Publication of an application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs
Date: 2017-08-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Campania, Italy, consumer information, designation of origin, fruit vegetable, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products




C_2017253EN.01001401.xml










4.8.2017   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 253/14





Publication of an application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs
(2017/C 253/11)
The European Commission has approved this minor amendment in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 6(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 (1).
APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF A MINOR AMENDMENT

Application for approval of a minor amendment in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council
 (2)


‘POMODORINO DEL PIENNOLO DEL VESUVIO’


EU No: IT-PDO-02146 – 24.6.2016


PDO ( X ) PGI ( ) TSG ( )

1.   Applicant group and legitimate interest






Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio DOP




Piazza Meridiana 47




80040 San Sebastiano al Vesuvio (NA)




ITALIA




Tel.: +39 0810606007




Email: piennolodop@pec.it




The protection association ‘Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio DOP’ is entitled to submit an application for registration pursuant to Article 13(1) of Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy Decree No 12511 of 14 October 2013.
2.   Member State or Third Country

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








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☒


Description of product




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Proof of origin




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Production method




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☐


Link




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Labelling




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Other [legal references and inspection body updates]




4.   Type of amendment(s)








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☐


Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, that requires no amendment to the published single document.




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☒


Amendment to product specification of registered PDO or PGI to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, that requires an amendment to the published single document.




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☐


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




—


☐


Amendment to product specification of registered TSG to be qualified as minor in accordance with the fourth subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.




5.   Amendment(s)


Description of product

Amendment 1
The text of Article 2 of the specification:

‘The “Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio” protected designation of origin (PDO) designates the fruit of the small tomato ecotypes of the Lycopersicon esculentum Mill species linked to the folk names “Fiaschella”, “Lampadina”, “Patanara”, “Principe Borghese” and “Re Umberto” and traditionally grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius […].’

The text of the single document (point 3.2):

‘“Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio” PDO designates the fruit of the small tomato ecotypes linked to the folk names “Fiaschella”, “Lampadina”, “Patanara”, “Principe Borghese” and “Re Umberto” and traditionally grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius […].’

now reads:

‘The “Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio” protected designation of origin (PDO) designates the fruit of the small tomato ecotypes of the Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. species that originally derive from those known by the folk names “Fiaschella”, “Lampadina”, “Patanara”, “Principe Borghese” and “Re Umberto” traditionally grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius […].’

Reasons
The text has been redrafted in line with Article 6 of the product specification – Link with the environment – to clarify that the PDO covers all the local ecotypes which originally derive from tomatoes known by the folk names ‘Fiaschella’, ‘Lampadina’, ‘Patanara’, ‘Principe Borghese’ and ‘Re Umberto’ that were once cultivated in the area and have morphological, chemical and physical characteristics typical of the ‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’.
The amendment is in keeping with the age-old practice, referred to in Article 6 of the product specification, of small farmers keeping the seed of the best fruit for the following year’s crop. Over time this practice has led to seeds being used that originally derive from the ecotypes known by the folk names referred to above.
Article 6 of the product specification states that: ‘As was customary for family vegetable plots, farmers would select the fruit they considered the most suitable and would use the seed of that fruit as reproductive material for the following year. Small tomatoes known as “Fiaschella”, “Lampadina”, “Principe Borghese”, “Re Umberto” and “Patanara”, from which today’s ecotypes derive, were already widely known and used in the first half of the 19th century.’
The amendment does not affect the distinctive characteristics of ‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’. It is therefore considered that the amendment meets the conditions set out in Article 53(2)(a)-(e) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 and can be classified as minor.
Amendment 2
The text of Article 2 of the specification and point 3.2 of the single document:
‘In order to be eligible for protection, they must have the following characteristics:
When fresh, within four days of being picked:






—


Size: no greater than 25 g;’




now reads:
‘In order to be eligible for protection, they must have the following characteristics:






(a)


When fresh, within four days of being picked:






—


Size: no greater than 30 g;’.








Reasons
The change in value is based on the results of studies carried out by the Centro Orticolo Campano on behalf of SeSIRCA and CRAA (Consorzio per la ricerca applicata in agricoltura – Association for applied research in agriculture) which confirmed the empirical evidence reported by farmers that tomatoes harvested from the first branches, known as ‘mamme’, often weigh as much as 30 g each. The amendment is in line with what is stated in the second paragraph of point 5.2 of the single document: ‘Besides its small size, the specific characteristics of the “Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio” are a weight of between 20 g and 30 g …’. Since a weight of up to 30 grams is already mentioned among the tomato’s characteristics, it is considered that the amendment meets the conditions set out in Article 53(2)(a)-(e) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 and can be classified as minor.

Production method

Amendment 3
The text of Article 5 of the specification:

‘Planting arrangements and distances: the planting distances must be between 15 and 30 cm within the row and between 80 and 120 cm between rows. The plants must be arranged in parallel rows, ensuring a regular distance between the plants in each row and between rows. The planting density must not exceed 45 000 plants per hectare; […]’

now reads:

‘Planting arrangements and distances: the planting distances must be between 15 and 30 cm within the row and between 80 and 120 cm between rows. The plants must be arranged in parallel rows, ensuring a regular distance between the plants in each row and between rows. The planting density must not exceed 55 000 plants per hectare; […]’

Reasons
Increasing the maximum planting density to 55 000 plants per hectare would allow farmers to vary planting patterns to take account of variations in soil fertility. At higher altitudes, due to the extreme dryness of volcanic soil, it is good farming practice to increase the planting density per hectare so as to make better use of water resources and maintain the yields and quality characteristics of the fruit (for example, a planting distance of 90-100 cm between rows and 20 cm within rows gives a planting density of around 50 000-55 000 plants per hectare). It is therefore considered that the amendment meets the conditions set out in Article 53(2)(a)-(e) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 and can be classified as minor.
Amendment 4
The text of Article 5 of the specification:

‘Cultivation method: “Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio” tomatoes are only cultivated in the field; the plants are grown vertically up to a height of 80 cm […]’

now reads:

‘Cultivation method: “Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio” tomatoes are only cultivated in the field; the plants are grown vertically up to a height of 1 m […]’

Reasons
This amendment is justified by the finding that the tomato plants naturally grow taller in certain parts of the production area with fresher and more fertile soil, such as in the municipalities around Mount Somma. The amendment aims to adapt the product specification to actual growing conditions in the production area, without affecting the quality of the fruit or compliance with the conditions set out in Article 53(2)(a)-(e) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012. For these reasons, the amendment may be classified as minor.
Amendment 5
The text of Article 5 of the specification:

‘The maximum production per hectare as a single crop is set at 16 tonnes.’

now reads:

‘The maximum production per hectare as a single crop is set at 25 tonnes.’

Reasons
The yield of 16 tonnes per hectare provided for in the specification is considerably lower than the average obtained by the producers at various altitudes. This was first observed by members of the protection association and subsequently confirmed by the scientific studies conducted by the Centro Orticolo Campano on behalf of SeSIRCA and CRAA. As a maximum yield of 25 tonnes per hectare is in line with the actual crops of ‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’ PDO and does not affect the quality characteristics of the fruit, it is considered that this amendment can be classified as ‘minor’ in line with Article 53(2)(a)-(e) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

Labelling

Amendment 6
The text of Article 8 of the specification:

‘However, the use of wordings referring to companies, names, business names and private trademarks which are not laudatory in nature and are not likely to mislead the purchaser are permitted. These indications may appear on the label in smaller characters to indicate the protected designation of origin.’

now reads:

‘However, the use of wordings referring to companies, names, business names and private trademarks which are not laudatory in nature and are not likely to mislead the purchaser are permitted. These indications may appear on the label in smaller characters than those used to indicate the protected designation of origin and should not appear in the same field of vision as the designation of origin, the PDO logo and the EU logo.’

Reasons
The amendment clarifies the provision of the specification aimed at giving the registered name and the EU logo greater visibility on the label. As the amendment affects only the labelling of the product, it is considered that it can be classified as ‘minor’ under Article 53(2)(a)-(e) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

Updated legal references and inspection body

The references to Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 have been replaced with Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.
The details of the inspection body have been added in Article 7 of the specification.
SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘POMODORINO DEL PIENNOLO DEL VESUVIO’


EU No: IT-PDO-02146 – 24.6.2016


PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

1.   Name

‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’
2.   Member State or Third Country

Italy
3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

Class 1.6: Fruit, vegetables, cereals, fresh or processed
3.2.   Description of the product to which the name in 1 applies

The ‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’ protected designation of origin (PDO) designates the fruit of the small tomato ecotypes of the Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. species that originally derive from those known by the folk names ‘Fiaschella’, ‘Lampadina’, ‘Patanara’, ‘Principe Borghese’ and ‘Re Umberto’ traditionally grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. They are oval or slightly plum-shaped with a pointed apex, frequent ribbing towards the stalk and thick skin. Hybrids may not be used. In order to be eligible for protection, they must have the following characteristics. When fresh: size: average weight of the fruit no greater than 30 g; shape parameters: ratio between the largest and smallest diameters of between 1,2 and 1,3; external colour: vermilion; colour of the flesh: red; texture: very firm; taste: sweet and sour, lively and intense; refractive index: min 6,5 °Bx; strongly attached to the stalk. When stored on ‘piennolo’ bunches: external colour: dark red; colour of the flesh: red; texture: firm; taste: lively and intense; turgidity: low at the end of storage.
3.3.   Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

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

Production and storage activities must take place in the production area, and the following instructions for storing the tomatoes on ‘piennolo’ bunches must be followed:






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after being harvested, the natural bunches (known as ‘schiocche’) must be placed on plant fibre twine and tied in a circle so as to make a single large bunch (‘piennolo’) weighing between 1 kg and 5 kg at the end of storage. The ‘piennolo’ bunches made in this way must be hung above ground in a dry, ventilated place using hooks or appropriate supports,










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during the storage phase, the product, whether on ‘piennolo’ bunches or packaged, may undergo no chemical treatment. Use may be made only of physical systems for better protecting the product, which cannot adversely affect its characteristics, such as insect nets and ultrasound devices,










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the useful life of the ‘piennolo’ bunches is not precisely determined and is linked to how long the tomatoes retain their ideal appearance and organoleptic characteristics.




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

Packaging of the tomatoes in the form in which they are marketed - either fresh or preserved - must take place on the production holdings or in the immediate vicinity, within the production area, so as to:






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limit all handling when the fruit is at its most resistant,










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prevent the transport over long distances of produce which is unpackaged and, as such, not adequately protected and thus exposed to possible mechanical stress and damage,










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help ensure traceability.




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

‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’ must be released for consumption in one of the following forms:






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fresh: the product must be put on sale as individual fruit or in bunches, placed in bulk in appropriate sealed containers, with a maximum capacity of 10 kg,










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on ‘piennolo’ bunches: the ‘piennolo’ bunches must weigh no more than 5 kg and be put on sale individually with the identifying logo of the PDO or in appropriate sealed containers,










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preserved, as individual fruit or bunches, placed in bulk in appropriate sealed containers, with a maximum capacity of 10 kg.




The labels must include the following: the wordings ‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’ and Protected Designation of Origin in larger characters than any other wording or element featured; the EU logo; the name, company name and address of the packager or producer; the quantity of the product contained within the packaging. The logo is composed of a silhouette of the ‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’, including a stalk which extends to depict the profile of Mount Vesuvius. The specific details of the logo and its colours are described exhaustively in the product specification.



4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The production and storage area for ‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’ PDO covers the following municipalities in Naples Province: Boscoreale, Boscotrecase, Cercola, Ercolano, Massa Di Somma, Ottaviano, Pollena Trocchia, Portici, Sant’Anastasia, San Giorgio a Cremano, San Giuseppe Vesuviano, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Somma Vesuviana, Terzigno, Torre Annunziata, Torre del Greco, Trecase, and the part of Nola municipality with the following perimeter boundaries: the provincial road linking Piazzola di Nola and Rione Trieste (the stretch known as ‘Constantinopoli’), the Lagno Rosario stream, the border of Ottaviano municipality and the border of Somma Vesuviana municipality.
5.   Link with the geographical area

The specific nature of the area where the ‘Pomodorino’ is grown lies in the volcanic origin of the soils. This area owes its specific characteristics to the pyroclastic nature of the soils, which characterises the entire volcanic fabric of the Somma-Vesuvio complex. These soils have formed on the lava and layers of ash and lapillus and are characterised by a high degree of fertility, a sandy texture that makes them very loose and well-drained and a neutral or sub-alkaline pH with a high level of available macro and micro elements. The climate is prevalently dry, with moderate wind and high temperatures. Wide temperature variations between night and day help to naturally combat parasitic diseases.
Besides its small size, the specific characteristics of the ‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’ are a weight of between 20 g and 30 g, a low ratio of 1,2-1,3 between the largest and smallest diameters, the significant firmness of the skin, a particularly strong attachment to the stalk which is such as to ensure that the bunches tend to hold together well during harvesting and storage, a high concentration of sugars, acids and other soluble solids which mean that it is a product with a long shelf-life during which none of its organoleptic qualities suffer ill effects. The high osmotic pressure of the juice contained in the tomatoes, generated by the high concentration of soluble solids, means that the fruit maintains its typical turgidity for a long period, losing only a little water during storage.
Growing practices are conditioned by the characteristic configuration of the plots, which are very fragmented and often terraced and laid out in an irregular manner. The majority of growing activities are carried out by hand following traditional agricultural practices.
The specific characteristics of ‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’ are very closely linked to the area where it is grown. The volcanic origin of the soils and all the pyroclastic material accumulated during the eruptions of the Somma-Vesuvio volcanic complex have made this land highly fertile. The sandy texture has made it very loose and well-drained and led to a neutral or sub-alkaline pH with a high level of available macro and micro elements. When grown, the product absorbs all of this and thus takes on its very characteristic qualities. Parasitic diseases are naturally combated by the dry climate characterised by wide temperature variations between night and day. Small tomatoes, stored on ‘piennolo’ bunches or preserved, are one of the oldest and most traditional products of the Vesuvius area. The earliest documented and technically detailed evidence can be found in the 1885, 1902 and 1916 publications of the ‘Regia Scuola Superiore di Agricoltura’ [Royal Higher School of Agriculture] in Portici. In past centuries, growing this type of tomato became popular owing to its ease of cultivation and its suitability for long storage over the winter months as a result of the firmness of its skin. The diffusion of this type of tomato in the past was linked to the need to have fresh tomatoes in the winter months in order to be able to properly garnish home-cooked dishes, which have always been very common in the Naples area, such as pizzas and pasta dishes requiring intense flavour and aromas. The effect of the human factor was to put in place a well-calibrated growing and storage method which is typical of the area and involves the selection of the best tomatoes for production of the seed, the pruning needed to ensure that the plants can grow in an unrestricted direction, tying of the stalks and elimination of the excess shoots until the tomatoes have been harvested. During harvesting, natural bunches are picked whole when at least 70 % of the tomatoes are red, with the remainder still maturing. The procedure for storing the tomatoes on ‘piennolo’ bunches, which makes it possible to consume them, whole and unprocessed, for the whole winter following the harvest, links this product to the area. The traditional procedure involves picking the natural bunches of tomatoes whole and interweaving the stalks with hemp rope, thereby making a single large bunch which is hung from the roof of special ventilated rooms or on verandas or terraces. All of this, combined with the specific environmental context of the Vesuvius area, has created a product which is unique for its type as regards its organoleptic qualities and shelf life, and this is the product that is still grown and stored to this day.

Reference to publication of the specification

(second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of this Regulation)
The Ministry launched the national objection procedure with the publication of the proposal for amending ‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’ PDO in Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 103 of 4 May 2016.
The consolidated text of the product specification is available on the internet: http://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/3335
or alternatively:
by going directly to the homepage of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy (www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Prodotti DOP IGP’ (at the top right-hand side of the screen), then on ‘Prodotti DOP IGP STG’ (on the left-hand side of the screen), and finally by clicking on ‘Disciplinari di Produzione all’esame dell’UE’.


(1)  OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, p. 17.

(2)  OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.