Publication of an approved standard amendment to a product specification of a protected designation of origin or protected geographical indications in the sector of the agricultural products and foodstuffs, as referred to in Article 6b(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 2023/C 107/08
Date: 2023-03-23
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Italy, Sicily, consumer information, designation of origin, fresh vegetable, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, root vegetable




C_2023107EN.01006901.xml










23.3.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 107/69






Publication of an approved standard amendment to a product specification of a protected designation of origin or protected geographical indications in the sector of the agricultural products and foodstuffs, as referred to in Article 6b(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014
(2023/C 107/08)
This communication is published in accordance with Article 6b(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 (1).
COMMUNICATING THE APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT TO THE PRODUCT SPECIFICATION OF A PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN OR PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION ORIGINATING IN A MEMBER STATE

(Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012)


‘Carota Novella di Ispica’


EU No: PGI-IT-0522-AM02 – 28.12.2022


PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1.   Name of the product

‘Carota Novella di Ispica’
2.   Member State to which the geographical area belongs

Italy
3.   Member State authority communicating the standard amendment

Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests
4.   Description of the approved amendment(s)

Amendment 1
Description: in Article 2 of the specification and in point 3.2 of the single document, the list of varieties that may be used has been amended, deleting the Concert, Naval, Chambor and Selene varieties and introducing the Soprano, Novara and Allyance varieties.
Reason: The deleted varieties no longer have the satisfactory genetic and agronomic characteristics to be cultivated without being severely affected by diseases, and growers often have difficulties in obtaining seed due to the low productivity of mother plants and the low germination capacity of the available seed due to its small size. The three new varieties have been added on the basis of 4 years of tests which revealed that they had the characteristics necessary for inclusion in the product specification ‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’.
This amendment concerns Article 2 of the product specification and not the single document. It should be regarded as a standard amendment as it does not fall within the scope of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.
Amendment 2
Description: the following provision has been deleted from Article 2 of the product specification and point 3.2 of the single document, after the list of varieties that may be used:

‘Other hybrids may be used provided that they belong to the Nantes half-long variety and provided that the producers have proven through tests that they comply with the quality requirements for “Carota Novella di Ispica”. The use of new hybrids to produce “Carota Novella di Ispica” is permitted subject to favourable evaluation of the tests by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy which may request for that purpose the technical opinion of the inspection body or another body.’

Reason: the Commission has asked for this provision to be deleted from other product specifications for fruit and vegetables.
This amendment concerns Article 2 of the product specification and point 3.2 of the single document. It should be regarded as a standard amendment as it does not fall within the scope of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.
Amendment 3
Description: in Article 2 of the product specification and point 3.2 of the single document, the weights associated with the minimum and maximum size have been deleted.
Reason: The quality control carried out in the packaging facilities of ‘Carota novella di Ispica’ PGI revealed that many packages were non-compliant because some 15 mm diameter carrots did not weigh 50 g. These carrots, however, complied with all the other characteristics laid down in the specification and did not influence the quality of the product.
This amendment concerns Article 2 of the product specification and point 3.2 of the single document. It should be regarded as a standard amendment as it does not fall within the scope of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.
Amendment 4
The following provisions have been added to Article 2 of the product specification for carrots intended for processing and for those in category IV:






‘c)



Carrots intended for processing

Carrots which meet all the requirements of the product specification, apart from those relating to class and shape, may be used for processing only, and may bear the “Carota Novella di Ispica” PGI. These carrots may not be sold as such to the final consumer.










d)



Category IV

“Carota Novella di Ispica” PGI may be placed on the market ready to eat (category IV) following the operations referred to in Ministerial Decree No 3746 of 20 June 2014 – Implementation of Article 4 of Law No 77 of 13 May 2011 (which include selection, sorting, assembling or cutting, washing, drying, and packaging in sealed pouches or trays, possibly using a protective atmosphere), which, by their nature, do not alter their characteristics.’



In point 3.2 of the single document, the following sentence has been added after the list of varieties used:

The product is placed on the market fresh or ready to eat (category IV).

and a final paragraph has been added:

Carrots which meet all the requirements of the product specification, apart from those relating to class and shape, may be used for processing only, and may bear the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ PGI. These carrots may not be sold as such to the final consumer.

Reason: The motive for the introduction of these provisions is the new marketing requirements for the product expressed by the operators (in the case of category IV) and the need to be able to use exclusively for processing carrots which comply with all the requirements laid down in the product specification, apart from those relating to category and shape.
The amendment concerns Article 2 of the product specification and point 3.2 of the single document. It should be regarded as a standard amendment as it does not fall within the scope of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.
Amendment 5
Description: In Article 5 of the specification, point 5.8 - Processing of the product, the following sentence has been added:

‘The operations to obtain the category IV product referred to in Article 2 d) of this specification may be carried out outside the defined geographical area.’

Moreover, the following sentence has been added to point 3.5 of the single document:

‘The operations to obtain the category IV product may be carried out outside the defined geographical area.’

Reason: it has been clarified that there are no restrictions linked to the defined geographical area for the purposes of carrying out operations to obtain category IV products.
This amendment concerns Article 5 of the product specification and point 3.5. of the single document. It should be regarded as a standard amendment as it does not fall within the scope of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.
Amendment 6
Description: the references to checks in Article 7 of the product specification have been updated.
Reason: this amendment is purely editorial, does not concern the single document and is to be regarded as a standard amendment as it does not fall within the scope of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.
Amendment 7
Description: in Article 8 of the product specification, after the sentence ‘– the commercial category “extra” and “I”’, the following text has been added setting out the rules for the labelling and packaging of the product intended for processing and of the category IV product:
‘Only the product intended for processing (Article 2 (c)) may be packaged in polypropylene bags weighing up to 1 200 kg.


In addition to the EU graphic symbol and the information required by law, the packaging must carry on the label the following indications in clear and legible print:







—



the logo of the designation “Carota Novella di Ispica PGI” followed by the words “intended for processing”;











—



the name, company name and address of the producer firm and packaging firm;











—



the product may not be sold loose.






“Carota Novella di Ispica PGI” intended for the production of category IV products (Article 2 (d)) must be packaged in polypropylene bags weighing up to 1 200 kg, plastic or wooden bins, polyethylene bags of up to 20 kg and plastic crates of up to 15 kg.


In addition to the EU graphic symbol and the information required by law, the packaging must carry on the label the following indications in clear and legible print:







—



the logo of the designation “Carota Novella di Ispica PGI” followed by the words “intended for category IV”;











—



the name, company name and address of the producer firm and packaging firm;











—



the commercial category to which it belongs.






The product may not be sold loose.


“Carota Novella di Ispica PGI” placed on the market ready for consumption (category IV) may be packaged in all the ways permitted by the legislation in force. Packaging may not weigh more than 10 kg.


In addition to the information required by law, the packaging must bear the European PGI symbol and the “Carota Novella di Ispica PGI” logo, the size of which may not be smaller than any other information on the packaging.’
The following text has been added to point 3.5 of the single document:

‘Only the product intended for processing (Article 2 (c)) may be packaged in polypropylene bags weighing up to 1 200 kg.


“Carota Novella di Ispica PGI” intended for the production of category IV products (Article 2 (d)) must be packaged in polypropylene bags weighing up to 1 200 kg, plastic or wooden bins, polyethylene bags of up to 20 kg and plastic crates of up to 15 kg.


“Carota Novella di Ispica PGI” placed on the market ready for consumption (category IV) may be packaged in all the ways permitted by the legislation in force. Packaging may not weigh more than 10 kg.


The product may not be sold loose.’

The following text has been added to point 3.6 of the single document:

‘the product intended for processing must bear the following additional information on the label in clear and legible print, in addition to the Community graphic symbol and the information required by law: “Carota Novella di Ispica PGI” logo followed by the words ‘intended for processing’;







—



the name, company name and address of the producer firm and packaging firm;






‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’ intended for the production of category IV products must, in addition to the EU graphic symbol and the information required by law, carry on the label the following indications in clear and legible print:







—



the logo of the designation ‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’ followed by the words ‘intended for category IV’;











—



the name, company name and address of the producer firm and packaging firm;











—



the commercial category to which it belongs.






‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’ placed on the market ready to eat (category IV) must, in addition to the information required by law, carry on the label the European PGI symbol and the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’ logo, the size of which may not be smaller than any other information on the packaging.’

Reason: this amendment has become necessary in order to adapt Article 8 – Packaging and labelling – to the inclusion in the specification of rules for the product intended for processing and the category IV product.
This amendment concerns Article 8 of the product specification and points 3.5 and 3.6 of the single document. It should be regarded as a standard amendment as it does not fall within the scope of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.
SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘Carota Novella di Ispica’


EU No: PGI-IT-0522-AM02 – 28.12.2022


PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1.   Name(s)

‘Carota Novella di Ispica’
2.   Member State or Third Country

Italy
3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product [as in Annex XI]

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

‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ PGI is the product obtained by growing the species Daucus carota L. The varieties used are based on the Nantes half-long carrot variety and appropriate hybrids such as Exelso, Dordogne, Nancò, Romance, Namibia, Soprano, Novara, Allyance.
The product is placed on the market fresh or ready to eat (category IV).
When placed on the market, the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ is cylindrical/conical in shape, with a diameter of between 15 and 40 mm, and does not have secondary roots, a root at the tip or cracking of the stem.
‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ reaches commercial maturity from as early as the beginning of February (1 February) up to early June (15 June). It is consequently available on the market in the winter-spring period, when it has the organoleptic properties typical of the fresh product. It adheres to the following specific chemical and nutritional parameters:
high glucide content: > 5 % fresh product (by weight);
beta-carotene content (depending on the production period): > 4 mg/100 g of fresh product;
mineral salt content: between 0,5 % and 0,9 %.
Organoleptic properties are assessed using the UNI 10957 (2003) method. The descriptors are quantified on a five-point scale in line with the UNI ISO 4121 system (1989) with 1 as the least intense and 5 as the most intense value.
The minimum values awarded by judges for each of the main descriptors are as follows:
intensity of colour 2,5;
crunchiness 2,5;
typical carrot smell 2,5;
herbaceous aroma 2,5.
In addition, the skin is clear, the flesh tender and the core not too fibrous.
Only ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ in the commercial categories Extra and I, as defined by the UN/ECE standard concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of carrots, may obtain recognition.
Carrots which meet all the requirements of the product specification, apart from those relating to class and shape, may be used for processing only, and may bear the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ PGI. These carrots may not be sold as such to the final consumer.
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

All steps in the production of ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’, from sowing to harvesting, must take place within the geographical area defined in point 4. The carrots are harvested on a daily basis from 1 February to 15 June.
3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

Once harvested, the fresh product is processed on a daily basis on the processing lines available on holdings. The chief phases which are typical of the carrot processing process are: washing, removal of waste, sorting by size and packaging.
Processing and initial packaging must be carried out within the production area identified in point 4.3 in order to guarantee product quality, monitoring and traceability. Subsequent repackaging outside the geographical area is permitted.
The operations to obtain the category IV product may be carried out outside the defined geographical area.
‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ is packaged in packs sealed in such a way that opening the packaging will tear the seal. Only the following packaging combinations are permitted:
tray of up to 2 kg covered with protective film;
polyethylene or polypropylene bag containing between 0,5 and 6 kg in weight;
box with ‘stay fresh’ bag containing between 6 and 12 kg in weight.
Only the product intended for processing may be packaged in polypropylene bags weighing up to 1 200 kg.
‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’ intended for the production of category IV products must be packaged in polypropylene bags weighing up to 1 200 kg, plastic or wooden bins, polyethylene bags of up to 20 kg and plastic crates of up to 15 kg.
‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’ placed on the market ready for consumption (category IV) may be packaged in all the ways permitted by the legislation in force. Packaging may not weigh more than 10 kg.
The product may not be sold loose.
3.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

In addition to the EU graphic symbol and the information required by law, the packaging must carry on the label the following indications in clear and legible print:
the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ PGI logo;
the name, company name and address of the producer firm and packaging firm;
the commercial category (‘Extra’ or ‘I’).
In addition to the EU graphic symbol and the information required by law, the product intended for processing must carry on the label the following indications in clear and legible print:- the logo of the designation ‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’ followed by the words ‘intended for processing’;






—


the name, company name and address of the producer firm and packaging firm;
‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’ intended for the production of category IV products must, in addition to the EU graphic symbol and the information required by law, carry on the label the following indications in clear and legible print:










—


the logo of the designation ‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’ followed by the words ‘intended for category IV’;










—


the name, company name and address of the producer firm and packaging firm;










—


the commercial category to which it belongs.
‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’ placed on the market ready to eat (category IV) must, in addition to the information required by law, carry on the label the European PGI symbol and the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica PGI’ logo, the size of which may not be smaller than any other information on the packaging.




It is forbidden to add any description that is not expressly provided for. However, references to brand names may be used, on condition that they have no laudatory purport and are not such as to mislead the consumer.
The ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ logo is made up of a graphic image representing a carrot, topped by an irregular triangle pointing downwards. The graphic image sits to the left of the wording ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’. The initial capital N of the word ‘Novella’ intersects the carrot image about halfway up, with the words ‘di Ispica’ placed beneath ‘Novella’, all the text being green in colour. The ends of the characters are rounded.





4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ production area includes municipalities in the following provinces up to an altitude of 550 m above sea level:
Province of Ragusa: municipalities of Acate, Chiaramonte Gulfi, Comiso, Ispica, Modica, Pozzallo, Ragusa, Santa Croce Camerina, Scicli and Vittoria;
Province of Siracusa: municipalities of Noto, Pachino, Portopalo di Capo Passero and Rosolini;
Province of Catania: municipality of Caltagirone;
Province of Caltanissetta: municipality of Niscemi.
5.   Link with the geographical area

Recognition of the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ protected geographical indication is justified on the grounds of its early harvesting.
‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ growing is characterised by favourable soil and climate conditions. The Ispica carrot is a ‘new carrot’ which reaches commercial maturity from as early as the beginning of February (1 February) up to early June (15 June). It is thus a novel, typically Sicilian product very closely linked to the territory in which it is grown. It should be added that ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ is sold on the market during the winter-spring period, taking advantage of the organoleptic properties that are typical of the fresh product, such as crunchiness, intense flavour and herbaceous aroma.
The ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ growing area is characterised by high average winter temperatures, long hours of sunlight and fertile soil. The quality parameters and the specific growing cycle are thus intimately linked to interacting physical and biochemical characteristics which make the Iblea area (SE Sicily) an essential harmonic system capable of maximising and characterising such properties.
The local geography facilitates cultivation as it provides optimal environmental conditions and, in particular, the temperate, dry climate of the coastal strip enable optimum general plant health to be maintained.
The area in which ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ is grown is generally free from excessive temperature drops, excessive rain and aridity. It has been shown that the temperatures recorded in the area favour very intense colouring, which is also to some extent a result of the amount of light from which the territory benefits between September and March, the very regular conformation and the optimisation of levels of sugar, beta carotene and mineral salt content which, considering the time of harvest, are a further characteristic feature of the ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’. The land further complies with the requirements for growing, which ideally calls for medium soils tending towards loose, a non-coarse soil skeleton, well provided with nutritive elements, good depth and freshness characteristics, but is also feasible in soils tending towards sandy as long as they are supported by adequate fertilisation and irrigation.
These are the conditions that have led to the success of the ‘Carota di Ispica’. Indeed, old producers remember that European importers claimed to be able to recognise a load of ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ immediately upon opening the transport wagon thanks to the specific and intense aroma which developed.
The first documents recording Ispica carrot cultivation date back to 1955, followed a few years later by the first records of its being exported. Since the 1950s, Ispica carrot growing has extended gradually to cover the area defined in point 4, due on the one hand to the agricultural phenomenon of soil fatigue but, on the other, to the product’s great commercial success on national and foreign markets. Important evidence is provided by Pina Avveduto’s 1972 publication ‘La Coltivazione della Carota ad Ispica’ (Cultivation of the Ispica carrot). On the subject of the rapid expansion of Ispica carrot growing, the author writes, ‘Obviously, the rapid spread in cultivation of the new product was favoured by the ease of marketing it, since it was accepted and sought after by all national and international markets for its intrinsic merits [...]. Our carrot was preferred on account of its early availability, quality in terms of shape (size), organoleptic properties (colour, flavour), chemical properties (carotene and glucose rich).’

Reference to publication of the product specification

The Ministry launched the national opposition procedure with the publication of the amendment application regarding ‘Carota Novella di Ispica’ Protected Geographical Indication in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 159 of 9 July 2022.
The full text of the product specification is available on the following website:
https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/3343


(1)  OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, p. 17.