particular geographical environment differ appreciably from other
cannellino-type beans by the smaller size of the seeds, their almost flat shape and in particular their
very thin, almost insubstantial skin.

the (cid:145)population(cid:146)

(ecotype)

These characteristics of (cid:145)Fagiolo di Sorana(cid:146) haricot beans are regarded as due to the specific features
of the environment in the area of production as well as to the ecotype that has developed there.

4.7. Inspection body

Name:

Consorzio per il Controllo dei Prodotti Biologici

Address: Via Jacopo Barozzi 8, I-40100 Bologna.

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4.8. Labelling: (cid:145)Fagiolo di Sorana(cid:146) haricot beans are presented for the market in glass containers or in
plastic authorised for use with foodstuffs in packs of varying weight and size. The containers must
bear the mark with the logo and the letters (cid:145)IGP(cid:146) (PGI (cid:151) protected geographical indication) and
(cid:145)Fagiolo di Sorana(cid:146). The labels may also show the words (cid:145)di ghiareto(cid:146) if the product is obtained in
the area around the Pescia di Pontito torrent within the defined area of production; or the words
(cid:145)di poggio(cid:146) for production from the area outside the latter ((cid:145)ghiareto(cid:146)) but within the defined area.

Labels may be marked (cid:145)bianco(cid:146) or (cid:145)rosso(cid:146) depending on the colour of the beans.

The (cid:145)Fagiolo di Sorana(cid:146) logo is a faithful reproduction of the ancient crest of the town (whose
name apparently derives from Rocca Sovrana) and comprises a shield surrounded by laurel and oak
branches.

4.9. National requirements: (cid:151)

EC No: IT/00134/2000.06.13.

Date of receipt of the full application: 13 June 2000.