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: 2002-07-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Italy, designation of origin, fruit vegetable, labelling, location of production, product designation, product quality

13.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 168/7

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

(2002/C 168/04)

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: 8/2000

1. Responsible department in the Member State

Name:

Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali

Address: Via XX Settembre, 20, I-00187 Roma

Tel.

Fax

(39) 064 81 99 68

(39) 06 42 01 31 26

E-mail:

qualita@politiche agricole.it

2. Applicant group

2.1. Name:

Associazione per la tutela dei prodotti tipici di Pachino

2.2. Address: Via Torino, 24, I-96018 Pachino (SR)

2.3. Composition: producers/processors (x)

other (

).

3. Type of product: Tomatoes — Class 1.6 — Natural and processed fruit and vegetables and cereals.

4. Specification

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

4.1. Name: Pomodoro di Pachino.

4.2. Description: Fresh fruit, belonging to the botanical class ‘Lycopersicum esculentum Mill’, of the

following types:

— round and smooth,

— ribbed,

— cherry.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

13.7.2002

The main characteristics of ‘Pomodoro di Pachino’ tomatoes are their:

— firm flesh,

— small placenta cavity,

— high sucrose content, measured on the basis of a quantity of soluble solids greater than Brix

4,5.

4.3. Geographical area: Pomodoro di Pachino tomatoes are grown in an area comprising the whole of
the municipality of Pachino e Portopalo di Capo Passero and part of the municipalities of Noto
(Province of Syracuse) and Ispica (Province of Ragusa), located in south-eastern Sicily.

4.4. Proof of origin: The region where Pomodoro di Pachino tomatoes are grown has the highest
temperatures and receives the greatest amount of insolation, averaged out over the year,
in
mainland Europe (data provided by Landsat and Meteosat satellites). The proximity of the sea
means that its climate is mild and spring and winter frosts are infrequent.

This combination of factors together with the quality of the water used for irrigation (salinity level
ranging from 1 500 ms to 10 000 ms) has shaped the development of glasshouse crops, deter-
mining for growers in the area the crops they have had to choose and, at the same time, the
distinctive organoleptic qualities of Pomodoro di Pachino.

The fact that growers of Pomodoro di Pachino tomatoes are required to have their land included in
a register and to present annual returns to the inspection body means that the product can be
traced.

The packaging authorities must be entered in a register and submit annual returns for processed
products.

4.5. Method of production: Pomodoro di Pachino tomatoes must be grown in a protected environment
(glasshouses and/or tunnels) covered with polyethylene netting or other covering material. During
the summer months the structures must be covered with anti-insect netting.

Planting out takes place from August to February, except for the ‘cherry’ type which may be
transplanted throughout the year, at a density of 2-6 plants/m2.

The plants are grown upright and have one or more branches.

Irrigation is carried out using groundwater taken from wells sunk in the designated area with a
salinity level ranging from 1 500 ms to 10 000 ms.

The tomatoes are picked by hand at 3-4 day intervals.

The permitted output of Pomodoro di Pachino tomatoes must not exceed the following quantities
for each type:

— smooth round: 100 tonnes/ha,

— ribbed: 75 tonnes/ha,

— cherry: 50 tonnes/ha.

Cultivation other than in soil is not permitted.

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EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 168/9

4.6. Link: Tomato-growing is typical of Pachino horticulture. Tomatoes were first cultivated in 1925
on holdings located along the coast supplied with irrigation water from groundwater wells.

Initial experiments showed that tomatoes grown in the area were ready for harvesting some 15-20
days earlier than in other areas.

However, interest in growing the crop was circumscribed by the widespread cultivation of vines.
Around about the 1950s, cultivation was extended over a very much larger area also located along
the coast, using techniques for bringing on and protecting the crop in the early stages. The
environment of the coastal area, despite favourable temperature conditions, is prone to sudden
exceptional plunges and changes in temperature from day to night which have occasionally been
responsible for the destruction of entire crops of vegetables.

The most widespread means of protection was individual covers for single plants made from
prickly pear (cactus) cladods or tiles or multiple covers consisting of mats made from stubble
woven with iron wire and supported on canes.

In the early 1960s the first growing tunnels appeared, consisting of cane sheds covered with
polyethylene film.
In subsequent years they consisted of sturdier structures with cane being
replaced by chestnut stakes and a deal frame. The protected growing of crops is the outcome
therefore of a development process that began in a rudimentary and quasi-natural way to bring on
the cultivation and harvesting of tomatoes.

The serious problems facing vine-growers in the 1970s led to a rapid switch in many areas to
glasshouse cultivation and the setting up of the first associations which began to market tomatoes
bearing the name of their place of origin ‘Pachino’.

Growing techniques were improved with the use of modern,
galvanised metal glasshouses began to prove successful.

localised irrigation systems and

Over time then Pomodoro di Pachino tomatoes have become renowned on national and export
markets on account of their distinct qualitative characteristics.

The particular soil and climate conditions in the production area confer on the product these
qualitative characteristics which, combined with the production techniques adopted by growers,
make the crop characteristic of the geographical area.

The quality of Pachino tomatoes is linked to the intrinsic characteristics distinguishing them: their
flavour, the consistency of their flesh, their glossiness, firmness and long life following harvesting,
requirements recognised by consumers who seek out Pomodoro di Pachino tomatoes on the
market, thus underlining their fame and repute both within Italy and elsewhere.

4.7. Inspection body

Name:

So Cert — Società di certificazione Srl

Address: Via Castello Ursino, 55, I-95100 Catania.

4.8. Labelling: Pomodoro di Pachino tomatoes that are to be placed on the market must be put up in
cardboard or wooden boxes weighing in total not more than 10 kg. They must be arranged in a
single layer and the wrapping covering the boxes must be such that their contents cannot be
removed without showing signs of having been tampered with. The contents of each box must be
uniform and the tomatoes must belong to the same variety, type, category and size and be of
uniform ripeness and colour.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

13.7.2002

The protected geographical indication Pomodoro di Pachino must be shown on the boxes which
must bear the Community logo as provided for in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1726/98 of 22
July 1998 together with the marketing particulars, including category, weight of package, and the
identifying logo for the protected geographical indication Pomodoro di Pachino (see logo) showing
a representation of the island of Sicily with a circular dot at the extremity indicating where
Pomodoro di Pachino tomatoes are grown. The logo is a dark green (Pantone 356 CVC)
lozenge shape with rounded corners, containing an inner straw-yellow (Pantone 607 CVC)
circle with a light green (Pantone 369 CVC) outline.

A black rectangular band bearing the words Pomodoro di Pachino in white is cut into the lower
part of the lozenge.

The representation of the island of Sicily contained within the inner circle is salmon (Pantone
1595 CVC) with a black outline and ends with a yellow (Pantone 123 CVC) dot outlined in black.

The bottom of the logo bears the letters ‘IGP’ in straw-yellow (Pantone 607 CVC).

4.9. National requirements: —

EC No: G/IT/00153/2000.8.10.

Date of receipt of the full application: 15 March 2002.

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

(2002/C 168/05)

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: 90/00

1. Responsible department in the Member State

Name:

Direcção-Geral do Desenvolvimento Rural