Publication of the communication of an approved standard amendment to a product specification of a geographical indication in accordance with Article 5(4) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/27
Date: 2025-08-26
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Italy, Liguria, aromatic plant, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products




C_202504704EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2025/4704


26.8.2025






Publication of the communication of an approved standard amendment to a product specification of a geographical indication in accordance with Article 5(4) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/27 (1)

(C/2025/4704)

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

(Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143)



                     ‘Basilico Genovese’
                  


PDO-IT-0194-AM01 – 29.5.2025
                  

1.   Name of product


               ‘Basilico Genovese’
            
2.   Geographical indication type







☒


Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)










☐


Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)










☐


Geographical Indication (GI)




3.   Sector







☒


Agricultural products










☐


Wines










☐


Spirit drinks




4.   Country to which the geographical area belongs

Italy
5.   Member State authority communicating the standard amendment

Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry
6.   Qualification as standard amendment


Explanation of why the amendment(s) fall under the definition of a standard amendment as provided for in Article 24(4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143

The amendment is a standard one within the meaning of Article 24(4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 as it does not include a change in the name, does not risk voiding the link and does not entail further restrictions on the marketing of the product.
7.   Description of the approved standard amendment(s)

1.   Rules for the use of transplantation machines

After the penultimate paragraph of Article 5 of the Specification, the following provisions have been added:


                     ‘During cultivation, it is forbidden to transplant seedlings that have developed beyond the first node after the cotyledon expansion. Containers may not exceed 5x5x5 cm. For the production of basil for fresh consumption, transplantation is prohibited except for organic production.’
                  

The spread of transplantation machines risks intensifying this practice in a way that is at odds with traditional cultivation of the product. It is therefore appropriate to include specific rules.
The amendment does not affect the single document.
2.   Change in the size of bouquets

In Article 5 of the Specification, under the heading ‘Production notification’, the size of the bouquets has been changed to ‘11 to 100 plants’ rather than ‘30 to 100 plants’, both for protected crops and those grown in the open air.
The geographical expansion of the market and the increasing use of ‘Basilico Genovese’ PDO, also in food preparations other than pesto, mean that the size of the bouquets needs to be geared to the new requirements and include the previously excluded range of 11 to 29 plants, as a bouquet under the previous Specification had to have between 30 and 100 plants.
The amendment does not affect the single document.
3.   Further specification of the definition ‘with four pairs of true leaves’
                           

In Article 8 of the Specification and point 3.5 of the single document, after the phrase ‘and, at most, with four pairs of true leaves,’ the following has been added: ‘or four nodes, and without flower heads’.
During checks carried out over the years by the supervisory authority, the definition of the size of the whole plant to be packaged for fresh consumption has been interpreted in different ways. This is therefore a further specification of the definition ‘with four pairs of true leaves’.
The amendment affects the single document.
4.   Adaptation of the definition of a bouquet

In Article 8 of the Specification and point 3.5 of the single document, in line with the amendments made to Article 5 of the Specification, the definition of a bouquet has been adapted, so that the following sentence:


                     ‘Larger bundles are classified as a “bouquet”; a bouquet consists of the equivalent number of plants contained in 10 bunches and is packaged in a similar way’
                  

has been replaced by the following:


                     ‘A bouquet consists of between 11 and 100 plants, packaged in a similar way.’
                  

The amendment affects the single document.
5.   Specification for the preparation of bunches

In Article 8 of the Specification, the wording:


                     ‘Inert material may be used in the preparation of bunches’
                  

has been amended to read:


                     ‘Organic material of plant origin may be used in the preparation of bunches.’
                  

At the time when the Specification was drafted, the term ‘inert’ was misused as ‘materials other than the growing medium’ was meant: the term ‘organic material of plant origin’ is more pertinent, complete and correct.
The amendment does not affect the single document.
6.   Further specification of the definition ‘with four pairs of true leaves’ also for products intended for further processing

In line with the amendment already mentioned, in Article 8 of the Specification and point 3.5 of the single document in the section on the product intended for processing, after the following sentence: ‘at most, with four pairs of true leaves,’ the following has been added: ‘or four nodes, and without flower heads’.
The amendment affects the single document.
SINGLE DOCUMENT


                     ‘Basilico Genovese’
                  


PDO-IT-0194-AM01 – 29.5.2025
                  


PDO (X) PGI ( )

1.   Name(s) (of PDO or PGI)


               ‘Basilico Genovese’
            
2.   Member State or Third Country

Italy
3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Combined Nomenclature code







—


12 – OIL SEEDS AND OLEAGINOUS FRUITS; MISCELLANEOUS GRAINS, SEEDS AND FRUIT; INDUSTRIAL OR MEDICINAL PLANTS; STRAW AND FODDER




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

The protected designation of origin ‘Basilico Genovese’ refers to the whole, fresh plant grown from seed of indigenous ecotypes and selections of the species Ocimum Basilicum L. The plant must have the following characteristics:






—


medium to very tall, spreading or cylindrical in growth,










—


foliage density classifiable as intermediate (medium-low, medium, medium-tall),










—


elliptical leaf form,










—


swelling of the blade and edge cuts absent/very slight or slight,










—


leaf surface flat or convex,










—


total absence of aroma of mint,










—


strong and characteristic odour.




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

The geographical area where ‘Basilico Genovese’ DOP is grown is the Tyrrhenian coast of the administrative Region of Liguria as bounded by the watershed. Packing must take place in that area to ensure traceability and checks on the designation and to protect the quality characteristics of the product, which deteriorates easily.
Production is feasible throughout the year. Basil grown on the Tyrrhenian coast of Liguria is characterised by a very specific aroma and taste that are highly appreciated by the market. It is also free from the taste of mint, which is a defect for the use of this plant in cooking.
3.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area


                  ‘Basilico Genovese’ must be grown under cover or in the open within the geographical area of production.
3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to


                  ‘Basilico Genovese’ must be packaged in the area of production in order to preserve the characteristics of the product, which is extremely fragile and prone to drying out.
Basil for sale fresh must be put up in bunches with at least two pairs of true leaves and, as a maximum, four pairs of true leaves or four nodes, and without flower heads. The single bunch comprises three to ten whole plants complete with roots and tied individually in paper suitable for foodstuffs bearing the PDO symbol. A bouquet consists of between 11 and 100 plants, packaged in a similar way.
Basil for local and/or industrial processing comprises portions of whole plants with no more than four pairs of true leaves or four nodes, and without flower heads.
Packaging must use materials which comply with the rules in force and must bear the PDO logo and the full trademark of the firm.

                  ‘Basilico Genovese’ must be packaged in the area of production in order to preserve the characteristics of the product, which is extremely fragile and prone to drying out.
3.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

Packaging for separate bunches or bags must be of a material meeting the standards in force and bear the words ‘BASILICO GENOVESE D.O.P.’ and the EU PDO symbol, together with the full trademark of the firm and the product logo as described below. The trademark must be of sufficient size and appropriately placed in relation to the EU PDO symbol and the product logo.
The ‘Basilico Genovese’ logo consists of a circular form of the same size as the EU PDO symbol, bearing the words, written out in full, ‘Basilico Genovese’, with at its centre the acronym ‘D.O.P.’.
The three elements characterising the product are the following:






—


the sun (in yellow), a fundamental symbol of vitality common to all cultures,










—


Liguria (in blue), the production area, rich, fertile and bathed by the sea,










—


basil (in green), emphasising the natural character, authenticity and quality of the product qualifying for PDO status.




The image may also appear in monochrome.
The font used for the text is Arial Black, bold, in the same blue as that used for ‘Liguria’. The font size is 6 for the words ‘Basilico Genovese’ and 6.5 for ‘D.O.P.’.





4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area where ‘Basilico Genovese’ is grown is the Tyrrhenian coast of the administrative Region of Liguria as bounded by the watershed.
5.   Link with the geographical area

The soil and climate of the Ligurian hinterland are marked by a microclimate suitable for the cultivation of basil, generated by an unusual combination of inter-related factors, both non-living (soil, temperature, water, light, wind) and living (animal and vegetable organisms), found only there. The characteristics of the soil impose a limit on the crops which can be grown and the limited changes to the physical nature of the land allowed for the growing of basil are motivated solely by the special technique of harvesting the plants, which must be done without damaging them. Any soil improvement is an important factor in crop management because it may solve limited and well-defined drainage problems even if it appears not to contribute to the typical nature of the finished product. The daily changes in temperature have a direct influence on the choice of crops, as do the availability and quality of water, light and wind. The configuration of the territory of Liguria favours the cultivation of basil since its long axis lies along parallels, with crops enjoying sunlight for many hours, even in winter, on south-facing slopes which also provide protection from cold north, easterly and westerly winds through its unique curvature while also benefiting from the regulatory effect of the sea.
It is the climatic conditions of Liguria themselves, with high levels of light even in winter, temperatures which rarely drop below 10 °C and a steady stream of air tempered by the sea, which steadfastly combine with the chemical and physical characteristics of the land and the technical knowledge and traditions of the farmers to create a final product whose aromas cannot be found in the same combination and degree in basil grown elsewhere.
Although the climate of the Ligurian hinterland is similar to that of lower Lazio and Campania and the origin of the soil where basil is grown is the same as that of lower Piedmont, Piedmont has a typically continental climate while the soils of central Italy are different from those of Liguria. This makes the combination of climate and soil for the grower in Liguria inimitable and special.
Attesting to the importance of these crops for the economy of the region, we have the yearbooks of Italian agriculture and other documents, which described this situation vividly and in detail. Even today basil still accounts for a large part of agriculture and cultivation in Liguria. ‘Basilico Genovese’ is a unique and inimitable blend of territory, surroundings and cultivation.
The characteristics of ‘Basilico Genovese’, the complete absence of minty odour, a very intense and pleasant perfume and the particularly delicate colouring of the leaves are the result of certain features of the soil and climate of Liguria.
Although basil is a minor crop in national and international terms, at regional level it is an important source of income for many firms which produce it under glass all the year round and in open fields in summer. As long ago as the 1920s and 1930s, international horticultural fairs and exhibitions were held at Finale Ligure where early crops grown under glass from the entire region, including basil, received the highest honours.
Comparing basil plants from Liguria with those from other areas shows that the yield of essential basil oil from Liguria is markedly different from that from basil grown elsewhere, this yield rising by a statistically significant extent from basil grown throughout its growing cycle in Liguria to that grown elsewhere in Italy.
Even the composition of the essential oil is different, as are the proportions of the various substances, so that the aroma is clearly distinguishable.
Basil which has been grown throughout its cycle in Liguria can be clearly distinguished from that grown elsewhere.
Taking account of the substances present in larger quantities, or those whose presence, even in small amounts, can affect the final aroma of the basil leaf, makes it possible to clearly distinguish basil grown in Liguria from that from elsewhere. The special aroma of ‘Basilico Genovese’ and its quality features cannot derive other than from Liguria. Basil grown in Piedmont or the other regions bordering on Liguria is characterised by a minty aroma, while that grown further south is considerably less delicate.

               ‘Basilico Genovese’, on the other hand, is a delicate crop immediately distinguishable by its intense and persistent perfume, by the total absence of any minty odour, and by its delicate leaf colour, present even after successive processing. The characteristics are typical and consistent in all basil produced in the production area covered by the specification.
Basil is one of the most representative and typical crops of Liguria and symbolises a style of cooking using traditional flavours, resulting from the unique combination of territory, surroundings and cultivation

               ‘Basilico Genovese’ has been grown for centuries and has enjoyed unprecedented popularity among consumers in Italy and beyond, who appreciate ever more the aromas contributing to flavoursome dishes and because ‘Basilico Genovese’ stands for the quality, simplicity and typical character of a region and its culture.
The original area of production was limited to the geographical area of Genoa. Given the increasingly favourable market conditions for the large-scale consumption of basil in the preparation of many recipes and the well-known pesto, the production area has widened, taking in the entire Ligurian coastline.
Starting from the area around Genoa, the area of production has expanded both eastwards and westwards, making the territory of Liguria the ideal area for obtaining a characteristic product.
The entire region of Liguria is given over to growing basil on account of its environmental, cultivation and human characteristics, which give the fresh and the processed product its unique character, which is well known and recognised all over the world.
Basil is a plant species much influenced by its environment. This explains why basil grown in Liguria distinguishes itself by its homogeneous quality, determined by whether it is grown under glass or in the open, cultivation and post-harvesting processing techniques.
The combination of soil characteristics, sun exposure and the particularly mild climate of the region, a climate in which the sea breeze plays a major role, gives this production area its unique character.
In this exceptional region, specific technical skills have been developed to maximise the natural characteristics of the product and ensure a high and consistent level of quality, regardless of the time of year.
The skills of local growers are not limited to the cultivation method but also cover the subsequent packing phase, enabling them to avoid any alteration to the specific characteristics of the product thanks to a perfect blend of tradition and innovation (application of integrated pest management).

Reference to publication of the product specification


https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeAttachment.php/L/IT/D/1%252Fa%252F1%252FD.c7df33c091f212925a8b/P/BLOB%3AID%3D3343/E/pdf?mode=download



(1)  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/27 of 30 October 2024 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council with rules concerning the registration and the protection of geographical indications, traditional specialities guaranteed and optional quality terms and repealing Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 (OJ L, 2025/27, 15.1.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2025/27/oj).


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/4704/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)