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: 2026-03-03
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: France, Occitanie, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, olive oil, product designation, quality control of agricultural products








C_202601378EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/1378


3.3.2026






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/2026/1378)

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

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



                     ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’
                  


EU Reference number: PDO-FR-2649-AM01 – 28.11.2025
                  

1.   Product name


               ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’
            
2.   Geographical indication type







☑


PDO










☐


PGI










☐


GI




3.   Sector







☑


Agricultural products










☐


Wines










☐


Spirit drinks




4.   Country to which the geographical area belongs

France
5.   National authority communicating the standard amendment


Organisation

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

The application for amendment to the ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ PDO does not involve any of the three situations constituting a Union amendment, specifically it does not:






(a)


involve a change in the name of the protected designation of origin;










(b)


risk voiding the link to the geographical area;










(c)


entail further restrictions on the marketing of the product.




The French authorities therefore consider that the application is for a standard amendment.
7.   Description of the approved standard amendment(s)


Title

Geographical area

Description

The request for a standard amendment concerns:






(1)


Deletion of the parcel identification procedure (‘Geographical area’ section).
The paragraph referring to the parcel identification procedure has been deleted, since the criteria for parcel identification mainly consist of exclusion criteria. They describe the districts in which it is practically impossible to grow the principal varieties used for the designation (endemic to the geographical area with distinctly Mediterranean requirements) or subject to too many uncertainties to make such an activity viable.










(2)


The addition of the approval date of the geographical area and an updated list of municipalities according to the 2025 Official Geographic Code:
it should be noted that the geographical area comprises the territory of the listed municipalities, based on the 2025 Official Geographic Code as of 1 January 2025. The list of municipalities according to the Official Geographic Code of 1 January 2025 has been updated in the product specification and in the single document.










☑


The amendment affects the single document.





Title

Labelling

Description

Update to section 8 of the product specification ‘Labelling’:
Since European registration of the PDO has taken place, the words ‘and until European registration’ have been deleted.






☐


The amendment affects the single document.





Title

Main items to be checked

Description

Deletion of the main items to be checked in relation to the comments on identifying parcels:
the line referring to parcel identification has been deleted from the table showing the main items to be checked in section 9, ‘National requirements’ of the product specification to align with the amendments made to Section 3, ‘Geographical area’.






☐


The amendment affects the single document.





Title

Other amendment

Description

Formal amendments have been made to the single document for the ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ PDO, given the existing editorial rules on single documents.
The provisions concerning the varieties used in blending the oil, initially included in part ‘3.3 Feed (for products on animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)’ have been moved to part ‘4.2 Description of the agricultural product to which the registered name applies’.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.




SINGLE DOCUMENT

Designations of origin and geographical indications of agricultural products



                     ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’
                  


EU Reference number: PDO-FR-2649-AM01 – 28.11.2025
                  

1.   Name(s)


               ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’
            
2.   Geographical indication type







☑


PDO










☐


PGI










☐


GI




3.   Country to which the defined geographical area belongs

France
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

15 – ANIMAL, VEGETABLE OR MICROBIAL FATS AND OILS AND THEIR CLEAVAGE PRODUCTS; PREPARED EDIBLE FATS; ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE WAXES
4.2.   Description of the agricultural product to which the registered name applies


                  ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ is a multivarietal olive oil. It consists mainly of the Lucques variety or the Olivière variety, or a blend of these two. Each of these two varieties accounts for a proportion of less than or equal to 70 % of the oil.

                  ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ has a fruitiness level of more than 2 and less than 5 out of 10 on the organoleptic scale of the International Olive Council (IOC). Its aromas on the nose and in the mouth are dominated by notes of tomato and almond, which may be accompanied by aromas of apples.
On the basis of the IOC’s scale, its bitterness is ranked at between 0 and 3 out of 10 while its pungency is greater than 1 and less than 3 out of 10.
When it is first placed on the market, its free acid content, expressed as oleic acid in the oil obtained, is at most 0,8 %, and its peroxide value is less than or equal to 16 milliequivalents of oxygen peroxide per kilogram.
The sum of the Lucques and Olivière varieties must make up at least 50 % of the blend and:






—


the Lucques variety may not exceed 70 % in the blend;










—


the Olivière variety may not exceed 70 % in the blend.




The specific organoleptic characteristics of the PDO are guaranteed, provided that at least 50 % of the blend is composed of the Lucques and/or the Olivière variety.
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

The production, harvesting and processing of the olives must take place in the geographical area.
4.5.   Specific rules concerning packaging, slicing, grating etc. of the agricultural product the registered name refers to

—
4.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the agricultural product the registered name refers to

—
4.7.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area comprises the territory of the following municipalities, based on the 2025 Official Geographic Code as of 1 January 2025.

Department of Aude (180 municipalities)

Municipalities included in their entirety:
Aigues-Vives, Albas, Alet-les-Bains, Aragon, Argeliers, Argens-Minervois, Armissan, Arquettes-en-Val, Azille, Badens, Bages, Bagnoles, Barbaira, Berriac, Bizanet, Bize-Minervois, Blomac, Bouilhonnac, Bouriège, Boutenac, Cabrespine, Campagne-sur-Aude, Camplong-d’Aude, Canet, Capendu, Carcassonne, Cascastel-des-Corbières, Castelnau-d’Aude, Caunes-Minervois, Caunettes-en-Val, Cavanac, Caves, Cazilhac, Cépie, Citou, Comigne, Conilhac-Corbières, Conques-sur-Orbiel, Couffoulens, Couiza, Cournanel, Coursan, Coustouge, Cruscades, Cuxac-d’Aude, La Digne-d’Amont, La Digne-d’Aval, Douzens, Durban-Corbières, Embres-et-Castelmaure, Escales, Espéraza, Fabrezan, Félines-Termenès, Ferrals-les-Corbières, Feuilla, Fitou, Fleury, Floure, Fontcouverte, Fontiès-d’Aude, Fontjoncouse, Fournes-Cabardès, Fraissé-des-Corbières, Ginestas, Ginoles, Gruissan, Homps, Les Ilhes, Jonquières, Ladern-sur-Lauquet, Lagrasse, Lastours, Laure-Minervois, Lavalette, Leuc, Leucate, Lézignan-Corbières, Limousis, Limoux, Luc-sur-Aude, Luc-sur-Orbieu, Magrie, Mailhac, Malves-en-Minervois, Marcorignan, Marseillette, Mas-Cabardès, Mas-des-Cours, Mayronnes, Mirepeisset, Montazels, Montbrun-des-Corbières, Montirat, Montolieu, Montredon-des-Corbières, Montséret, Monze, Moussan, Moux, Narbonne, Névian, Ornaisons, Ouveillan, Palairac, Palaja, La Palme, Paraza, Paziols, Pépieux, Peyriac-de-Mer, Peyriac-Minervois, Pieusse, Pomas, Portel-des-Corbières, Port-la-Nouvelle, Pouzols-Minervois, Preixan, Puichéric, Quintillan, Raissac-d’Aude, La Redorte, Ribaute, Rieux-en-Val, Rieux-Minervois, Roquecourbe-Minervois, Roquefère, Roquefort-des-Corbières, Roubia, Rouffiac-d’Aude, Roullens, Rustiques, Saint-André-de-Roquelongue, Saint-Couat-d’Aude, Saint-Frichoux, Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Jean-de-Barrou, Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, Saint-Marcel-sur-Aude, Saint-Martin-des-Puits, Saint-Nazaire-d’Aude, Saint-Pierre-des-Champs, Sainte-Valière, Sallèles-Cabardès, Sallèles-d’Aude, Salles-d’Aude, Salsigne, Serviès-en-Val, Sigean, Talairan, Thézan-des-Corbières, Tournissan, Tourouzelle, Tourreilles, Trassanel, Trausse, Trèbes, Treilles, Tuchan, Val-de-Dagne, Val-du-Faby, Ventenac-en-Minervois, Verzeille, Villalier, Villanière, Villardonnel, Villarzel-Cabardès, Villedaigne, Villedubert, Villefloure, Villegailhenc, Villegly, Villemoustaussou, Villeneuve-les-Corbières, Villeneuve-Minervois, Villerouge-Termenès, Villesèque-des-Corbières and Vinassan.
Municipalities included in part:
Quillan (for the part corresponding to the territory of the former municipality of Quillan) and Roquetaillade-et-Conilhac (for the part corresponding to the territory of the delegated municipality of Roquetaillade).

Department of Hérault (249 municipalities)

Municipalities included in their entirety:
Abeilhan, Adissan, Agde, Agel, Agonès, Aigne, Aigues-Vives, Les Aires, Alignan-du-Vent, Aniane, Arboras, Argelliers, Aspiran, Assignan, Aumelas, Aumes, Autignac, Azillanet, Babeau-Bouldoux, Balaruc-les-Bains, Balaruc-le-Vieux, Bassan, Beaufort, Bédarieux, Bélarga, Berlou, Bessan, Béziers, La Boissière, Le Bosc, Boujan-sur-Libron, Le Bousquet-d’Orb, Bouzigues, Brenas, Brignac, Brissac, Cabrerolles, Cabrières, Campagnan, Candillargues, Canet, Capestang, Carlencas-et-Levas, Castelnau-de-Guers, Castelnau-le-Lez, La Caunette, Causse-de-la-Selle, Causses-et-Veyran, Caussiniojouls, Caux, Cazedarnes, Cazilhac, Cazouls-d’Hérault, Cazouls-lès-Béziers, Cébazan, Celles, Cers, Cessenon-sur-Orb, Cesseras, Ceyras, Clapiers, Clermont-l’Hérault, Colombières-sur-Orb, Colombiers, Combaillaux, Corneilhan, Coulobres, Cournonsec, Cournonterral, Creissan, Le Crès, Cruzy, Espondeilhan, Fabrègues, Faugères, Félines-Minervois, Florensac, Fontès, Fos, Fouzilhon, Fozières, Frontignan, Gabian, Ganges, Gigean, Gignac, Grabels, Hérépian, Jacou, Jonquières, Juvignac, Lacoste, Lagamas, Lamalou-les-Bains, Lansargues, Laroque, Lattes, Laurens, Lauroux, Lavalette, Lavérune, Lespignan, Lézignan-la-Cèbe, Liausson, Lieuran-Cabrières, Lieuran-lès-Béziers, Lignan-sur-Orb, La Livinière, Lodève, Loupian, Lunas-les-Châteaux, Magalas, Maraussan, Margon, Marseillan, Mauguio, Maureilhan, Mérifons, Mèze, Minerve, Mireval, Mons, Montady, Montagnac, Montarnaud, Montbazin, Montblanc, Montels, Montesquieu, Montferrier-sur-Lez, Montouliers, Montpellier, Montpeyroux, Mourèze, Mudaison, Murles, Murviel-lès-Béziers, Murviel-lès-Montpellier, Nébian, Neffiès, Nézignan-l’Évêque, Nissan-lez-Enserune, Nizas, Octon, Olargues, Olmet-et-Villecun, Olonzac, Oupia, Pailhès, Paulhan, Pégairolles-de-Buèges, Pégairolles-de-l’Escalette, Péret, Pérols, Pézenas, Pézènes-les-Mines, Pierrerue, Pignan, Pinet, Plaissan, Poilhes, Pomérols, Popian, Portiragnes, Le Pouget, Le Poujol-sur-Orb, Poujols, Poussan, Pouzolles, Pouzols, Prades-le-Lez, Prades-sur-Vernazobre, Prémian, Le Puech, Puéchabon, Puilacher, Puimisson, Puissalicon, Puisserguier, Quarante, Roquebrun, Roquessels, Roujan, Saint-André-de-Buèges, Saint-André-de-Sangonis, Saint-Aunès, Saint-Bauzille-de-la-Sylve, Saint-Bauzille-de-Putois, Saint-Chinian, Saint-Clément-de-Rivière, Saint-Étienne-d’Albagnan, Saint-Étienne-de-Gourgas, Saint-Félix-de-Lodez, Saint-Gély-du-Fesc, Saint-Geniès-de-Fontedit, Saint-Georges-d’Orques, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Saint-Guiraud, Saint-Jean-de-Buèges, Saint-Jean-de-Fos, Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquière, Saint-Jean-de-Minervois, Saint-Jean-de-Védas, Saint-Julien, Saint-Just, Saint-Martin-de-l’Arçon, Saint-Nazaire-de-Ladarez, Saint-Nazaire-de-Pézan, Saint-Pargoire, Saint-Paul-et-Valmalle, Saint-Pons-de-Mauchiens, Saint-Privat, Saint-Saturnin-de-Lucian, Saint-Thibéry, Saint-Vincent-d’Olargues, Salasc, Saussan, Sauvian, Sérignan, Servian, Siran, Soubès, Soumont, Teyran, Thézan-lès-Béziers, Tourbes, La Tour-sur-Orb, Tressan, Le Triadou, Usclas-d’Hérault, Usclas-du-Bosc, Vailhan, Vailhauquès, Valmascle, Valros, Vendargues, Vendémian, Vendres, Vias, Vic-la-Gardiole, Vieussan, Villemagne-l’Argentière, Villeneuve-lès-Béziers, Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, Villeneuvette, Villespassans, Villeveyrac, Viols-en-Laval and Viols-le-Fort.
5.   Link with the geographical area


Summary of the link


Specificities of the geographical area

Natural factors
The geographical area of ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ is open to the sea on the south-east, and is bordered to the north and west by the hills of the northern mountains: Causses, Caroux, Espinouse and Montagne Noire. This rim is broken up by entrenched valleys, whose outlets flow to the Mediterranean after crossing the Languedocian plain. The rocks are varied: limestone rocks of the Causses and rocks of the old massifs (crystalline and metamorphic rocks) on the other massifs. The olive groves are sited on the sunny sides of these valleys.
The part on the Languedocian plain varies in relief from hills to small limestone plateaus. There are often colluvial and glacis deposits at the foot of the escarpments. These gravel-rich deposits make the land eminently suitable for growing olive trees.
In the south-west, the Corbières Massif is very fragmented. Formed of limestone bars alternating with small basins that are often stretched out, developed into marls and framed with gravel-rich slopes, this area is conducive to growing olive trees.
The geographical area also benefits from a Mediterranean climate: the few days of rainfall mean significant sunshine ranging from 2 500 to 2 900 hours of sun per year and a more or less severe summer drought. The combination of these factors, together with a large number of days of high wind that may blow in strong gusts, has consequences for the species planted, which need to have Mediterranean characteristics. They must be able to withstand drought, store water in their vegetative parts and adapt their growth rate to the rainy seasons (autumn and spring), as is the case for the olive tree.
In this area, two varieties stand out in particular. The Lucques variety is grown specifically at altitudes which rarely exceed 300 m on soils that are porous and not very hydromorphic. This variety thrives best on sunny south-facing moderate slopes. It may also do well on a north-facing slope, provided the ground is very favourable, or even in old orchards in well-exposed rows. The Olivière variety is suited to the same soil and climate conditions as the Lucques, and has historically been cultivated in the departments of Aude and Hérault.
Human factors
The olive tree began its spread (as part of the Mediterranean triad of grains, grapes, and olives) throughout almost the whole of Languedoc in the middle of the tenth century, a spread which would endure until the Industrial Revolution.
At the start of the 20th century, the slump in wine sales pushed the government to encourage olive growing. A cooperative movement, based on the viticulture model, developed in order to modernise oil mills (the L’Oulibo cooperative oil mill was founded in Bize-Minervois in 1942; the Clérmont-l’Hérault cooperative oil mill founded in 1920 was restored, as was the Pignan cooperative oil mill).
From 1945 to 1954, Languedoc-Roussillon produced 24 % of the domestic olives grown for oil production, i.e. an average of 6 400 tonnes per year. In 1954, the region produced 10 155 tonnes of olives grown for oil, more than 31 % of domestic output. Before the ‘great freeze’ of 1956, there were 150 oil mills in Languedoc.
After the great freeze, only around 10 of them remained in operation. Others shifted to trading in foreign olive products. Only one cooperative still remains in Hérault: the Clermont l’Hérault cooperative. Olive production went down to 80 tonnes in Hérault in 1956.
Thanks to the keen interest olive oil enjoyed, along with technical support from research bodies and professional organisations, this traditional cultivation could be taken up again, and olive growing started to become a profession as of the 1980s.
This professionalisation has led to improvements in olive growing practices, selection of suitable parcels, development of irrigation, regular pruning of olive trees, thereby improving the yield per hectare, all while preserving producers’ know-how.
This know-how is expressed in several ways:






—


the majority use of two varieties particularly suited to the conditions of the geographical area, namely the Lucques and Olivière varieties, which account for at least 60 % of orchard varieties;










—


the attention paid to the harvesting of the olives, only taking healthy fruit from the trees, at a time when they are ripe enough but not over-ripe (the olives are harvested when 40-70 % of olives have turned from green to yellow);










—


the average harvesting and crushing times, depending on the level of ripeness of the olives harvested;










—


the purely mechanical crushing processes, which respect the characteristics of the raw material.





Specificity of the product

The specificity of ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ lies in the blending of varieties, with the presence and predominance of at least one of the main varieties, i.e. Lucques and Olivière, which may be blended, combined with old and traditional local varieties. It is characterised by the dominant presence of tomato and almond aromas, which may be accompanied by apple aromas.
The more marked dominance of these aromas in the geographical area is due to the varieties used, the harvesting practices (moderately ripe fruit), and the interval of not more than eight days between harvesting and crushing. These aromas are harmoniously complemented by greenish notes conferred by the secondary varieties of olives used.
The oil has a mild bitterness and moderate pungency.

Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product


                     ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ has the characteristics of the terroir. Accordingly, the specific characteristics of ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ are due to:






—


the adaptation of the varieties to the conditions of the geographical area, particularly as regards the two main varieties, Lucques and Olivière, which have historically only been grown in significant quantities in Languedoc, and in some parts of Roussillon for the Olivière variety. These varieties only reach their full expression in the lands and climate of Languedoc. A particular element that favours ‘Huile d’olive du Languedoc’ is the wind in Languedoc, namely the Mistral blowing from the north-east and the Tramontane blowing from the north-west, which is mostly confined to the west of the Hérault. The combination of these two winds is very important as they offer a solution for the delicate situation of the extremely short pollination period for the Lucques variety. In addition, the high number of days of strong wind reinforces the drought effect in summer and in winter and refreshes the ambient atmosphere in winter. This phenomenon peculiar to Languedoc causes late frosts in March to April, particularly in areas where the soil is cold. The Olivière variety, which is well resistant to cold, is particularly suited to these climatic characteristics;










—


the care provided by olive growers who, from production to processing, have adapted their practices to the varieties, through:






—


the choice of suitable land to maximise yields (preferably south-facing, and on slopes to allow good drainage);










—


the introduction of sufficient numbers of pollinators in the parcels;










—


the choice of harvest date based on the proper ripening of the olives. The fact that the olives are harvested at the average ripeness point, when 40 % to 70 % of the olives have turned yellowy-green, contributes to the specificities of the product (mild bitterness, pungency between 1 and 3, specific aromas);










—


leaving of an optimum interval between harvesting and processing to obtain a specific high-quality oil;










—


the blending of the two main varieties present in the geographical area.








All these combined elements make it possible to produce an oil which owes its reputation to its quality of fruitiness.

Electronic (URL) reference to publication of the product specification


https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/boagri/historique/annee-2025/semaine-39



(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/2026/1378/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)