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
Date: 2024-12-03
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, consumer information, cosmetic product, designation of origin, essential oil, floriculture, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products








C_202407239EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2024/7239


3.12.2024






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
(C/2024/7239)

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


                     ‘Huile essentielle de lavande de Haute-Provence / Essence de lavande de Haute-Provence’
                  


EU No: PDO-FR-0141-AM01 - 11 September 2024
                  


PDO (X) PGI ( )

1.   Name of product


               ‘Huile essentielle de lavande de Haute-Provence / Essence de lavande de Haute-Provence’
            
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)

Explanation as to why the amendment(s) falls/fall under the definition of a standard amendment
The application for amendment to the ‘Huile essentielle de lavande de Haute-Provence’ / ‘Essence de lavande de Haute Provence’ PDO does not involve any of the three situations constituting a Union amendment, specifically:






a)


it does not include a change in the name of the protected designation of origin;










b)


it would not potentially void the link with the geographical environment;










c)


it does not entail further restrictions on the marketing of the product.




The French authorities therefore consider that the application is for a standard amendment.






1.


Responsible department in the Member State
The contact details of the National Institute of Origin and Quality (Institut national de la qualité et de l'origine, INAO) have been updated:





TSA 30003 – 93555 Montreuil Cedex




FRANCE




Tel. +33 0173303800
Email: contact@inao.gouv.fr

The amendment does not affect the single document.










2.


Applicant group
The contact details of the applicant group and the reference to the composition of its membership have been updated:

Association des producteurs d'appellation d'origine contrôlée Huile essentielle de lavande de Haute-Provence [Association of producers of the protected designation of origin ‘Huile essentielle de lavande de Haute-Provence’] (APAL)





44 Chemin Ravin du Puit – 84390 St Trinit




FRANCE








Tel. +33 0490750423
Composition: Any natural or legal person effectively involved in the production, processing, preparation or packaging set out in the ‘Huile essentielle de lavande de Haute Provence’ / ‘Essence de lavande de Haute-Provence’ PDO specification.
The amendment does not affect the single document.






3.


Description of the product
Various analytical criteria have been amended and the concept of derogations from criteria in the event of unusual climatic conditions has been removed:

                        ‘Huile essentielle de lavande de Haute-Provence’ / ‘Essence de lavande de Haute-Provence’ must have the following analytical characteristics:






—


acid value: < 1,0;










—


1,8-cineole: 0,2 to 1,0;










—


cis-beta-ocimene: 3,0 to 9,0;










—


trans-beta-ocimene: 2,3 to 5,4;










—


3-octanone: 0,3 to 2,0;










—


camphor: < 0,5;










—


linalool: < 36;










—


terpinen-1-ol-4; 1,5 to 5,6;










—


lavandulyl acetate: > 2,5;










—


lavandulol: > 0,5;










—


alpha-terpineol: ≤ 0,7;










—


ratio of cis-beta-ocimene to trans-beta-ocimene: 0,9 to 2,5;










—


ratio of trans-beta-ocimene to 3-octanone: 1,4 to 10;










—


ratio of linalol + linalyl acetate to lavandulol + lavandulyl acetate: 10 to 20.




The amendment affects the single document.










4.


Definition of the geographical area
The municipalities of the geographical area have been updated.
The amendment affects the single document.










5.


References to the inspection body
The contact details of the INAO and the reference to Article 39 of Regulation (EU) No 2024/1143 have been updated:
Name: Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité (National Institute for Origin and Quality)
Address: Arborial, 12, rue Rol-Tanguy, TSA 30003, 93555 Montreuil Cedex, France.
                     
Tel. +33 0173303899.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 39 of Regulation (EU) No 2024/1143, verification of compliance with the specification, before placing the product on the market, is carried out by a product certification body whose name and contact details are available on the INAO’s website and in the European Commission’s database.
The reference to a fax in respect of the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DG COMP) has been removed.
The amendment does not affect the single document.










6.


National requirements
The table setting out the main points to be checked has been updated in order to comply with the new ranges for values defined in the description of the product.
The amendment does not affect the single document.




SINGLE DOCUMENT


                     ‘Huile essentielle de lavande de Haute-Provence / Essence de lavande de Haute-Provence’
                  


EU No: PDO-FR-0141-AM01 - 11 September 2024
                  


PDO (X) PGI ( )

1.   Name(s) [of the PDO or PGI]


               ‘Huile essentielle de lavande de Haute-Provence / Essence de lavande de Haute-Provence’
            
2.   Member State or Third Country

France
3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Code for Combined Nomenclature







—


33 ESSENTIAL OILS AND RESINOIDS; PERFUMERY, COSMETIC OR TOILET PREPARATIONS
3301 Essential oils (terpeneless or not), including concretes and absolutes; resinoids; extracted oleoresins; concentrates of essential oils in fats, in fixed oils, in waxes or the like, obtained by enfleurage or maceration; terpenic by-products of the deterpenation of essential oils; aqueous distillates and aqueous solutions of essential oils




3.2.   Description of the product to which the name in (1) applies

Lavender essential oil or lavender essence is a liquid obtained by water vapour distillation of the flowering tops of Lavandula angustifolia P. Miller.
The lavender plantations must be made up of a population of plants of local origin which are propagated exclusively by sowing. Plantations of clones, plantations established by vegetative propagation and plantations established from clone seeds are excluded.
Lavender essential oil is most often used as an intermediate product, mainly in perfumes but also in pharmaceutical products and in aromatherapy.

                  ‘Huile essentielle de lavande de Haute-Provence’ / ‘Essence de lavande de Haute-Provence’ must have the following analytical characteristics:






—


acid value: < 1,0;










—


1,8-cineole: 0,2 to 1,0;










—


cis-beta-ocimene: 3,0 to 9,0;










—


trans-beta-ocimene: 2,3 to 5,4;










—


3-octanone: 0,3 to 2,0;










—


camphor: < 0,5;










—


linalool: < 36;










—


terpinen-1-ol-4; 1,5 to 5,6;










—


lavandulyl acetate: > 2,5;










—


lavandulol: > 0,5;










—


alpha-terpineol: ≤ 0,7;










—


ratio of cis-beta-ocimene to trans-beta-ocimene: 0,9 to 2,5;










—


ratio of trans-beta-ocimene to 3-octanone: 1,4 to 10;










—


ratio of linalol + linalyl acetate to lavandulol + lavandulyl acetate: 10 to 20.




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

The lavender is grown and distilled within the geographical area.
3.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

The lavender is grown and distilled within 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

The PDO and its symbol must be clearly visible on all product containers marketed under the protected designation of origin.
4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area covers the territory of the following 284 municipalities in the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Drôme and Vaucluse.
Department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Allons, Angles, Annot, Archail, Aubignosc, Authon, Banon, Barles, Barrême, Bayons, Beaujeu, Bellaffaire, Beynes, Blieux, Braux, Le Brusquet, Le Caire, Castellane, Le Castellard-Mélan, Castellet-lès-Sausses, Val-de-Chalvagne, Châteaufort, Châteauneuf-Miravail, Châteauneuf-Val-Saint-Donat, Chaudon-Norante, Clamensane, Clumanc, Cruis, Curel, Demandolx, Digne-les-Bains, Draix, Entrages, Entrevaux, Faucon-du-Caire, Le Fugeret, La Garde, Gigors, L’Hospitalet, La Javie, Lambruisse, Lardiers, Majastres, Mallefougasse-Augès, Marcoux, Méailles, Montsalier, Moriez, La Motte-du-Caire, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, La Mure-Argens, Nibles, Noyers-sur-Jabron, Les Omergues, Ongles, La Palud-sur-Verdon, Peipin, Peyroules, Piégut, Prads-Haute-Bléone, Redortiers, Revest-du-Bion, La Robine-sur-Galabre, La Rochegiron, La Rochette, Rougon, Saint-André-les-Alpes, Saint-Benoît, Hautes-Duyes, Saint-Etienne-les-Orgues, Saint-Geniez, Saint-Jacques, Saint-Julien-du-Verdon, Saint-Lions, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Vincent-sur-Jabron, Saumane, Sausses, Senez, Simiane-la-Rotonde, Soleilhas, Tartonne, Thoard, Thorame-Basse, Thorame-Haute, Turriers, Ubraye, Valavoire, Valbelle, Venterol, Vergons.
Department of Hautes-Alpes
Antonaves, Aspremont, Aspres-sur-Buëch, Barcillonnette, Barret-sur-Méouge, La Bâtie-Montsaléon, La Beaume, Le Bersac, Bruis, Chabestan, Chanousse, Châteauneuf-de-Chabre, Châteauneuf-d'Oze, Éourres, L'Epine, Esparron, Espinasses, Etoile-Saint-Cyrice, La Faurie, Fouillouse, La Freissinouse, Furmeyer, Gap, Garde-Colombe (only for the territory of the delegated municipality of Saint-Genis), La Haute-Beaume, Lardier-et-Valença, Manteyer, Méreuil, Montbrand, Montclus, Montjay, Montmaur, Montmorin, Montrond, Moydans, Neffes, Nossage-et-Bénévent, Orpierre, Oze, Pelleautier, La Piarre, Ribeyret, Ribiers, La Roche-des-Arnauds, Rosans, Saint-André-de-Rosans, Saint-Auban-d'Oze, Sainte-Colombe, Saint-Julien-en-Beauchêne, Sainte-Marie, Saint-Pierre-d'Argençon, Saint-Pierre-Avez, Le Saix, Salérans, Savournon, Serres, Sigottier, Sigoyer, Sorbiers, Théus, Trescléoux, Veynes, Vitrolles.
Department of Drôme
Arnayon, Arpavon, Aulan, Ballons, Barret-de-Lioure, La Bâtie-des-Fonds, Beaumont-en-Diois, Beaurières, Bellecombe-Tarendol, Bellegarde-en-Diois, Bésignan, Boulc, Bouvières, Chalancon, La Charce, Charens, Chaudebonne, Chauvac-Laux-Montaux, Cornillac, Cornillon-sur-l'Oule, Establet, Eygalayes, Eyroles, Ferrassières, Val-Maravel, Glandage, Gumiane, Izon-la-Bruisse, Jonchères, Laborel, Lachau, Lemps, Lesches-en-Diois, Mévouillon, Miscon, Montauban-sur-l’Ouvèze, Montaulieu, Montbrun-les-Bains, Montferrand-la-Fare, Montfroc, Montguers, Montjoux, Montréal-les-Sources, La Motte-Chalancon, Pelonne, Plaisians, Le Poët-en-Percip, Le Poët-Sigillat, Pommerol, Poyols, Les Prés, Reilhanette, Rémuzat, Rioms, Rochebrune, La Roche-sur-le-Buis, La Rochette-du-Buis, Rottier, Roussieux, Saint-Auban-sur-l’Ouvèze, Saint-Dizier-en-Diois, Sainte-Euphémie-sur-Ouvèze, Saint-Ferréol-Trente-Pas, Sainte-Jalle, Saint-May, Saint-Sauveur-Gouvernet, Séderon, Teyssières, Treschenu-Creyers, Valdrôme, Valouse, Verclause, Vercoiran, Vers-sur-Méouge, Vesc, Villebois-les-Pins, Villefranche-le-Château, Villeperdrix, Volvent.
Department of Vaucluse
Aurel, Lagarde-d'Apt, Monieux, Rustrel, Saint-Christol, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Saint-Trinit, Sault, Savoillan, Villars.
Within these municipalities, only plantations located at an altitude of at least 800 metres may be granted the designation of origin. Derogations may be granted by the National Committee on Agri-Food Products of the INAO.
Within the following municipalities of the Department of Drôme, only plantations located at an altitude of at least 600 metres may be granted the designation of origin:
Aix-en-Diois, Aucelon, Aurel, Barnave, Barsac, Brette, Chamaloc, Chastel-Arnaud, Châtillon-en-Diois, La Chaudière, Die, Espenel, Eygluy-Escoulin, Laval-d'Aix, Luc-en-Diois, Marignac-en-Diois, Menglon, Molières-Glandaz, Montlaur-en-Diois, Montmaur-en-Diois, Pennes-le-Sec, Ponet-et-Saint-Auban, Pontaix, Pradelle, Recoubeau-Jansac, Rimon-et-Savel, Rochefourchat, Romeyer, Saint-Andéol, Saint-Benoit-en-Diois, Sainte-Croix, Saint-Julien-en-Quint, Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert, Saint-Roman, Saint-Sauveur-en-Diois, Vachères-en-Quint, Vercheny, Véronne.
5.   Link with the geographical area

Natural factors
Fine lavender tends to colonise soils referred to in soil science as ‘grey rendzinas with a calcareous humus’. Soils that have developed on Jurassic-Cretaceous limestones are therefore conducive to good growth.
Lavender prefers relatively cool areas and therefore areas of relatively high altitude. Fine lavender occupies the most mountainous of terrains above an altitude of 600 to 800 metres.
Other important factors include: sunshine (although lavender can handle areas with little light, albeit to the detriment of yield) and limited precipitation, since lavender is xerophilic. It should, however, be noted that the spread of rainfall is more important than its total amount.
Cultivation of this crop is gradually becoming confined to mountainous areas and areas unfavourable for agriculture. The poor quality of the soil does not allow for any alternative crop to fine lavender anywhere in the production area.
This area corresponds to fine lavender’s natural range of distribution. The Lavandula angustifolia variety rapidly peters out outside of this area.
Human factors
Lavender picking in the south of France developed in particular during the second half of the 19th century; at that time, a massive exodus of the rural population led to the poorer parts of the countryside becoming depopulated.
Land which had been cleared of trees and cultivated for centuries was abandoned. Erosion led to the rapid deterioration of the soil, often exposing the underlying rock. Only robust plants requiring little care can thrive in such soils: among such plants are lavender and spike lavender, which quickly covered abandoned hillsides.
At the same time, there was strong growth in the use of perfumes and cosmetics, influenced by fashion and an increase in the urban population.
In this context, the town of Grasse, in the department of Alpes-Maritimes, experienced particularly rapid growth. Its prosperity was founded on the oil and leather industries, the region of Grasse and its hinterland serving as a source of olives and sheep.
A third industry came to develop alongside them, namely the perfume industry. The processing of oils led to the establishment of soap-making enterprises and a cosmetics industry utilising fats, since soaps, balms and ointments needed to be scented.
As a result of the wealth of locally available raw materials and the know-how passed on from generation to generation, the perfume industry prevailed over all the others from the 19th century onwards and has prospered right up to the present day, giving Grasse its international reputation as the perfume capital.
The aromatic raw materials needed for this industry were initially produced locally (roses, jasmine, sweet violet, wattle). Subsequently the manufacturers of Grasse turned their attention towards the hinterland and its fields of wild lavender.
Several perfume houses relocated their operations from Grasse out into the countryside temporarily, setting up their own stills for the whole summer in the areas in which lavender was harvested; others established arrangements with local distillers who gathered the essences for them.
A commercial outlet for lavender essences was therefore assured, encouraging a rapid expansion in lavender-gathering in the mountainous areas of Haute-Provence, which until then had been given over to the raising of small livestock and the cultivation of food crops.
It was only around 1925 to 1930 that the development of plantations began.
Later on, the cultivation of lavender was abandoned in favour of lavandin.
The profitability of essential oil yields of lavandin and the potential available for expanding and mechanising its cultivation enabled producers to respond to ever-increasing user demand. These users have, especially since the immediate postwar years, sought large volumes of an essential oil similar to lavender essence, but cheaper and better adapted to the needs of mass production.
Lavender essence of very high quality is less profitable to produce and therefore more expensive.
In addition, technical change, the development of chemical industries and concomitant gradual emergence of substitution products and synthetic products caused considerable disruption to markets.
It therefore become clear that there was an essential need to specifically recognise the production of lavender essential oil in this region. This led to the recognition of the registered designation of origin by decree of 14 December 1981.
Specificity of the product
Characteristics of the product
Fine lavender comes from plants of local origin that have been sown or from young self-sown plants cultivated within a population. The rich diversity of varieties within these populations gives the fine lavender essences specific characteristics and a quality which marks them out very distinctly from other essences. The analytical parameters most representative of ‘Huile essentielle de lavande de Haute-Provence’ / ‘Essence de lavande de Haute-Provence’, expressed in terms of chromatographic peaks measured for each of the areas, are linalool, lavandulol and lavandulyl acetate (the values for these aromatic constituents are defined under item 2). The aroma of fine lavender is distinguished from that of other lavenders (lavandin and spike lavender) by its complexity, finesse and persistence.
Historical factors relating to the reputation
Grasse’s reputation for perfume is based on the production of essential lavender oil in the region. The advent of the cultivation of lavandin, a more productive species, but most importantly one that produces a less delicate essential oil, led producers to base the production of essential oil strictly on the distillation of fine lavender so that perfume makers could continue to be supplied with the essential oil which established their reputation.
Causal link
The sensitivity of lavender to the natural environment has significant repercussions for the chemical composition of the essences produced by the plants, and consequently for their scent. This is particularly true of fine lavender growing in populations (the only sort acceptable for the designation); each plant in the population has its own genetic personality and produces an essential oil with its own analytical and olfactory nuances.
Lavender that has been grown on the most mountainous terrain at an altitude of at least 600 or 800 metres benefits from cool temperatures, which guarantee that the essential oil has a delicate aroma.
The lack of water in the soil in these mountainous areas and the restrictions on its use limits vegetative expression and leads to the plants synthesising aromatic constituents.
After cutting, the flowers must be dried, so that any possible excess water which could interfere with the distillation process is lost. Steam distillation is used, this being the only technique which permits the flower’s aromatic constituents to be preserved. The steam passing through the plant matter carries the essential oils along with it; this steam is then chilled until it liquefies. The maximum yield from each hectare of a plantation is restricted in order to maintain the concentration and aromatic characteristics of the essential oil.
A producer of fine lavender has a profound attachment to their product.

Reference to publication of the specification


https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-0c6211a8-34cc-4264-a09c-f5d8760eeb8d



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


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/7239/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)