Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs 2023/C 226/10
Date: 2023-06-28
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: France, Occitanie, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, olive oil, product designation, quality control of agricultural products








C_2023226EN.01001201.xml










28.6.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 226/12






Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs
(2023/C 226/10)
This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within 3 months from the date of this publication.
SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘HUILE D’OLIVE DU LANGUEDOC’


EU No: PDO-FR-2649 —1.12.2020


PDO (X) PGI ( )

1.   Name(s)

‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’
2.   Member State or Third Country

France
3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

Class 1.5. Oils and fats (butter, margarine, oil, etc.)
3.2.   Description of product to which the name in (1) applies

‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ is a multivarietal olive oil. It consists mainly of the Lucques variety or the Olivière variety, or a blend of these two. Each of these two varieties accounts for a proportion of less than or equal to 70 % of the oil.
‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ has a fruitiness level of more than 2 and less than 5 out of 10 on the organoleptic scale of the International Olive Council (IOC). Its aromas on the nose and in the mouth are dominated by notes of tomato and almond, which may be accompanied by aromas of apples.
It has a bitterness of between 0 and 3 out of 10 and a pungency of greater than 1 and less than 3 out of 10 on the International Olive Council scale.
When it is first placed on the market, its free acid content, expressed as oleic acid in the oil obtained, is at most 0,8 %, and its peroxide value is less than or equal to 16 milliequivalents of oxygen peroxide per kilogram.
3.3.   Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

The sum of the Lucques and Olivière varieties must make up at least 50 % of the blend.






And:








—


the Lucques variety may not exceed 70 % in the blend;










—


the Olivière variety may not exceed 70 % in the blend.








The specific organoleptic characteristics of the PDO are guaranteed, provided that at least 50 % of the blend is composed of the Lucques and/or the Olivière variety.
3.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the defined geographical area

The production, harvesting and processing of the olives must take place in the geographical area.
3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

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

___
4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

This area comprises the territory of the following municipalities, based on the 2019 Official Geographical Code.
-   Department of Aude (180 municipalities):
Municipalities included in their entirety:






 


Aigues-Vives, Albas, Alet-les-Bains, Aragon, Argeliers, Argens-Minervois, Armissan, Arquettes-en-Val, Azille, Badens, Bages, Bagnoles, Barbaira, Berriac, Bizanet, Bize-Minervois, Blomac, Bouilhonnac, Bouriège, Boutenac, Cabrespine, Campagne-sur-Aude, Camplong-d’Aude, Canet, Capendu, Carcassonne, Cascastel-des-Corbières, Castelnau-d’Aude, Caunes-Minervois, Caunettes-en-Val, Cavanac, Caves, Cazilhac, Cépie, Citou, Comigne, Conilhac-Corbières, Conques-sur-Orbiel, Couffoulens, Couiza, Cournanel, Coursan, Coustouge, Cruscades, Cuxac-d’Aude, La Digne-d’Amont, La Digne-d’Aval, Douzens, Durban-Corbières, Embres-et-Castelmaure, Escales, Espéraza, Fabrezan, Félines-Termenès, Ferrals-les-Corbières, Feuilla, Fitou, Fleury, Floure, Fontcouverte, Fontiès-d’Aude, Fontjoncouse, Fournes-Cabardès, Fraissé-des-Corbières, Ginestas, Ginoles, Gruissan, Homps, Les Ilhes, Jonquières, Ladern-sur-Lauquet, Lagrasse, Lastours, Laure-Minervois, Lavalette, Leuc, Leucate, Lézignan-Corbières, Limousis, Limoux, Luc-sur-Aude, Luc-sur-Orbieu, Magrie, Mailhac, Malves-en-Minervois, Marcorignan, Marseillette, Mas-Cabardès, Mas-des-Cours, Mayronnes, Mirepeisset, Montazels, Montbrun-des-Corbières, Montirat, Montolieu, Montredon-des-Corbières, Montséret, Monze, Moussan, Moux, Narbonne, Névian, La Palme, Port-la-Nouvelle, Ornaisons, Ouveillan, Palairac, Palaja, Paraza, Paziols, Pépieux, Peyriac-de-Mer, Peyriac-Minervois, Pieusse, Pomas, Portel-des-Corbières, Pouzols-Minervois, Preixan, Puichéric, Quintillan, Raissac-d’Aude, La Redorte, Ribaute, Rieux-en-Val, Rieux-Minervois, Roquecourbe-Minervois, Roquefère, Roquefort-des-Corbières, Roubia, Rouffiac-d’Aude, Roullens, Rustiques, Saint-André-de-Roquelongue, Saint-Couat-d’Aude, Saint-Frichoux, Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Jean-de-Barrou, Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, Saint-Marcel-sur-Aude, Saint-Martin-des-Puits, Saint-Nazaire-d’Aude, Saint-Pierre-des-Champs, Sainte-Valière, Sallèles-Cabardès, Sallèles-d’Aude, Salles-d’Aude, Salsigne, Serviès-en-Val, Sigean, Talairan, Thézan-des-Corbières, Tournissan, Tourouzelle, Tourreilles, Trassanel, Trausse, Trèbes, Treilles, Tuchan, Val-de-Dagne, Val-du-Faby, Ventenac-en-Minervois, Verzeille, Villalier, Villanière, Villardonnel, Villarzel-Cabardès, Villedaigne, Villedubert, Villefloure, Villegailhenc, Villegly, Villemoustaussou, Villeneuve-les-Corbières, Villeneuve-Minervois, Villerouge-Termenès, Villesèque-des-Corbières, Vinassan.




Municipalities included in part:






 


Quillan (for the part corresponding to the territory of the former municipality of Quillan), Roquetaillade-et-Conilhac (for the part corresponding to the territory of the delegated municipality of Roquetaillade).




-   Department of Hérault (250 municipalities):
Municipalities included in their entirety:






 


Abeilhan, Adissan, Agde, Agel, Agonès, Aigne, Aigues-Vives, Les Aires, Alignan-du-Vent, Aniane, Arboras, Argelliers, Aspiran, Assignan, Aumelas, Aumes, Autignac, Azillanet, Babeau-Bouldoux, Balaruc-les-Bains, Balaruc-le-Vieux, Bassan, Beaufort, Bédarieux, Bélarga, Berlou, Bessan, Béziers, La Boissière, Le Bosc, Boujan-sur-Libron, Le Bousquet-d’Orb, Bouzigues, Brenas, Brignac, Brissac, Cabrerolles, Cabrières, Campagnan, Candillargues, Canet, Capestang, Carlencas-et-Levas, Castelnau-de-Guers, Castelnau-le-Lez, La Caunette, Causse-de-la-Selle, Causses-et-Veyran, Caussiniojouls, Caux, Cazedarnes, Cazilhac, Cazouls-d’Hérault, Cazouls-lès-Béziers, Cébazan, Celles, Cers, Cessenon-sur-Orb, Cesseras, Ceyras, Clapiers, Clermont-l’Hérault, Colombières-sur-Orb, Colombiers, Combaillaux, Corneilhan, Coulobres, Cournonsec, Cournonterral, Creissan, Le Crès, Cruzy, Dio-et-Valquières, Espondeilhan, Fabrègues, Faugères, Félines-Minervois, Florensac, Fontès, Fos, Fouzilhon, Fozières, Frontignan, Gabian, Ganges, Gigean, Gignac, Grabels, Hérépian, Jacou, Jonquières, Juvignac, Lacoste, Lagamas, Lamalou-les-Bains, Lansargues, Laroque, Lattes, Laurens, Lauroux, Lavalette, Lavérune, Lespignan, Lézignan-la-Cèbe, Liausson, Lieuran-Cabrières, Lieuran-lès-Béziers, Lignan-sur-Orb, La Livinière, Lodève, Loupian, Lunas, Magalas, Maraussan, Margon, Marseillan, Mauguio, Maureilhan, Mérifons, Mèze, Minerve, Mireval, Mons, Montady, Montagnac, Montarnaud, Montbazin, Montblanc, Montels, Montesquieu, Montferrier-sur-Lez, Montouliers, Montpellier, Montpeyroux, Mourèze, Mudaison, Murles, Murviel-lès-Béziers, Murviel-lès-Montpellier, Nébian, Neffiès, Nézignan-l’Évêque, Nissan-lez-Enserune, Nizas, Octon, Olargues, Olmet-et-Villecun, Olonzac, Oupia, Pailhès, Paulhan, Pégairolles-de-Buèges, Pégairolles-de-l’Escalette, Péret, Pérols, Pézenas, Pézènes-les-Mines, Pierrerue, Pignan, Pinet, Plaissan, Poilhes, Pomérols, Popian, Portiragnes, Le Pouget, Le Poujol-sur-Orb, Poujols, Poussan, Pouzolles, Pouzols, Prades-le-Lez, Prades-sur-Vernazobre, Prémian, Le Puech, Puéchabon, Puilacher, Puimisson, Puissalicon, Puisserguier, Quarante, Roquebrun, Roquessels, Roujan, Saint-André-de-Buèges, Saint-André-de-Sangonis, Saint-Aunès, Saint-Bauzille-de-la-Sylve, Saint-Bauzille-de-Putois, Saint-Chinian, Saint-Clément-de-Rivière, Saint-Étienne-d’Albagnan, Saint-Étienne-de-Gourgas, Saint-Félix-de-Lodez, Saint-Gély-du-Fesc, Saint-Geniès-de-Fontedit, Saint-Georges-d’Orques, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Saint-Guiraud, Saint-Jean-de-Buèges, Saint-Jean-de-Fos, Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquière, Saint-Jean-de-Minervois, Saint-Jean-de-Védas, Saint-Julien, Saint-Just, Saint-Martin-de-l’Arçon, Saint-Nazaire-de-Ladarez, Saint-Nazaire-de-Pézan, Saint-Pargoire, Saint-Paul-et-Valmalle, Saint-Pons-de-Mauchiens, Saint-Privat, Saint-Saturnin-de-Lucian, Saint-Thibéry, Saint-Vincent-d’Olargues, Salasc, Saussan, Sauvian, Sérignan, Servian, Siran, Soubès, Soumont, Teyran, Thézan-lès-Béziers, Tourbes, La Tour-sur-Orb, Tressan, Le Triadou, Usclas-d’Hérault, Usclas-du-Bosc, Vailhan, Vailhauquès, Valmascle, Valros, Vendargues, Vendémian, Vendres, Vias, Vic-la-Gardiole, Vieussan, Villemagne-l’Argentière, Villeneuve-lès-Béziers, Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, Villeneuvette, Villespassans, Villeveyrac, Viols-en-Laval, Viols-le-Fort.




5.   Link with the geographical area

5.1.   Specificities of the geographical area

Natural factors:
The geographical area of ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ is open to the sea on the south-east, and is bordered to the north and west by the hills of the northern mountains: Causses, Caroux, Espinouse and Montagne Noire. This rim is broken up by entrenched valleys, whose outlets flow to the Mediterranean after crossing the Languedocian plain. The rocks are varied: limestone rocks of the Causses and rocks of the old massifs (crystalline and metamorphic rocks) on the other massifs. The olive groves are sited on the sunny sides of these valleys.
The part on the Languedocian plain varies in relief from hills to small limestone plateaus. There are often colluvial and glacis deposits at the foot of the escarpments. These gravel-rich deposits make the land eminently suitable for growing olive trees.
In the south-west, the Corbières Massif is very fragmented. Formed of limestone bars alternating with small basins that are often stretched out, developed into marls and framed with gravel-rich slopes, this area is conducive to growing olive trees.
The geographical area also benefits from a Mediterranean climate: the few days of rainfall mean significant sunshine ranging from 2 500 to 2 900 hours of sun per year and a more or less severe summer drought. The combination of these factors, together with a large number of days of high wind that may blow in strong gusts, has consequences for the species planted, which need to have ‘Mediterranean’ characteristics. They must be able to withstand drought, store water in their vegetative parts and adapt their growth rate to the rainy seasons (autumn and spring), as is the case for the olive tree.
In this area, two varieties stand out in particular. The Lucques variety is grown specifically at altitudes which rarely exceed 300 m on soils that are porous and not very hydromorphic. This variety thrives best on sunny south-facing moderate slopes. It may also do well on a north-facing slope, provided the ground is very favourable, or even in old orchards in well-exposed rows. The Olivière variety is suited to the same soil and climate conditions as the Lucques, and has historically been cultivated in the departments of Aude and Hérault.
Human factors:
The olive tree began its spread (as part of the Mediterranean triad of grains, grapes, and olives) throughout almost the whole of Languedoc in the middle of the tenth century, a spread which would endure until the Industrial Revolution.
At the start of the 20th century, the slump in wine sales pushed the government to encourage olive growing. A cooperative movement, based on the viticulture model, developed in order to modernise oil mills. (The L’Oulibo cooperative oil mill was founded in Bize-Minervois in 1942; the Clérmont-l’Hérault oil mill cooperative founded in 1920 was restored, as was the Pignan oil mill cooperative.)
From 1945 to 1954, Languedoc-Roussillon produced 24 % of the domestic olives grown for oil production, with an average of 6 400 tonnes per year. In 1954, Languedoc-Roussillon produced 10 155 tonnes of olives for oil production, accounting for over 31 % of domestic production. Before the ‘great freeze’ of 1956, there were 150 oil mills in Languedoc.
After the great freeze, only around 10 of them remained in operation. Others shifted to trading in foreign olive products. Only one cooperative still remains in Hérault: the Clermont l’Hérault cooperative. Olive production went down to 80 tonnes in Hérault in 1956.
The keen interest olive oil enjoyed, along with technical support from research bodies and professional organisations, allowed this traditional cultivation to be taken up again, and olive growing started to become a profession as of the 1980s.
This professionalisation has led to improvements in olive growing practices, selection of suitable parcels, development of irrigation, regular pruning of olive trees, thereby improving the yield per hectare, all while preserving producers’ know-how.
This know-how is expressed in several ways:






—


the majority use of two varieties particularly suited to the conditions of the geographical area, namely the Lucques and Olivière varieties, which account for at least 60 % of orchard varieties;










—


the attention paid to the harvesting of the olives, only taking healthy fruit from the trees, at a time when they are ripe enough but not over-ripe (the olives are harvested when 40-70 % of olives have turned from green to yellow);










—


the average harvesting and crushing times, depending on the level of ripeness of the olives harvested;










—


the purely mechanical crushing processes, which respect the characteristics of the raw material.




5.2.   Specificity of the product

The specificity of ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ lies in the blending of varieties, with the presence and predominance of at least one of the main varieties, i.e. Lucques and Olivière, which may be blended, combined with old and traditional local varieties. It is characterised by the dominant presence of tomato and almond aromas, which may be accompanied by apple aromas.
The more marked dominance of these aromas in the geographical area is due to the varieties used, the harvesting practices (moderately ripe fruit), and the interval of not more than eight days between harvesting and crushing. These aromas are harmoniously complemented by greenish notes conferred by the secondary varieties of olives used.
The oil has a mild bitterness and moderate pungency.
5.3.   Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product

‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ has the characteristics of the terroir. Accordingly, the specific characteristics of ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ are due to:






—


the adaptation of the varieties to the conditions of the geographical area, particular as regards the two main varieties, Lucques and Olivière, which have historically only been grown in significant quantities in the Languedoc, and in some parts of Roussillon for the Olivière variety. These varieties only reach their full expression in the lands and climate of Languedoc. A particular element that favours ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ is the wind in the Languedoc, namely the Mistral blowing from the north-east and the Tramontane blowing from the north-west, which is mostly confined to the west of the Hérault. The combination of these two winds is very important as they offer a solution for the delicate situation of the extremely short pollination period for the Lucques variety. In addition, the high number of days of strong wind reinforces the drought effect in summer and in winter and refreshes the ambient atmosphere in winter. This phenomenon peculiar to the Languedoc causes late frosts in March to April, particularly in areas where the soil is cold. The Olivière variety, which is well resistant to cold, is particularly suited to these climatic characteristics,










—


the care provided by olive growers who, from production to processing, have adapted their practices to the varieties, through:






—


the choice of suitable lands to maximise yields (preferably south-facing, and on slopes to allow good drainage),










—


the introduction of sufficient numbers of pollinators in the parcels,










—


the choice of harvest date based on the proper ripening of the olives. The fact that the olives are harvested at the average ripeness point, when 40 to 70 % of the olives have turned yellowy-green, contributes to the specificities of the product (mild bitterness, pungency between 1 and 3, specific aromas).














—


the leaving of an optimum interval between harvesting and processing to obtain a specific high-quality oil;










—


the blending of the two main varieties present in the geographical area.




All these combined elements make it possible to produce an oil which owes its reputation to its quality of fruitiness.

Reference to publication of the specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-52cf74c4-a598-4d13-8ec8-8503a84694ca


(1)  OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.