Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin
Date: 2004-09-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Latium, designation of origin, labelling, olive oil, product quality

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

(2004/C 229/02)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Articles 7 and 12d of the above-
mentioned Regulation. Any objection to this application must be submitted via the competent authority in
a Member State, in a WTO member country or in a third country recognised in accordance with Article
12(3) 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

‘TUSCIA’

EC No IT/00210/8.10.2001

PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

This summary has been drawn up for information purposes only. For full details, in particular the produ-
cers of products covered by the PDO or PGI concerned, please consult the complete version of the product
specification obtainable at national level or from the European Commission (1).

1.

Responsible department in the Member State:

Name:

Address:

Tel.:

Fax:

E- mail:

2.

Group:

2.1. Name:

Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali

Via XX Settembre, 20, I–00187 Roma

(39) 06 – 481 99 68

(39) 06 – 420 13 126

qualita@politicheagricole.it

Consorzio per la tutela e la valorizzazione della produzione olivicola della
provincia di Viterbo

2.2. Address:

Via Matteotti, 73, I- 01100 Viterbo

2.3. Composition:

producer/processor ( x ) other ( )

3.

Type of product

Class 1.5 – oils and fats – extra-virgin olive oil.

4.

Specification

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1. N a m e : ‘Tuscia’

4.2. D e s c r i p t i o n : extra-virgin olive oil with the following characteristics:

— colour: emerald green with a golden sheen,

— odour: fruity, evoking wholesome, fresh fruit harvested at the stage of optimal ripeness,

— taste: fairly fruity with balanced slightly bitter and spicy aftertaste,

— total maximum acidity, expressed in oleic acid, by weight, no greater than 0,5 grams per 100

grams of oil,

— peroxide number: ≦ 12 Meq O2/kg.

(1) European Commission - Directorate-General for Agriculture - Agricultural product quality policy - B-1049 Brussels.

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4.3. G e o g r a p h i c a l a r e a : The area of production and processing of olives for the manufacture of Tuscia
extra-virgin olive oil comprises the following municipalities in the Province of Viterbo, Region of
Lazio: Acquapendente, Bagnoregio, Barbarano Romano, Bassano in Teverina, Bassano Romano, Blera,
Bolsena, Bomarzo, Calcata, Canepina, Capodimonte, Capranica, Caprarola, Carbognano, Castel S. Elia,
Castiglione in Teverina, Celleno, Civita Castellana, Civitella d'Agliano, Corchiano, Fabrica di Roma,
Faleria, Gallese, Gradoli, Graffignano, Grotte di Castro, Latera, Lubriano, Marta, Montalto di Castro (in
part), Montefiascone, Monteromano, Nepi, Oriolo Romano, Orte, Piansano, Proceno, Ronciglione, S.
Lorenzo Nuovo, Soriano nel Cimino, Sutri, Tarquinia, Tuscania (in part), Valentano, Vallerano, Vasa-
nello, Vejano, Vetralla, Vignanello, Villa S. Giovanni in Tuscia, Viterbo, Vitorchiano. For the municipa-
lities that are only partly in the production zone, the specifications give details of the areas included.

4.4. P r o o f o f o r i g i n : Olive oil first reached the area in the sixth century BC, as a result of the Etruscans'
trading with the Phoenicians and the Greeks. Olive stones have been discovered at archaeological sites
in southern Etruria, in the province of Viterbo.

The area of Tuscia, which now corresponds to the province of Viterbo, was originally part of Etruria,
called by its Latin name of Hetruria or Aetruria by the inhabitants, known as Etruscans or Etrurians.
From the second century AD, the Romans began to use the name of Tusci or Tuscia to identify the
area. Over time, Tuscia became the official name of Etruria, and was established as such with the
administrative reorganisation of ancient Italy introduced by the Emperor Diocletian (284 to 305). The
main activities of the inhabitants of Tuscia included olive-growing and the production of olive oil, as
is clear from the paintings discovered in Etruscan tombs. The Romans later also showed considerable
interest in olive-growing, and produced olives in the Villae scattered throughout Tuscia, processing
them in local presses; a typical example can be seen at Civita di Bagnoregio. In some local centres
(e.g. Fabrica di Roma and Civita Castellana) ceramic containers for storage and transport of the oil
have also been produced for centuries.

4.5. M e t h o d o f p r o d u c t i o n : Tuscia extra-virgin olive oil is obtained from olives of the Frantoio, Cani-
nese and Leccino varieties, with at least 90 % of each grove consisting of one or more of these vari-
eties. Other varieties may be present in a grove, but should not account for more than 10 % alto-
gether.

Olives are one of the main crops of the area, with specialised plantations of a density of 150 to 300
trees per hectare, intensive plantations with over 300 trees per hectare, and mixed plantations with
up to 100 trees per hectare.

In the specialised groves, the most commonly used shapes are bush, Y, cone and inverted cone; in the
mixed groves, they are multi-branched vase and free. Some pruning is usually carried out annually,
although rejuvenation pruning is less frequent.

Plant health protection practices follow the instructions of the integrated and supervised pest control
services operating in the area. It is prohibited to treat the site with herbicide or desiccant.

The olives are harvested at that stage in their maturity when they begin to turn colour; harvesting is
completed by 20 December for early cultivars (Leccino, Frantoio, Maurino, Pendolino) and by 15
January for late cultivars (Caninese, Moraiolo).

The use of products to encourage premature dropping and of abscission products is prohibited.
Maximum olive output per hectare may not exceed 9 000 kg in the specialised groves, or 90 kg per
tree in mixed or combined plantations. The olives are taken to the pressing plant within one day of
harvesting, and processed no later than one day after delivery. They are transported in suitable
containers.

Oil-production techniques must comply with the following requirements:

— washing with potable water at room temperature, sorting, removal of leaves,

— pressing with suitable presses,

— crushing at a temperature not exceeding 30° C for a period not exceeding 60 minutes,

— physical extraction with equipment for pressing, continuous centrifugation, percolation followed

by pressing, or percolation followed by centrifugation,

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— centrifugation of the oil must: the oil and the extracted oil must should be immediately removed
from proximity with residue of vegetable water using continuous stainless steel separators. Upon
leaving the extraction plant, the oil should be at a temperature no higher than 28° C. The
maximum oil yield must not exceed 20 %,

— it is prohibited to centrifuge the crushed-olive paste a second time without interruption (the

processing method known as ripasso).

Growing, processing and bottling operations are all carried out in the specified area. The reasons for
bottling within the area derive from the need to safeguard the special features and quality of Tuscia
oil, by ensuring that the producers concerned can supervise the checks carried out by the outside
control body. The protected designation of origin is of vital
importance to the producers, and
provides an opportunity to improve income, in line with the objectives and the approach of the Regu-
lation. Moreover, the olive oil has traditionally been bottled in the area. In order to ensure product
traceability, the producers intending to market extra-virgin olive oil under the protected designation
must register their olive groves and processing and bottling plant in registers kept by the control
body.

4.6. L i n k : The geomorphological features and landscape of Tuscia are specific. The mountain systems of
including the vast volcanic lakes
the Volsini, Cimini and Sabatini surround a number of lakes,
Bolsena, Vico and Bracciano, and the smaller lakes Mezzano, Monterosi and Martignano. The diversity
of hydrographic features is matched by similar aspects of the landscape, which is of volcanic origin.
These features offer climate conditions that encourage the development of fauna and abundant flora.
The excellent soil conditions and the presence of specific microclimates, owing in particular to the
geomorphological features (hilly terrain dotted with lakes), mean that the area is especially suitable for
olive-growing, so that Tuscia extra-virgin olive oil is quite typical and unique.

Olive oil is a very important ingredient in local cookery, which is very highly dependent on local
production.

The climate is temperate, with a rainfall of about 900 mm a year, mostly from spring to autumn,
except in the area of the Cimini hills, characterised by more extreme temperatures and abundant rain-
fall.

4.7. I n s p e c t i o n b o d y :

Name:

Address:

Camera di Commercio, Industria, Artigianato ed Agricoltura di Viterbo

Via F.lli Rosselli, 4, I-01100 Viterbo.

4.8. L a b e l l i n g : Extra-virgin olive oil must be marketed in glass or steel containers of a capacity not

exceeding 5 litres.

It must be clearly and indelibly labelled not only with the details laid down in labelling standards, but
also with the name ‘Tuscia’, protected designation of origin.

The label must also bear the graphic symbol showing the specific unequivocal logo for exclusive and
consistent use with the designation. The graphic symbol has been specially designed on the basis of
an ancient Etruscan terracotta antefix discovered at the excavation site at Acquarossa (Viterbo).

The antefix is dark ochre, with the word ‘Tuscia’ in a contrasting dark red. The logo is an integral part
of the specifications, where it is described in detail, and shown in colour.

4.9. N a t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s :