Publication of an approved standard amendment to a 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
Date: 2024-02-20
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Autonomous Province of Trento, Italy, Lombardy, Veneto, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, olive oil, product designation, quality control of agricultural products








C_202401633EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
Series C













C/2024/1633


20.2.2024






Publication of an approved standard amendment to a 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
(C/2024/1633)

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)



                     ‘Garda’
                  


EU No: PDO-IT-1516-AM01 – 21.11.2023
                  


PDO (X) PGI ( )

1.   Name of product


               ‘Garda’
            
2.   Member State to which the geographical area belongs

Italy
3.   Member State authority communicating the standard amendment

Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF), Promotion of Agri-Food Quality (PQA) 4
—
4.   Description of the approved amendment(s)

Explanation of why the amendments fall under the definition of a standard amendment as provided for in Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012
The amendments are standard because they do not include a change in the name or the use of the designation, do not risk voiding the link and do not entail further restrictions on the marketing of the product.






1.


Description of product
The amendment concerns Article 2 of the product specification.
The following sentence has been deleted:

                              ‘Other parameters that are not expressly mentioned must comply with current EU legislation.’
                           
Reason:
This wording has been deleted as it is redundant.
The amendment does not affect the single document.










2.


Proof of origin
Current version:

                              ‘The traceability and tracking of the product is ensured in this way, as well as through the entry of the olive groves, producers, processors and packagers on lists kept for this purpose by the control body, the keeping of production and packaging registers and the timely declaration of quantities produced to the control body.’
                           
New version:

                              ‘The traceability and tracking of the product is ensured in this way, as well as through the entry of the olive groves, producers, processors and packagers on lists kept for this purpose by the control body.’
                           
Reason:
This amendment removes a requirement that is no longer necessary due to the obligation for operators to register in the National Agricultural Information System (SIAN) and enter the oil produced in the incoming or outgoing produce section of the electronic register.
The amendment does not affect the single document.










3.


Method of production
This amendment concerns Article 5 of the product specification and point 3.3 of the single document.
In the product specification
Current version:

                              ‘The protected designation of origin “Garda” accompanied by the additional geographical reference “Trentino” may only be used for extra virgin olive oil made from the following olive varieties present in the olive groves, on their own or in combination: Casaliva, Frantoio, Pendolino and Leccino, accounting for at least 80 %; other varieties present in the groves may also be used provided they do not account for more than 20 %.’
                           
New version:

                              ‘The protected designation of origin “Garda” accompanied by the additional geographical reference “Trentino” may only be used for extra virgin olive oil made from the following olive varieties present in the olive groves, on their own or in combination: Casaliva and Frantoio, accounting for at least 80 %; other varieties present in the groves may also be used provided they do not account for more than 20 %.’
                           
In the single document
Current version:






‘—


Casaliva, Frantoio, Leccino and Pendolino, accounting for at least 80 %; other varieties present in the groves may also be used provided they do not account for more than 20 % for “Garda Trentino”.’




New version:






‘—


Casaliva and Frantoio, accounting for at least 80 %; other varieties present in the groves may also be used provided they do not account for more than 20 % for “Garda Trentino”.’




Reason:
In the genetic survey carried out to assess the varietal mix of the population of olive trees in Alto Garda Trentino, the varieties Leccino and Pendolino were found to account for no more than 1-2 % of the olive trees. It was therefore decided to remove them from the mix of main varieties required for ‘Garda’ PDO accompanied by the additional geographical reference ‘Trentino’.
This amendment affects the single document.










4.


Method of production
This amendment concerns point 5.3 of the product specification (harvest and yields).
Current version:

                              ‘The maximum production of olives from olive groves dedicated to the production of “Garda” PDO extra virgin olive oil may not exceed 6 000 kg of olives per hectare of land planted with olive trees.’
                           
New version:

                              ‘The maximum production of olives from olive groves dedicated to the production of “Garda” PDO extra virgin olive oil may not exceed 7 500 kg of olives per hectare of land planted with olive trees. A tolerance of 20 % in production is accepted in years of high yields.’
                           
Reason:
The maximum yield per hectare has been increased due to climate change, which over the past 4 years led to peaks in production in one year followed by a production close to zero the following year. Two temporary amendments for 2018 and 2020, owing to precisely this issue, underline the need for this amendment. The yield per hectare may exceed the limit of 7 500 kg/ha in certain particularly good years, and a production tolerance of 20 % has therefore been added. This increase in production per hectare does not adversely affect the quality of the oil produced.
The amendment does not affect the single document.










5.


Labelling
This amendment concerns Article 7 of the product specification and point 3.6 of the single document.
Product specification
Current version:






‘1.


The label of the packaged product must indicate the following in clear, indelible letters that are larger than all other writing: “Garda”. The word “Garda” must be accompanied by the EU PDO symbol provided for by Implementing Regulation (EU) No 668/2014. The indication “denominazione di origine protetta” [protected designation of origin] or its acronym “DOP” [PDO] may appear on the label.










2.


The traditional, additional geographical reference “Bresciano”, “Orientale” or “Trentino” may be printed on the label provided that the requirements in Article 5 are met.










3.


It is forbidden to add to the designation any description that is not expressly provided for in this product specification, including the following adjectives: “fine” (fine), “scelto” (choice), “selezionato” (selected) or “superiore” (superior).










4.


Names, business names, brand names etc. may be used truthfully provided they have no laudatory purport and are not likely to mislead the consumer.










5.


The geographical location of olive groves may be indicated on the label if the product is obtained solely from olives harvested from the groves referred to and if the additional geographical reference is indicated on the label.










6.


Names of holdings, estates or farms and their location may be given only if the product was produced exclusively from olives harvested in groves belonging to the holding, estate or farm in question.










7.


Images of Lake Garda, or any other graphic representation, may be used subject to verification of compliance with the applicable legislation.










8.


The indications referred to in point 2 appearing on the label must be printed in characters no larger than half the size of those used for the “Garda” protected designation of origin. All the indications referred to in point 5 appearing on the label must be printed in characters no larger than half the size of those used for the additional geographical reference.










9.


The name of the protected designation of origin referred to in Article 1 must appear on the label in distinct, indelible lettering of a colour that strongly contrasts with that of the label itself such as to be clearly distinguishable from the other information given on the label. The labels used for the designation must also comply with the labelling rules laid down in the applicable legislation.
(Points 10 and 11 concern packaging and are therefore not included in this section)










12.


The year of production of the olives from which the oil was made must be indicated on the label.










13.


The “Garda” PDO logo is made up of a black square with the words “olio Garda D.O.P.” [Garda oil PDO] written inside it in white letters (font type: Helvetica Neue, subtypes: Roman, Medium and Light). A yellow/green silhouette of Lake Garda is superimposed on the black square and lettering in the bottom left part of the logo, extending slightly beyond the edge of the square.
The silhouette is in yellow/green, Pantone code 103U, CMYK Cyan 28 %, Magenta 29 %, Yellow 94 % and Black 11 %.










14.


The use of the designation logo is mandatory.’




New version:






‘1.


The label of the packaged product must indicate the following in clear, indelible letters that are larger than all other writing: “Garda”.










2.


The traditional, additional geographical reference “Bresciano”, “Orientale” or “Trentino” may be printed on the label, in characters no larger than half the size of those used for the protected designation of origin “Garda”, provided that the requirements in Article 5 are met.










3.


It is forbidden to add to the designation any description that is not expressly provided for in this product specification, including the following adjectives: “fine” (fine), “scelto” (choice), “selezionato” (selected) or “superiore” (superior). The indication “monovarietale” (single-variety) or “monocultivar” (single-cultivar), followed by the name of the variety, is permitted.










4.


Names, business names, brand names etc. may be used truthfully provided they have no laudatory purport and are not likely to mislead the consumer.










5.


The geographical location of olive groves may be indicated on the label if the product is obtained solely from olives harvested from the groves referred to and if the additional geographical reference is indicated on the label. The geographical location of the groves must be printed in characters no larger than half the size of those used for the additional geographical reference.
(Points 6 and 7 concern packaging and are therefore not included in this section)










8.


The year of production of the olives from which the oil was made must be indicated on the label.










9.


The “Garda” PDO logo is made up of a black square with the words “olio Garda D.O.P.” [Garda oil PDO] written inside it in white letters (font type: Helvetica Neue, subtypes: Roman, Medium and Light). A yellow/green silhouette of Lake Garda is superimposed on the black square and lettering in the bottom left part of the logo, extending slightly beyond the edge of the square.
The silhouette is in yellow/green, Pantone code 103U, CMYK Cyan 28 %, Magenta 29 %, Yellow 94 % and Black 11 %.










10.


The use of the designation logo is mandatory.’




Single document
Current version:

                              ‘The label of the packaged product must indicate the following in clear, indelible letters that are larger than all other writing: “Garda”. The word “Garda” must be accompanied by the EU PDO symbol provided for by Implementing Regulation (EU) No 668/2014. The indication “denominazione di origine protetta” [protected designation of origin] or its acronym “DOP” [PDO] may appear on the label. These words may be accompanied on the label by one of the additional geographical references “Bresciano”, “Trentino” or “Orientale”, but only if the oil has been produced entirely from olives grown in the area in question and pressing and packaging have taken place in the same area. The geographical location of olive groves may be indicated on the label if the product is obtained solely from olives harvested from the groves referred to and if the additional geographical reference is indicated on the label.
Names of holdings, estates or farms and their location may be given only if the product was produced exclusively from olives harvested in groves belonging to the holding, estate or farm in question.
It is prohibited to add qualifying adjectives such as “fine” [fine], “scelto” [chosen], “selezionato” [selected] or “superiore” [superior] to the “Garda” protected designation of origin. Names, business names and brand names may be used provided they have no laudatory purport and are not such as to mislead the consumer. Images of Lake Garda are permitted.
The year of production of the olives from which the oil was made must be indicated on the label. The use of the designation logo is mandatory.’
                           
New version:

                              ‘The label of the packaged product must indicate the following in clear, indelible letters that are larger than all other writing: “Garda”.
These words may be accompanied on the label by one of the additional geographical references “Bresciano”, “Trentino” or “Orientale”, but only if the oil has been produced entirely from olives grown in the area in question and pressing and packaging have taken place in the same area.
The geographical location of olive groves may be indicated on the label if the product is obtained solely from olives harvested from the groves referred to and if the additional geographical reference is indicated on the label.
The indication “monovarietale” (single-variety) or “monocultivar” (single-cultivar), followed by the name of the variety used, is permitted.
It is prohibited to add qualifying adjectives such as “fine” [fine], “scelto” [chosen], “selezionato” [selected] or “superiore” [superior] to the “Garda” protected designation of origin. Names, business names and brand names may be used provided they have no laudatory purport and are not such as to mislead the consumer.
The year of production of the olives from which the oil was made must be indicated on the label.
The use of the designation logo is mandatory.’
                           
Reasons:






—


The requirement to include the EU PDO symbol is already laid down elsewhere and has therefore been deleted.










—


The rules for printing an additional geographical reference on the label have been grouped into a single paragraph.










—


Provision has been made for specifying the name of the variety.










—


The rules for printing the geographical location of olive groves on the label have been grouped into a single paragraph.




This amendment affects the single document.










6.


Other [Packaging]
This amendment concerns Article 7 of the product specification and point 3.5 of the single document.
Current version:

                              ‘Extra virgin olive oil with the “Garda” protected designation of origin must be marketed in glass or metal containers of a maximum capacity of 5 litres.’
                           
New version:

                              ‘Extra virgin olive oil with the “Garda” protected designation of origin must be marketed in containers of a maximum capacity of 5 litres.’
                           
Reason:
The indication of the material to be used for containers has been deleted to allow for greater flexibility in this regard and to take account of technological progress in the packaging industry.
This amendment affects the single document.




SINGLE DOCUMENT


                     ‘Garda’
                  


EU No: PDO-IT-1516-AM01 — 16.11.2023
                  


PDO (X) PGI ( )

1.   Name(s) [of PDO or PGI]


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

The ‘Garda’ protected designation of origin, which may optionally be accompanied by the additional geographical reference ‘Bresciano’, ‘Orientale’ or ‘Trentino’, may only be used for extra virgin olive oil having the following characteristics:






—


a green to yellow colour of varying intensity;










—


a slightly to moderately fruity aroma;










—


a fruity taste;










—


sweet notes and a typical almond after-taste.




Chemical assessment:






—


acidity (expressed as oleic acid): max. 0,5 %;










—


maximum peroxides: <= 14 Meq O2/kg.




Organoleptic assessment (IOC method):






 


Median interval










 


Greenly/ripely fruity: min. > 0 max ≤ 6










 


Almonds: min. > 0 max ≤ 5










 


Bitterness: min. > 0 max ≤ 5










 


Pungency: min. > 0 max ≤ 6.










 


The median of defects in the organoleptic assessment must be zero.




3.3.   Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

Extra virgin olive oil of the ‘Garda’ designation, which may be accompanied by the additional geographical reference ‘Bresciano’, ‘Orientale’ or ‘Trentino’, is obtained from the following olive varieties found, on their own or in combination, in olive groves with the following specifications:






—


Casaliva, Frantoio and Leccino, accounting for at least 55 %; other varieties present in the groves may also be used provided they do not account for more than 45 % for ‘Garda’, ‘Garda Bresciano’ and ‘Garda Orientale’;










—


Casaliva and Frantoio, accounting for at least 80 %; other varieties present in the groves may also be used provided they do not account for more than 20 % for ‘Garda Trentino’.




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

All of the steps in the production process (growing and harvesting of olives and oil extraction) must take place in the identified geographical area.
3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

In order to maintain the product’s specific characteristics throughout the production process and guarantee compliance with the quality requirements, ‘Garda’ oil has always had to be packaged within the area referred to in Article 4.
Extra virgin olive oil with the ‘Garda’ protected designation of origin must be marketed in containers of a maximum capacity of 5 litres.
Local producers know exactly how the oil behaves, e.g. filtration and settling times and methods and packaging temperature, in the pre-packaging and packaging phases; packaging in the area at the end of the production process also enables the organoleptic and other characteristics of the oil to be maintained since these would quickly deteriorate in contact with oxygen.
3.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product to which the registered name refers

The label of the packaged product must indicate the following in clear, indelible letters that are larger than all other writing: ‘Garda’.
These words may be accompanied on the label by one of the additional geographical references ‘Bresciano’, ‘Trentino’ or ‘Orientale’, but only if the oil has been produced entirely from olives grown in the area in question and pressing and packaging have taken place in the same area.
The geographical location of olive groves may be indicated on the label if the product is obtained solely from olives harvested from the groves referred to and if the additional geographical reference is indicated on the label.
The indication ‘monovarietale’ (single-variety) or ‘monocultivar’ (single-cultivar), followed by the name of the variety used, is permitted.
It is prohibited to add qualifying adjectives such as ‘fine’ [fine], ‘scelto’ [chosen], ‘selezionato’ [selected] or ‘superiore’ [superior] to the ‘Garda’ protected designation of origin. Names, business names and brand names may be used provided they have no laudatory purport and are not such as to mislead the consumer. The year of production of the olives from which the oil was made must be indicated on the label.
The use of the designation logo is mandatory.
4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The area of production of ‘Garda’ PDO oil is situated in the Provinces of Brescia, Verona, Mantova and Trento and includes land overlooking the Lake Garda basin.
5.   Link with the geographical area

Specificity of the geographical area
Environmental factors
The Garda olive tree is grown in the valley surrounded by the morainic hills of glacial origin encircling Lake Garda and bordered to the north by the Alps. The land facing the lake or facing south is almost entirely given over to olive groves and vineyards. Proximity to the mountains ensures a good distribution of rainfall throughout the year, and particularly in spring and autumn.
Generally speaking, the area’s climate, strongly affected as it is by the presence of the large body of water of the lake and the protection afforded by the mountains, is characterised by hot but not oppressive summers and relatively cold winters; it is mild enough to be defined as a ‘mild Mediterranean’ climate, with some local micro-climates. The production area of the Garda olive is in fact the most northerly region in the world where olive trees grow. The presence of the lake reduces the variation in day and night-time temperatures.
Human and historical factors
The tradition of olive growing in the Garda area forms part of the local way of life and gastronomy and is a component of farm incomes, as has been described in numerous documents.
Historical evidence of man’s savoir-faire in the Garda olive plantations dates back to the Renaissance, when human intervention helped define the characteristics of the agricultural and general landscape of Lake Garda. It was in that period that the slopes began to be redesigned with complex growing arrangements, becoming genuine terraces overlooking the lake that were suited to olive growing. The area became famous for this typical landscape, and has been known since 1968 as the ‘Olive Riviera’.
In terms of human traditions, it is customary among consumers and producers to use one of the three additional geographical references ‘Bresciano’, ‘Orientale’ or ‘Trentino’ in order to better identify ‘certain very important areas in terms of human and administrative tradition’, as the original documents indicated.
Specificity of the product
Garda oil and the olives from which it is produced are characterised by less intense and more delicate flavours and aromas than those obtained in other, hotter olive-growing areas further south.
Consumers particularly appreciate the delicate, balanced and harmonious taste and the distinctive, slightly almond after-taste, which make the oil unique and easily distinguishable from other Italian PDO oils.
As a result of these unique characteristics, it is used in many recipes in which its delicate flavour does not overpower but rather enhances the taste of the dishes concerned. It is well-suited to fish, white meat, raw and cooked vegetables, pulses, fresh or semi-ripened cheeses, thinly-sliced raw meat (‘carpaccio’), ‘carne salada’ (a type of cured meat) and desserts.
Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for PGI)
The presence of the mountains to the north and the largest lake in Italy makes the climate similar to a Mediterranean climate and mitigate the environmental effects which, at this latitude, would be hostile to the development of olive growing. The even distribution of rainfall throughout the year protects the olives from water stress and prevents the formation of stagnant water which would be harmful to the trees and the quality of the oil. The slopes facing the lake or facing south heat up quickly at the end of the winter, thus allowing fast recovery from the olive trees’ vegetative state. This terrain, together with the ‘mild Mediterranean’ weather and climate conditions in the Garda area, enable less intense and more delicate flavours and aromas to be obtained in the region’s olives and oil than in the typical environmental conditions of hotter regions further south. These climatic and environmental characteristics help give the oil its distinctive light to medium fruity taste and the almond after-taste which makes it unique and easy for consumers to distinguish from other Italian PDO oils.
Moreover, in the various local areas around Lake Garda stretching from the plain to the mountains, specific micro-climates exist which, while maintaining the uniformity of the oil’s particular characteristics for the entire Garda designation, allow organoleptic differences to emerge which only experts are able to perceive.
The savoir-faire of producers at all stages in the production process, from the preparation of land (including traditional terracing) to olive growing and subsequent packaging, allows the specificity of the product, i.e. its sweetness and typical almond after-taste, to be maintained and protected.

Reference to publication of the product specification

https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/files/1/9/d/D.ee0f0dfe1aaec57cf343/MASAF_2023_0357815_DMmodordGarda_signed.pdf


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


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/1633/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)