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: 2026-04-23
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Italy, Tuscany, consumer information, designation of origin, honey, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products








C_202602419EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/2419


23.4.2026






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/2026/2419)

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

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


‘Miele della Lunigiana’


EU reference number: PDO-IT-0195-AM02 – 17.3.2026
                  

1.   Name of product

‘Miele della Lunigiana’
2.   Geographical indication type







☑


PDO










☐


PGI










☐


GI




3.   Sector







☑


Agricultural goods










☐


Wines










☐


Spirit drinks




4.   Country to which the geographical area belongs

Italy
5.   Member State authority communicating the standard amendment


Name

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

The amendment falls under the definition of a standard amendment since it does not concern the name or the use of the name, does not risk voiding the link with the geographical area and does not entail further restrictions on the marketing of the product.
7.   Description of the approved standard amendment(s)


Title

Amendment concerning Article 1 of the product specification on the types of honey and point 4.2 of the single document

Description

Three new types of honey have been added: heather honey, honeydew honey and wildflower honey.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.





Title

Amendment concerning Article 2 of the product specification and point 4.2 of the single document on the types of honey added

Description

The characteristics of the new types of honey have been added.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.





Title

Amendment concerning Article 8 of the product specification and point 4.6 of the single document on the labelling of the product

Description

Point 1 has been rewritten to include the new types of honey added.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.





Title

Amendment concerning Article 3 of the product specification and point 4.7 of the single document on the geographical area

Description

The geographical area has not been changed, but references to the new types of honey have been added.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.





Title

Amendment concerning Article 6 of the product specification and point 5 of the single document on the link

Description

The second and third paragraphs on the link have been slightly reworded to include the new types of honey.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.




SINGLE DOCUMENT

Designations of origin and geographical indications of agricultural products


‘Miele della Lunigiana’


EU reference number: PDO-IT-0195-AM02 – 17.3.2026
                  

1.   Name(s)

‘Miele della Lunigiana’
2.   Geographical indication type







☑


PDO










☐


PGI










☐


GI




3.   Country to which the defined geographical area belongs

Italy
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

04 – DAIRY PRODUCE; BIRDS’ EGGS; NATURAL HONEY; EDIBLE PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN, NOT ELSEWHERE SPECIFIED OR INCLUDED
4.2.   Description of the agricultural product to which the registered name applies

The protected designation of origin ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ is reserved for: acacia honey, chestnut honey, heather honey, honeydew honey and wildflower honey.
Acacia ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ is defined as honey produced from flowers of Robinia pseudoacacia.
Chestnut ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ is defined as honey produced from flowers of Castanea sativa.
Heather ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ is defined as honey produced from flowers of Erica Arborea.
Honeydew ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ is defined as honey produced in spring and summer.
Wildflower ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ is defined as honey produced during the season between March and September from mixed flower varieties.

Characteristics of product


Acacia ‘Miele della Lunigiana’

Organoleptic characteristics
Acacia ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ has the following characteristics:






—


It remains clear and liquid for a long time. Towards the end of the marketing period, some partial crystallisation may occur, but without leading to complete crystallisation.










—


Consistency: always viscous, depending on the water content.










—


Colour: very light, ranging from almost colourless to straw-yellow.










—


Smell: light, short-lasting, fruity and candied, similar to that of the flowers.










—


Taste: decidedly sweet, slightly acidic but not bitter.










—


Flavour: very delicate, typically with a note of vanilla, short-lasting and with no aftertaste.




Chemical, physical and microscopic characteristics
In addition to the requirements laid down by the legislation in force, Acacia ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ must have the following characteristics:






—


Water content: not more than 18 %.










—


Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content: not more than 10 mg/kg within four months of honey extraction.




Melissopalynological characteristics
The honey sediment is generally low in acacia pollen, with the number of pollen grains being less than or equal to 20 000 grains per 10 g of honey.

Chestnut ‘Miele della Lunigiana’

Organoleptic characteristics
Chestnut ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ has the following characteristics:






—


It remains liquid for a long time. Towards the end of the marketing period, partial and irregular crystallisation may occur.










—


Colour: dark amber, often with reddish tones.










—


Smell: fairly strong and sharp.










—


Taste: long-lasting, with some degree of bitterness.




Chemical, physical and microscopic characteristics
In addition to the requirements laid down by the legislation in force, Chestnut ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ must have the following characteristics:






—


Water content: not more than 18 %.










—


Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content: not more than 10 mg/kg within four months of honey extraction.




Melissopalynological characteristics
The honey sediment is rich in pollen, with more than 100 000 grains of chestnut pollen per 10 g of honey.

Heather ‘Miele della Lunigiana’

Organoleptic characteristics
Heather ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ has the following characteristics:






—


In its liquid state, it is never perfectly clear. It has a dense appearance since it crystallises quickly, forming a layer of fine but readily soluble crystals that maintain its quality.










—


Colour: dark amber, with orange or red tints in its liquid state; brown with orange tones in its crystallised state.










—


Smell: medium intensity, very distinctive; fresh, characteristic of the flower, caramel or cooked sugar.










—


Taste: normal sweetness; normal to sharp acidity; imperceptible to mild bitterness.










—


Flavour: medium intensity, very distinctive; aniseed or toffee, crème caramel, aromatic wood, particularly long-lasting.




Chemical, physical and microscopic characteristics
In addition to the requirements laid down by current legislation, Heather ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ must have the following characteristics:






—


Water content: not more than 18 %;










—


Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content: not more than 10 mg/kg within four months of honey extraction.




Melissopalynological characteristics
The sediment of the heather honey is generally low in pollen, but with more than 45 % of heather pollen grains. The absolute number of pollen grains that is expected is between 40 000 and 150 000 per 10 g (class II-II) according to the UNI5 standard.

Honeydew ‘Miele della Lunigiana’

Organoleptic characteristics
Honeydew ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ has the following characteristics:






—


It remains liquid and runny for a long time. Towards the end of the marketing period, partial and irregular crystallisation may occur.










—


Consistency: always viscous, depending on the water content.










—


Colour: from dark amber to almost black with petrol blue tints when liquid and brown tints when crystallised.










—


Smell: strong, characteristic of warm vegetation, caramelised, malty, baked fruit.










—


Taste: low or normal sweetness, not bitter; low acidity; sometimes with savoury hints.




Chemical, physical and microscopic characteristics
In addition to the requirements laid down by the legislation in force, Honeydew ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ must have the following characteristics:






—


Water content: not more than 18 %;










—


Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content: not more than 10 mg/kg within four months of honey extraction.




Melissopalynological characteristics
The sediment of honeydew honey is generally low in pollen, but has more than three pollen grains (honey dew/pollen grains indicator) and pollens from anemophilous species, predominantly chestnut or fir.

Wildflower ‘Miele di Lunigiana’

Organoleptic characteristics
Wildflower ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ has the following characteristics:






—


It remains in its liquid state and is not necessarily perfectly clear. However, at the end of the marketing period it may display dense and irregular crystallisation with medium-sized crystals that however maintain its qualities.










—


Consistency: runny at first, then it crystallises.










—


Colour: from light, to medium to very dark amber, with reddish tones; when crystallised, from light beige to dark brown.










—


Smell: from delicate with vanilla and fruity notes, to very intense and sharp; in some cases reminiscent of the prevalent nectar.










—


Taste: long-lasting, sweet or very sweet, sometimes with fragrant hints of prevalent nectars.




Chemical, physical and microscopic characteristics
In addition to the requirements laid down by the legislation in force, Wildflower ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ must have the following characteristics:






—


Water content: not more than 18 %.










—


Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content: not more than 10 mg/kg within four months of honey extraction.




Melissopalynological characteristics
The sediment of wildflower honey has an abundance of pollen from spring fruit-bearing flowers and plants typical of the area, in particular Taraxacum and Prunus and other summer plants.
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)

Any artificial feeding must be suspended before the frames are inserted and must, in any case, comprise only sugar and water.
4.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

Production, processing, preparation and packaging take place in the defined geographical area.
4.5.   Specific rules concerning packaging, slicing, grating etc. of the agricultural product the registered name refers to

The product may be packaged in any containers of a capacity and food-grade material permitted by the laws in force, preferably those made entirely of recyclable or compostable material. Only Miele della Lunigiana PDO not intended for end consumers may be packaged in large-capacity food-grade containers.
The product must be packaged within the defined geographical area. Packaging within the defined geographical area, along with the other phases of production, is a traditional practice in the area and is justified in order to:






(a)


protect the quality of the product, in that packaging within the defined area avoids any risk of deterioration in the honey’s chemical, physical and organoleptic characteristics that might be caused by the unavoidable movements and variations in physical and environmental conditions occurring during transport to another area;










(b)


guarantee control and traceability of the product in order to ensure the effectiveness of the compulsory checks carried out by the authorised body at all stages of production provided for in the legislation in force.




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

Information relating to the designation and presentation of the packaged product is regulated by the legislation in force. In addition to the information required by law, the label must include the following information:






(1)


Acacia, Chestnut, Heather, Honeydew or Wildflower ‘Miele della Lunigiana’;










(2)


The acronym ‘DOP’ [PDO], or ‘Denominazione di Origine Protetta’ [Protected Designation of Origin] written out in full;










(3)


EU logo: this logo may be included either on the label or on the seal to be affixed to the packaging;










(4)


The date of minimum durability, which must not in any case be later than two years from the date of packaging;










(5)


The name of the designation and the logo must appear on the label or on the packaging in clear, indelible lettering in a colour that strongly contrasts with the colour of the label; all other terms must be in smaller characters than those of the protected designation.




Other optional information to assist the consumer and/or nutritional information may also appear on the label.
5.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The production area for Acacia, Chestnut, Heather, Honeydew and Wildflower ‘Miele della Lunigiana’ comprises the following municipalities in the province of Massa Carrara: Pontremoli, Zeri, Mulazzo, Tresana, Podenzana, Aulla, Fosdinovo, Filattiera, Bagnone, Villafranca in Lunigiana, Licciana Nardi, Comano, Fivizzano and Casola in Lunigiana.
This area is a single expanse of land covering approximately 97 000 ha, and corresponds to the area of the Lunigiana Mountain Community.
Lunigiana (MS): 13 municipalities that correspond to the Lunigiana Mountain Community.
6.   Link with the geographical area


Summary of the link

The production area is generally mountainous. To the north and east, it is separated from the Po Valley by the ridge of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, while the limestone chain of the Apuan Alps to the south and the end of the Ligurian Apennines to the west divide the Lunigiana from other neighbouring valleys.
In the centre of the area is a wide, alluvial, intramontane basin with a complex system of rivers, of which the most important is the River Magra, into which all the water courses in the area flow.
The proximity of the Lunigiana to the sea and the complexity of the mountain landscape create a wide range of microclimatic gradients, with the lower-lying areas subject to the effects of thermal inversion, creating frequent night-time fogs that often last until late morning, and the hills enjoying a milder climate.
The soils and the mountainous nature of the Lunigiana have meant that the area has not been exploited in an intensive way; this, together with a lack of industrial development, has preserved the integrity of the environment with its abundant woodland. The Lunigiana currently has around 65 000 ha of woodland, accounting for 67 % of its area. The most common species are acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) and chestnut (Castanea sativa), but there is an abundance of heather (Erica arborea) shrubs in all the undergrowth of blackberry bushes and there are many fruit trees in large orchards, both man-made and wild, as well as large wild grazing areas with wildflowers. Acacia, a species of tree used for consolidating slopes, now grows naturally and is widespread in abandoned areas. During the brief but very intense flowering period in April/May, bees produce large quantities of nectar from the blossom. Chestnut trees, which have been grown since Roman times, have been an important resource for farming families in the Lunigiana, both as a source of food and for other uses (charcoal, wood and tannin), and during the flowering period in June and July are visited by bees. Other types of honey, i.e. monoflora such as heather, wildflower, reflecting the biodiversity of the area, and honeydew, which is particularly appreciated by sportspeople, were once less important from the point of view of marketing, but are now becoming increasingly popular with consumers.
Beekeeping has traditionally been carried out in the environment because of the sparse population, and the activity is widespread throughout the area. The abundance of the species and the favourable sequence of flowering permit the production of particularly pure honey.
Beekeeping has always been carried out in the Lunigiana and a number of historical documents attest to this and to the product’s renown. A document from Napoleonic times notes the number of hives in operation and the production and sale of honey to a range of traders. The same document notes that there was a candle factory producing for the local market. The area has a continuous tradition of producing honey and beehive products going back centuries, and the establishment in 1873 of the Beekeepers’ Association, the principal aim of which was the dissemination of rational beekeeping practices, is a clear demonstration of the activity’s deep roots in the Lunigiana.

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


https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/3341



(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/2026/2419/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)