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: 2026-01-16
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Bavaria, Germany, consumer information, designation of origin, fresh vegetable, labelling, perennial vegetable, product designation, quality control of agricultural products




C_202600370EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/370


16.1.2026






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/2026/370)

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT
(Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143)


                     ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel / Spargel aus dem Schrobenhausener Land / Spargel aus dem Anbaugebiet Schrobenhausen’
                  


EU reference number: PGI-DE-0678-AM01 – 17.10.2025
                  

1.   Name of product


               ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel / Spargel aus dem Schrobenhausener Land / Spargel aus dem Anbaugebiet Schrobenhausen’
            
2.   Geographical indication type







☐


PDO










☑


PGI










☐


GI




3.   Sector







☑


Agricultural products










☐


Wines










☐


Spirit drinks




4.   Country to which the geographical area belongs

Germany
5.   Member State authority communicating the standard amendment


Name

Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection
6.   Qualification as standard amendment

The proposed amendments should be regarded as minor in accordance with Article 24(2) to (4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143. The amendments do not include, within the meaning of Article 24(3)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143, changes in the name or in the use of the name, do not entail further restrictions on the marketing of the product, and do not risk voiding the link to the geographical area referred to in the single document.
7.   Description of the approved standard amendment(s)


Title


                  ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ / ‘Spargel aus dem Schrobenhausener Land’ / ‘Spargel aus dem Anbaugebiet Schrobenhausen’
               

Description

Amendments to the product specification:






—


Point (b) ‘Description’
                     




In paragraph 2, the sentences ‘White “Schrobenhausener Spargel” may vary in colour from white to violet and may not exceed 22 cm in length. Green “Schrobenhausener Spargel” may not exceed 27 cm in length.’ has been deleted.
Reasons
The information on length corresponded to that in the old UNECE Standard FFV04. The maximum permissible length changed with the publication of the new standard on 20 December 2023. Since, according to the specification, Schrobenhausener Spargel is also processed in accordance with the UNECE standard, the maximum permissible total length must also be adjusted here. To prevent conflicting information being provided in the specification and the valid UNECE standard in future, duplication of the total length has been dispensed with.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.










—


Point 3.2 (Description of the product)




Paragraph 2, ‘White “Schrobenhausener Spargel” may vary in colour from white to violet and may not exceed 22 cm in length. Green “Schrobenhausener Spargel” may not exceed 27 cm in length.’ has been deleted.






—


Point (e) ‘Production process’
                     




The sentence ‘For marketing purposes, the minimum applicable quality standards are the relevant EU quality standards (Regulation (EC) No 2377/1999).’ has been amended to read ‘For marketing purposes, the minimum applicable quality standards are those in the valid version of UNECE Standard FFV04 (Asparagus).’
               
The sentence ‘The maximum permissible stalk length is 22 cm for white asparagus and 27 cm for green asparagus’ has been deleted.
The sentence ‘In cases where producers sell directly to consumers, a maximum permissible perpendicularly cut stalk length of 22 cm (for white asparagus) and 27 cm (for green asparagus) must also be complied with.’ has been amended to read ‘In cases where producers sell directly to consumers, the maximum permissible stalk length according to the current UNECE Standard FFV04 (Asparagus) must also be complied with.’
               
Reasons
Regulation (EC) No 2377/1999 has now been repealed. Since this has up until now been a fixed reference, the requirements of this Regulation must still be met. Among other things, Regulation (EC) No 2377/1999 sets a maximum permissible stalk length for white asparagus of 22 cm. To avoid a situation in which the specification provides different information / sets different requirements, the fixed reference to a no longer valid regulation must be deleted and replaced with a reference to the relevant, currently valid UNECE standards.
Incidentally, the length of 22 cm for white asparagus hitherto mentioned in the specification related to the old UNECE Standard FFV04. The maximum permissible total length changed with the publication of the new standard on 20 December 2023. Since, according to the specification, Schrobenhausener Spargel is processed in accordance with the UNECE standard, the maximum permissible total length must also be adjusted here. To prevent conflicting information being provided in the specification and the valid UNECE standard in future, duplication of the total length has been dispensed with.






☐


The amendment affects the single document.










—


Point (f) ‘Link with the geographical area’ [(2) ‘Specificity of the product’]




The first sentence of paragraph 3, ‘The Asparagus Producers’ Association of Southern Bavaria (Spargelerzeugerverband Südbayern e.V.) recommends the varieties which particularly meet the agronomic (field trials) and taste requirements based on sensory testing in relation to the specification.’, has been amended to read ‘The Asparagus Producers’ Association of Southern Bavaria (Spargelerzeugerverband Südbayern e.V.) recommends the varieties which particularly meet the requirements of the specification.’
               
Reasons
Spargelverband Südbayern e.V. can no longer ensure that extensive field trials and sensory testing are carried out. For this reason, the list of varieties is no longer to be published on the association’s homepage.
Recommendations concerning varieties can be obtained by contacting the association’s adviser directly, so a list is no longer necessary. For this reason, the relevant passages have been adjusted/deleted.
Amendments to the single document:






—


Point 5.2 ‘Specificity of the product’
                     




In paragraph 3, the sentence ‘The Asparagus Producers’ Association of Southern Bavaria (Spargelerzeugerverband Südbayern e.V.) recommends the varieties which particularly meet the agronomic (field trials) and taste requirements based on sensory testing in relation to the specification.’ has been amended to read as follows: ‘The Asparagus Producers’ Association of Southern Bavaria (Spargelerzeugerverband Südbayern e.V.) recommends the varieties which particularly meet the requirements of the specification.’
               
The sentence ‘It lists these varieties on its homepage (http://www.spargel.de/anbau_des_Verbandes) and updates the data annually.’ has been deleted.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.




SINGLE DOCUMENT

Designations of origin and geographical indications of agricultural products



                     ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel / Spargel aus dem Schrobenhausener Land / Spargel aus dem Anbaugebiet Schrobenhausen’
                  


EU reference number: PGI-DE-0678-AM01 – 17.10.2025
                  

1.   Name(s)


               ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel / Spargel aus dem Schrobenhausener Land / Spargel aus dem Anbaugebiet Schrobenhausen’
            
2.   Geographical indication type







☐


PDO










☑


PGI










☐


GI




3.   Country to which the defined geographical area belongs

Germany
4.   Description of the agricultural product

4.1.   Classification of the agricultural product in accordance with the Combined Nomenclature heading and code, as referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143


                  0709 20  – Asparagus
4.2.   Description of the agricultural product to which the registered name applies


                  ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’, ‘Spargel aus dem Schrobenhausener Land’ and ‘Spargel aus dem Anbaugebiet Schrobenhausen’ – hereinafter referred to as ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ – are the edible stalks of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) which are put up for sale peeled or unpeeled. ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ is produced according to the rules of good farming practice.

                  ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ is prepared in accordance with UNECE Standard FFV04 (Asparagus).
The taste of ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ is characterised by the typically strong, slightly nutty flavour of the asparagus.
Harvesting once or twice a day and careful and appropriate handling after harvesting guarantee that ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ will reach consumers fresh regardless of the marketing channel.
4.3.   Derogations on sourcing of feed (for products of animal origin designated by a Protected Designation of Origin only) and restrictions on sourcing of raw materials (for processed products designated by a Protected Geographical Indication only)

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


                  ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ may be cultivated only in the identified areas.
4.5.   Specific rules concerning packaging, slicing, grating etc. of the agricultural product the registered name refers to

After harvesting, the cut asparagus must be rapidly chilled to preserve its quality. The stalks are cut to length and sorted expertly. They must then be stored at 1-2 °C in a place with a high level of humidity. The cold chain must not be interrupted by the producer.
The contents of each package must be consistent, i.e. each unit may only contain asparagus from the Schrobenhausen region of the same quality, colour group and size. The visible part of the package must also be representative of the total content.
4.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the agricultural product the registered name refers to


                  ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ must also be marked with the following image:





4.7.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The Bavarian cultivation area in which ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ is produced covers the municipalities of Aichach, Aresing, Berg im Gau, Brunnen, Gachenbach, Geisenfeld, Gerolsbach, Hohenwart, Inchenhofen, Karlskron, Kühbach, Langenmosen, Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Pörnbach, Pöttmes, Reichertshofen, Rohrbach, Schrobenhausen and Waidhofen, which are situated in the rural districts of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, Aichach-Friedberg and Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm.
5.   Link with the geographical area

The causal link with the geographical origin is based on:






☑


Reputation










☑


Given quality










☐


Other characteristics





Summary of the link

The name of the town of Schrobenhausen is inextricably linked to its best-known product, ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’, as evidenced by the decades of use of the logo depicting the town of Schrobenhausen in silhouette. Currently the oldest known document referring to asparagus-growing in Schrobenhausen dates back to 1851 (an article in Wochenblatt dated 12 July 1851). Just five years later, in 1856, Graf von Sandizell was delivering asparagus to distinguished citizens in Munich. In 1913, Christian Schad from Gross-Gerau planted the first large-scale fields of asparagus.
Articles in Schrobenhausen’s Wochenblatt of 1914 and advertisements in the 1920s attest to the growing popularity of the asparagus in the Schrobenhausen region. By 1933 its reputation had spread to Munich. In the 1950s many smallholders were cultivating this ‘food of kings’. The growing area for ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ enjoyed its greatest rise in popularity in the mid 1970s and late 1980s.
The growers living in the geographical area have been handing down their skills and experience in asparagus-growing from one generation to another for over 90 years. This guarantees the best possible quality, the basis for successful marketing.
The asparagus season in the region is known as the ‘fifth season of the year’, attracting day trippers and tourists from far and near. A book of excursions through the region for cyclists and hikers is devoted to asparagus.
At that time of the year, the focus is on asparagus, both in the home and in restaurants. The local population and some 40 000 persons who visit Schrobenhausen each year for the asparagus season are constantly surprised with ever more creative recipes. During the season markets achieve most of their turnover from asparagus products.
Promoting the link between asparagus and the Schrobenhausen region, the European asparagus museum in Schrobenhausen also attracts many visitors, some 10 000 a year, from around the world.
A ‘Schrobenhausen Asparagus Queen’ has been crowned every year since 1975. She conducts many interviews with the press, radio and TV and carries the good name of ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ far beyond the region itself.
Its renown is also documented in studies by the Technical University of Munich and price data from the Central Market and Price Reporting Body (Zentrale Markt- und Preisberichtstelle) and is based on the qualities produced there.
The area has good growing conditions. Windblown sand soil predominates, with some light tertiary soil which has a typical content of silt and loam. Such soil warms up quickly in spring, is easily tilled and allows the asparagus stalks to grow fast and straight. The soil is light, sandy and deep with high air permeability. In particular, the cultivation of ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ is restricted to the following types of soil:






1.


Sand (S),










2.


Slightly loamy sand (Sl),










3.


Loamy sand (lS),










4.


Very loamy sand (SL).




The Schrobenhausen growing area is at an elevation of some 400 m above sea level. The average annual temperature is 7,5 °C and average annual rainfall is 827 mm (precipitation over the past 25 years), with an average of 280 mm of rain falling in the period from June to August.
The quality of ‘Schrobenhausener Spargel’ is attributable to the climatic conditions described and the types of soil in the defined geographical area.

Electronic (URL) reference to the publication of the product specification


https://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/geo/detail.detailtabelle.pdfdownload/42802



(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/2026/370/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)