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: 2002-08-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Italy, designation of origin, grape, location of production, product quality

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52. Επιπλέον, µε βάση τις παραπάνω εκτιµήσεις, η Επιτροπή απο-
φάσισε να κινήσει τη διαδικασία του άρθρου 88 παράγραφος
2 της συνθήκης ΕΚ, δυνάµει των άρθρων 6 και 16 του κανονι-
σµού (ΕΚ) αριθ. 659/1999 του Συµβουλίου, για τα µέτρα µε
τα οποία τα Ελληνικά Ναυπηγεία απαλλάσσονται από φόρους
ύψους 11,2 εκατ. ευρώ στο πλαίσιο της χρησιµοποίησης απο-
θεµατικών και το ∆ηµόσιο καλύπτει µέρος των µελλοντικών
συνταξιοδοτικών δαπανών, ύψους 1 εκατ. ευρώ, για τους εργα-
ζόµενους που ασχολούνται µε τις εµπορικές επισκευές και
κατασκευές. Η Επιτροπή αµφιβάλλει για το κατά πόσο τα
µέτρα αυτά συνιστούν κρατική ενίσχυση συµβιβάσιµη µε τον
κανονισµό για τη ναυπηγική βιοµηχανία και εποµένως µε την
κοινή αγορά.

53. Η Επιτροπή ζητεί από την Ελλάδα να υποβάλει τις παρατηρή-
σεις της και να της διαβιβάσει µέσα σε προθεσµία ενός µηνός
από την παραλαβή της παρούσας επιστολής κάθε χρήσιµη
πληροφορία για την εκτίµηση του συµβιβάσιµου της ενίσχυ-
σης. Καλεί τις αρχές της χώρας σας να διαβιβάσουν αµέσως

αντίγραφο της παρούσας επιστολής στο δυνητικό δικαιούχο
της ενίσχυσης.

54. Η Επιτροπή υπενθυµίζει στην Ελλάδα ότι το άρθρο 88 παρά-
γραφος 3 της συνθήκης ΕΚ έχει ανασταλτικό αποτέλεσµα και
παραπέµπει στο άρθρο 14 του κανονισµού (ΕΚ) αριθ.
659/1999, σύµφωνα µε το οποίο µπορεί να ζητηθεί η ανά-
κτηση κάθε παράνοµης ενίσχυσης από το δικαιούχο.

55. Με την παρούσα επιστολή, η Επιτροπή προειδοποιεί την
Ελλάδα ότι θα ενηµερώσει τους ενδιαφερόµενους µε δηµοσί-
ευση της παρούσας επιστολής και µιας περίληψής της στην
Επίσηµη Εφηµερίδα των Ευρωπαϊκών Κοινοτήτων. Θα ενηµε-
ρώσει επίσης τους ενδιαφερόµενους στις χώρες της ΕZΕΣ που
έχουν υπογράψει τη συµφωνία για τον ΕΟΧ µε δηµοσίευση
σχετικής ανακοίνωσης στο συµπλήρωµα ΕΟΧ της Επίσηµης
Εφηµερίδας, καθώς και την εποπτεύουσα αρχή της ΕZΕΣ µε
αποστολή αντιγράφου της παρούσας επιστολής. Όλοι οι ανω-
τέρω ενδιαφερόµενοι θα κληθούν να υποβάλουν τις παρατη-
ρήσεις τους µέσα σε προθεσµία ενός µηνός από την ηµεροµη-
νία της σχετικής δηµοσίευσης.’

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 186/05)

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: 10/2000

1. Responsible department in the Member State

Name:

Ministero delle Politiche agricole e forestali

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

Tel.

Fax

(39-06) 481 99 68

(39-06) 42 01 31 26

E-mail:

qualita@politicheagricole.it

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2. Applicant group

2.1. Name:

Coop.va Rinascita Scarl

2.2. Address: Via G. Cultrone, 90, I-97019 Vittoria (RG)

Tel.

(39) 0932 99 76 11

2.3. Composition: producer/processor (x)

other (

)

3. Type of product: Class 1.6 — Fruits, vegetables, cereals, whether or not processed — table grapes

4. Specification

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

4.1. Name: Uva da tavola di Mazzarrone.

4.2. Description: Fresh fruit of the genus Vitis (L), of the following types:

— black grapes,

— red grapes,

— white grapes.

The main characteristics of Mazzarrone grapes are as follows:

— size of bunch: at least 350 g to 400 g,

— average weight of berry: at least 3 g for small-berry varieties and 5 g for large berry varieties,

— total soluble solids content: at least 13,00o Brix,

— characteristics of main central stalk of grape bunch: must present no browning or signs of

powdery mildew of grapevine.

4.3. Geographical area: The geographical area where Mazzarrone table grapes are grown lies on either
side of the border between the Provinces of Catania and Ragusa and comprises the municipalities
of Caltagirone, Licodia Eubea and Mazzarrone in the Province of Catania and the municipalities of
Acate, Chiaramonte Gulfi and Comiso in the Province of Ragusa. The area is outlined on a map
(scale 1:25 000).

4.4. Proof of origin: The geographical and socioeconomic centre of the area covered by the indication
is the municipality of Mazzarrone. The origins of table-grape cultivation in the Mazzarrone area
can be traced back far into the past: vineyards were referred to last century in deeds of sale around
the turn of the last century.
In his book ‘La civiltà della vite in Sicilia’, Pastena states that
table-grape production accounted for 5 % of the vine-growing output of the district of Caltagirone
in the late 19th century. In the 1930s and 1940s, various varieties of table grapes were grown in
the areas mentioned. In the 1950s, major innovations in grape-growing concerned both the range
of varieties cultivated and the cultivation techniques, which, together with the land reforms carried
out, contributed to the development of grape-growing throughout the district. At the same time,
this district became much more specialised in grape-growing, in terms of both the use of inno-
vative vine-training methods and the techniques used to advance or retard the ripening process.
Traceability of the product is ensured by the requirement that producers of ‘uva da tavola di
Mazzarrone’ must have their vineyards entered in a special register set up, kept and updated by the
inspection body. Producers are also required to declare an indicative date for the start of the
harvest ten days before it actually begins and to file a definitive declaration of annual production.

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4.5. Method of production: The vine-training technique used for growing Mazzarrone table grapes is
the ‘tendone’ method of overhead trellises; the ‘controspalliera’ or free-standing espalier method is
used in addition for the Cardinal cultivar. Between 1 100 and 1 600 vines are planted per hectare
using the ‘tendone’ method and between 1 800 and 2 500 vines per hectare in the case of
free-standing espaliers. Of special importance in terms of cultivation techniques is the covering
of the vines with plastic film, suitably fixed to the vineyard structure, with a view to bringing
ripening forward to June or holding harvesting back until
the end of December. Another
important factor in terms of cultivation techniques is pruning, carried out in both winter and
summer. Green pruning is carried out to supplement winter pruning with the objective of main-
taining a balance between the vegetative and reproductive phases of the plant. Of great importance
in improving production quality are operations affecting fruit setting, thinning out and positioning
of bunches, etc. Maximum production may not exceed 35 000 kg of grapes per hectare in the case
of vineyards training by the ‘tendone’ method and 20 000 kg of grapes per hectare in the case of
free-standing espaliers.

4.6. Link: The production of table grapes has been a significant factor in the economic development
and the commercial activity of the whole district. A total of 67,7 % of the active population works
in agriculture, which is almost exclusively dedicated to the production of table grapes. The
local agricultural
production of Mazzarrone table grapes accounts for more than 90 % of
production. The climatic and soil conditions, which are peculiarly suited to growing table
grapes, combined with the district's specialisation in this activity, gives the end product the
quality, organoleptic and commercial characteristics that set it aside from table grapes from
other areas. The soil, consisting of loose, rarely clayey, calcareous regosols of sandy rocks,
is
relatively fertile. The cultivation of Mazzarrone table grapes, in addition to being of economic
importance as the main source of income for the area's population, is also of social and cultural
significance, tracing its roots back to the last century. Over the years,
it has developed and
established itself as an essential and integral part of local life. The specialised nature of production
and the characteristics, both organoleptic and commercial, of Mazzarrone table grapes have given
the product a confirmed reputation on Italian markets.

4.7. Inspection body

Name:

Certiquality — Istituto di certificazione della qualità — Settore Certiagro

Address: Via G. Giardino, 4, I-20123 Milano.

the words ‘Indicazione Geografica Protetta’

4.8. Labelling: The words ‘Uva da tavola di Mazzarrone’, followed immediately by the name of the
variety, must be marked on the packaging, which must be closed in such a way as to prevent the
contents from being removed, or alternatively on a label affixed directly to the bunches.
Immediately thereafter
(PGI) must appear. The
packaging must show the identifying logo, comprising an oval field enclosing the individual
graphics within a blue line (the sea); within the oval field, a map of Sicily outlined in green;
five yellow-filled circles outlined in yellow-gold, with a slightly larger sixth circle, also yellow-filled
and outlined in yellow-gold, positioned on the right half of the outline of Sicily and low down
within the oval field; in the upper centre, the dark-blue letters ‘IGP’; the words ‘uva da tavola di
Mazzarrone’ superimposed on the outline of Sicily and covering the lower and middle two thirds
of the oval field.

4.9. National requirements: —

EC No: G/IT/00170/2000.11.17.

Date of receipt of the full application: 22 April 2002.