Publication of an approved standard amendment to the product specification of a protected designation of origin or protected geographical indication in the agricultural products and foodstuffs sector, as referred to in Article 6b(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 2023/C 344/21
Date: 2023-09-29
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Centre-Val de Loire, France, Loire Region, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, consumer information, designation of origin, fresh vegetable, fruit vegetable, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products




C_2023344EN.01023601.xml










29.9.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 344/236







Publication of an approved standard amendment to the product specification of a protected designation of origin or protected geographical indication in the agricultural products and foodstuffs sector, as referred to in Article 6b(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014
(2023/C 344/21)

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)


                     ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’
                  


EU No: PGI-FR-0029-AM01 – 27.7.2023
                  


PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1.   Name of product


               ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’
            
2.   Member State to which the geographical area belongs

France
3.   Member State authority communicating the standard amendment

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

1.   Description of product

The minimum weight of the melons is increased from 550 g to 600 g.
The maximum weight of the melons is increased from 1 350 g to 1 750 g.
The amendment affects the single document.
2.   Definition of the geographical area

The section ‘Definition of the geographical area’ has been amended to include three additional municipalities (Port-sur-Vienne, Dissay and Saint-Cyr).
Furthermore, the list of municipalities has been updated on the basis of the Official Geographic Code.
The amendment affects the single document.
3.   Evidence that the product originates in the geographical area

The ‘Product identification’ item has been deleted, since it repeated the content of the section entitled ‘Specific labelling details’.
The amendment does not affect the single document.
4.   Method of production

The life cycle has been amended to bring it into line with the following changes.
A varietal selection procedure has been introduced.
Direct sowing has been deleted, since it is no longer carried out.
The practice of grafting is mentioned, since it is now authorised.
The regulatory sentence stating that plant-protection products must comply with the prescribed treatment times has been deleted.
An analysis of residual nitrogen in each parcel between 1 January and 30 April has been added, together with a ceiling of 150 units/ha for nitrogen fertiliser use and residues.
A requirement to recycle used agricultural films has also been added.
A new section on crop irrigation has been introduced. Growers must use decision-making tools to justify crop irrigation.
The calendar-based harvesting period has been replaced by maturity criteria.
The concept of yield has been removed from the product specification.
Extra criteria for the approval, sorting and sizing of melons have been added.
The way in which melons are packaged and stored has been amended to reduce the minimum number of melons per tray to 9. A maximum period of two days between picking and shipping has been added. The justification for the requirement for packaging to take place within the geographical area has been made more specific.
The amendment does not affect the single document.
5.   Link with the geographical area

A sentence explaining that the link with the geographical area is based on the latter’s specific quality and reputation has been added.
The weight of the melons has been amended in line with the ‘Description of product’ section.
The amendment affects the single document.
6.   References to the inspection body

This section has been amended to contain only the name and contact details of the competent national authorities (INAO and DGCCRF), in line with national guidelines aimed at harmonising the way in which product specifications are drafted.
The name and contact details of the certifying body can be consulted at the INAO.
The amendment affects the single document.
7.   Labelling

The ‘Labelling’ section has been amended in line with national guidelines aimed at harmonising the way in which product specifications are drafted. The current paragraph has been deleted and replaced by a sentence indicating the mandatory regulatory elements.
The group’s logo has been changed.
The amendment affects the single document.
8.   National requirements

The ‘National requirements’ section is presented in the form of a table showing the main items to be checked and the evaluation methods to be used, in line with changes to national legislation and rules.
The amendment does not affect the single document.
SINGLE DOCUMENT


                     ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’
                  


EU No: PGI-FR-0029-AM01 – 27.7.2023
                  


PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1.   Name(s) [of PDO or PGI]


               ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’
            
2.   Member State or Third Country

France
3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product [listed in Annex XI]

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

The ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ is a yellow Charentais type of melon. The fruit is spherical in shape with well-defined segments and a skin which is generally covered in netting which varies in thickness according to the variety. It has the following characteristics:






 


Appearance: whole, clean, without any external moisture or treatment residue, healthy (i.e. free of insect attacks or diseases) and without any serious defects affecting its edibility or appearance: deformity, bruising, discolouration patches;










 


Weight: between a minimum of 600 g and a maximum of 1 750 g;










 


Colour of skin: green, starting to turn slightly yellow to completely yellow;










 


The flesh is not vitreous;










 


Sugar content measured by refractive index (RI) of at least 12° Brix.




The ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ is characterised by a sweet flavour together with intensive aromas. It is both firm in the mouth and extremely juicy and melting. It is a fairly pronounced orange in colour.
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 defined geographical area

All of the production operations are carried out within the geographical area.
3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

The melons are packaged by size category on solely mono-layer trays or in individual packages; the maximum number of melons per tray is 15.
The total time between picking and shipping must not exceed 2 days.
Packaging of the ‘Melons du Haut-Poitou’ – i.e. the proper preparation of the product according to the specific sorting, sizing and approval rules, with the restricted packaging specified hereinafter and the requirement to affix an individual sticker to each melon – is carried out immediately after the harvest directly by the producer-shippers or by the shippers at the request of producers who are not shippers.
It must take place within the geographical area in order to preserve the qualitative characteristics of the fruit such as optimum maturity, appearance, integrity, uniformity and freshness of the products, and to prevent further handling or the risk of deterioration during transport, whilst also ensuring that the melons can be traced, wherever they are ultimately sold.
3.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

In addition to the mandatory details laid down in the rules on the labelling and presentation of foodstuffs, packaging must always display the registered name of the product – ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ – and the European Union PGI symbol in the same visual field. The packaging must also display one of the two logos of the group shown below:
The melons are identified individually by one of the logos of the group, together with the European Union logo.






















4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area of ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ is located between natural boundaries which are, to the North, the area where the Paris basin meets the foothills of the Armorican Massif range; to the South, the Auxances river; and to the West and the East the Thouet and Vienne rivers.
In accordance with these natural boundaries, this geographical area extends across the following municipalities for each department concerned:
Maine-et-Loire (49):
Entire municipalities:






 


Antoigné, Artannes-sur-Thouet, Brossay, Bellevigne-les-Châteaux, Cizay-la-Madeleine, Le Coudray-Macouard, Courchamps, Dénezé-sous-Doué, Distré, Epieds, Louresse-Rochemenier, Montreuil-Bellay, Le Puy-Notre-Dame, Rou-Marson, Saint-Just-sur-Dive, Saint-Macaire-du-Bois, Les Ulmes, Varrains, Vaudelnay.




Municipalities included in part only:






 


Doué-en-Anjou only for the territory of the delegated municipalities of Doué-la-Fontaine (49125), Forges (49141), Meigné (49198), Montfort (49207), Les Verchers-sur-Layon (49365) and the part of Saumur south of the Loire.




Indre-et-Loire (37):
Entire municipalities:






 


Anché, Antogny-le-Tillac, Assay, Braslou, Braye-sous-Faye, Brizay, Champigny-sur-Veude, Chaveignes, Chezelles, Courcoué, Faye-la-Vineuse, Jaulnay, Léméré, Lerné, Ligré, Luzé, Marçay, Marcilly-sur-Vienne, Marigny-Marmande, Ports-sur-Vienne, Pussigny, Razines, Richelieu, Rilly-sur-Vienne, La Roche-Clermault, Sazilly, Seuilly, Tavant, Theneuil, La Tour-Saint-Gélin, Verneuil-le-Château.




Deux-Sèvres (79):
Entire municipalities:






 


Airvault, Assais-les-Jumeaux, Availles-Thouarsais, Boussais, Brion-près-Thouet, Irais, Louzy, Luzay, Marnes, Plaine-et-Vallées, Pas-de-Jeu, Saint-Cyr-la-Lande, Saint-Généroux, Saint-Jacques-de-Thouars, Saint-Jean-de-Thouars, Saint-Léger-de-Montbrun, Saint-Martin-de-Mâcon, Saint-Martin-de-Sanzay, Sainte- Verge, Taizé, Tourtenay.




Vienne (86):
Entire municipalities:






 


Amberre, Angliers, Antran, Arçay, Aulnay, Avanton, Ayron, Basses, Beaumont Saint-Cyr, Berrie, Berthegon, Beuxes, Bournand, Ceaux-en-Loudun, Cernay, Chabournay, Chalais, Chalandray, Champigny en Rochereau, Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, Châtellerault, La Chaussée, Cherves, Chiré-en-Montreuil, Chouppes, Cissé, La Roche-Rigault, Colombiers, Coussay, Craon, Cuhon, Curçay-sur-Dive, Dangé-Saint-Romain, Dercé, Dissay, Doussay, Frozes, Glénouze, La Grimaudière, Guesnes, Ingrandes, Jaunay-Marigny, Leigné-sur-Usseau, Lencloître, Loudun, Maillé, Maisonneuve, Martaizé, Massognes, Maulay, Mazeuil, Messemé, Migné-Auxances, Mirebeau, Moncontour, Mondion, Monts-sur-Guesnes, Morton, Mouterre-Silly, Naintré, Neuville-de-Poitou, Nueil-sous-Faye, Orches, Les Ormes, Ouzilly, Pouançay, Pouant, Prinçay, Quinçay, Ranton, Raslay, Roiffé, Saint-Christophe, Saint-Clair, Saint-Genest-d’Ambière, Saint-Gervais-les-Trois-Clochers, Saint-Jean-de-Sauves, Saint-Laon, Saint-Léger-de-Montbrillais, Saires, Saix, Sammarçolles, Savigny-sous-Faye, Scorbé-Clairvaux, Sérigny, Sossais, Ternay, Thurageau, Thuré, Les Trois-Moutiers, Usseau, Vaux-sur-Vienne, Vellèches, Saint-Martin-la-Pallu, Verrue, Vézières, Villiers, Vouillé, Vouzailles, Yversay.




5.   Link with the geographical area

The geographical area of ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ covers the territory of the municipalities of the departments of Vienne, the north-east of Deux-Sèvres, and the south of both Maine-et-Loire and Indre-et-Loire.
The melons in these sectors are grown exclusively on clay-limestone soils. These well-ventilated soils are uniform and healthy, with a good natural supply of fertilising elements and good reserves of water accumulated in winter. They are perfectly suited to melon growing.
In terms of climate, ‘Haut-Poitou’ is generally considered a hot and dry region – a characteristic which is reinforced by the nature of the soils, which are often dry. The average annual temperature is fairly high (hot in summer, mild in winter) and remains fairly steady throughout the year. The irregularity of the rainfall is compensated by the soils’ ability to store rainwater.
The geographical area for ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ is a long-established melon-producing region.
The significant increase in production has enabled growing techniques to evolve and the quantitative and qualitative developments in the types of melons produced to be better monitored (particularly upstream) by means of field trials and regular tastings of products each season. The accumulation of technical and sensory data has enabled the quality varieties which are now familiar in ‘Haut-Poitou’ to develop.
The ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ is a yellow Charentais type of melon. The fruit is spherical in shape with well-defined segments and a skin which yellows upon maturity and is generally covered in netting which varies in thickness, depending on the variety. Its weight is between a minimum of 600 g and a maximum of 1 750 g and it has a sugar content of at least 12° Brix. The flesh is not vitreous.
The ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ can be described as a very sweet melon with intense aromas. It is both firm in the mouth and extremely juicy and melting. It is a fairly pronounced orange in colour.
The ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ was well-known in the past, as attested to in an article in ‘La vie Loudunaise’: in 1896, during the traditional Pitié market, the master reserved free places at the foot of the basilica for the market gardeners from Guesnes: ‘The pilgrims ate melon on the grass, which they enjoyed very much!’
            
The French people remain very attached to the Canteloupe-type Charentais melon from ‘Haut-Poitou’. The high quality of the products also means that the ‘Melons du Haut-Poitou’ are sent to prestigious outlets such as the luxury grocers Fauchon and Hédiard, as well as to renowned restaurateurs such as Robuchon and other famous establishments in Paris such as the Ritz or Georges V.
In the ‘Haut-Poitou’ basin the ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ has found a very favourable production area which suits its late maturity and its nutritional requirements.
The balanced structure and the aeration of the clay-limestone soils enable organic matter to be transformed into nutritional elements which are necessary if the plant is to grow properly and the melon's mineral needs are to be satisfied.
The active limestone (which is easily absorbed by the plant) accumulates in and strengthens the cellular tissues, thereby giving the fruit a firmness and robustness and making it resistant to impacts to the skin and to vitrescence.
The progressive heating of the soils as a result of their high clay content and the useable water reserves accumulated during the winter provide the ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ with all the conditions necessary for proper growth of the plant without water stress and a late harvest of the melons at optimal maturity.
The unusual micro-climate (the average temperature is quite high and steady throughout the year) and the clay-limestone soils enable quality melons to be produced which are very sweet, with an intense aroma and proven taste qualities, and are both firm in the mouth and extremely juicy and melting.
This specific quality can be seen from the organoleptic monitoring of the melons that has taken place since 1995 and which, in addition to the search for new varieties, has enabled varieties to be selected which display the true characteristics of the product and which can be confirmed as belonging to the ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ category.
The specific nature of the soils, the influence of the climate and the ceaseless work of the producers have allowed the ‘Melon du Haut-Poitou’ to gain an excellent reputation among consumers and the various trades involved in the sector (not only restaurateurs and high-class grocers but also large-scale distributors), which also reflects the economic importance of this product at local level.

Reference to publication of the specification

http://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-c2290aef-fb4d-48f8-8978-8060ebe40bc2


(1)  
            OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, p. 17.