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: 2026-06-19
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: France, Occitanie, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, olive, product designation, quality control of agricultural products








C_202603114EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/3114


19.6.2026






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/2026/3114)

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

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


‘Lucques du Languedoc’


EU reference number: PDO-FR-01375-AM01 – 24.3.2026
                  

1.   Name of product

‘Lucques 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.   Member State authority communicating the standard amendment


Name

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

The application for amendment to the ‘Lucques 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 areas 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 which are 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 has been specified that the geographical area comprises the territory of the listed municipalities, based on the Official Geographic Code of 1 January 2025. Moreover, the list of municipalities has been updated according to the Official Geographic Code of 1 January 2025 in the product specification and in the single document.










☑


The amendment affects the single document.





Title

Labelling

Description

Update to Section 8 ‘Labelling’ of the product specification:
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 wording 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 amendments

Description

Formal amendments have been made to the single document for the ‘Lucques du Languedoc’ PDO, given the current editorial rules on single documents.
The provisions concerning the pasteurisation of the olives, initially included in Section 3.5 ‘Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to’, have been moved to Section 4.4 ‘Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area’.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.




SINGLE DOCUMENT

Designations of origin and geographical indications of agricultural products


‘Lucques du Languedoc’


EU reference number: PDO-FR-01375-AM01 – 24.3.2026
                  

1.   Name(s)

‘Lucques 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


                  2005 70  – Olives

                  0709 92  – Olives
4.2.   Description of the agricultural product to which the registered name applies

The ‘Lucques du Languedoc’ olive is a whole green olive that is neither slit nor cracked. It is debittered using an alkaline solution and marketed in chilled or pasteurised brine.
The fruit and the pit have specific visual characteristics: the fruit has a green colour and an asymmetrical, crescent-like shape. The flesh is light-coloured. The pit is shaped like a crescent moon.
The skin is thin and unwrinkled. It may be slightly uneven.
The taste of ‘Lucques du Languedoc’ is characterised by:






—


a special texture: on the basis of the sensory analysis method of the International Olive Council, the firmness is ≥ 2,5, the fibrosity ≤ 3,5 and the crunchiness ≥ 2 on a 10-point scale;










—


slight or no bitterness or sourness;










—


light aromas of avocado or buttery avocado and sometimes even fresh hazelnut or cut hay;










—


average saltiness.




The olives are exclusively of the Lucques 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.
If pasteurisation is carried out, it must take place in the geographical area.
‘Lucques du Languedoc’ is a fragile product that must be handled with care: it must therefore be placed in brine and then, if applicable, pasteurised as close as possible to the place of harvest. The obligation to carry out the pasteurisation in the geographical area is based on the operators’ knowledge of the product’s organoleptic characteristics and their fragility. Thanks to the skills of the operators in the sector, the characteristics of the product are preserved, including after pasteurisation. Furthermore, when the pasteurisation is carried out in the geographical area, it is possible to perform the product checks rapidly and consequently limit the impact of pasteurisation on the quality of the product.
The sizes authorised must not exceed 37 fruits per 100 grams.
Batches must be of uniform size and colour.
Olives with the defects listed below must not exceed 3 % of the olives used:






—


wrinkled fruit,










—


skin abnormality that does not affect the flesh,










—


damage caused by the olive fruit fly,










—


skin abnormalities caused by hail,










—


the presence of stems,










—


olives turning colour.




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

—
5.   Concise definition of the geographical area

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

Department of Aude: 67 municipalities

Aigues-Vives, Argeliers, Argens-Minervois, Armissan, Azille, Badens, Bages, Bagnoles, Bizanet, Bize-Minervois, Blomac, Bouilhonnac, Canet, Caunes-Minervois, Coursan, Cruscades, Cuxac-d’Aude, Fleury, Floure, Ginestas, Gruissan, Homps, Laure-Minervois, Luc-sur-Orbieu, Mailhac, Malves-en-Minervois, Marcorignan, Marseillette, Mirepeisset, Montredon-des-Corbières, Moussan, Narbonne, Névian, Ornaisons, Ouveillan, La Palme, Paraza, Pépieux, Peyriac-de-Mer, Peyriac-Minervois, Portel-des-Corbières, Pouzols-Minervois, Puichéric, Raissac-d’Aude, La Redorte, Rieux-Minervois, Roquefort-des-Corbières, Roubia, Rustiques, Sainte-Valière, Saint-André-de-Roquelongue, Saint-Frichoux, Saint-Marcel-sur-Aude, Saint-Nazaire-d’Aude, Sallèles-d’Aude, Sallèles-Cabardès, Salles-d’Aude, Sigean, Tourouzelle, Trausse, Trèbes, Ventenac-en-Minervois, Villarzel-Cabardès, Villedaigne, Villegly, Villeneuve-Minervois, Vinassan.

Department of Hérault: 224 municipalities

Abeilhan, Adissan, Agde, Agel, Aigne, Aigues-Vives, Alignan-du-Vent, Aniane, Arboras, Aspiran, Assignan, Aumelas, Aumes, Autignac, Azillanet, Babeau-Bouldoux, Balaruc-les-Bains, Balaruc-le-Vieux, Bassan, Beaufort, Bédarieux, Bélarga, Berlou, Bessan, Béziers, Le Bosc, Boujan-sur-Libron, Le Bousquet-d’Orb, Bouzigues, Brignac, Brissac, Cabrerolles, Cabrières, Campagnan, Candillargues, Canet, Capestang, Castelnau-de-Guers, Castelnau-le-Lez, La Caunette, Causse-de-la-Selle, Causses-et-Veyran, Caussiniojouls, Caux, Cazedarnes, Cazouls-d’Hérault, Cazouls-lès-Béziers, Cébazan, Celles, Cers, Cessenon-sur-Orb, Cesseras, Ceyras, Clapiers, Clermont-l’Hérault, Colombiers, Combaillaux, Corneilhan, Coulobres, Cournonsec, Cournonterral, Creissan, Le Crès, Cruzy, Espondeilhan, Fabrègues, Faugères, Félines-Minervois, Florensac, Fontès, Fos, Fouzilhon, Fozières, Frontignan, Gabian, Gigean, Gignac, Grabels, Jacou, Jonquières, Juvignac, Lacoste, Lagamas, Lansargues, Lattes, Laurens, Lauroux, Lavalette, Lavérune, Lespignan, Lézignan-la-Cèbe, Liausson, Lieuran-Cabrières, Lieuran-lès-Béziers, Lignan-sur-Orb, La Livinière, Lodève, Loupian, Magalas, Maraussan, Margon, Marseillan, Mauguio, Maureilhan, Mérifons, Mèze, Minerve, Mireval, 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, Olmet-et-Villecun, Olonzac, Oupia, Pailhès, Paulhan, Pégairolles-de-Buèges, Pégairolles-de-l’Escalette, Péret, Pérols, Pézenas, Pierrerue, Pignan,
Pinet, Plaissan, Poilhes, Pomérols, Popian, Portiragnes, Le Pouget, Poujols, Poussan, Pouzolles, Pouzols, Prades-le-Lez, Prades-sur-Vernazobre, 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-Chinian, Saint-Clément-de-Rivière, 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-Just, 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, 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.
6.   Link with the geographical area


Summary of the link


Specificity of the geographical area

Natural factors:
The specific characteristics of the geographical area of ‘Lucques du Languedoc’, which is open to the sea in the south-east and bordered by mountains in the north, are based on:






—


a moderate altitude and specific soils: this area, an ‘amphitheatre’ that is formed by a row of hills and opens onto the Mediterranean, consists mainly of limestone, with terrain that is permeable and not very hydromorphic, which suits ‘Lucques du Languedoc’ well.
‘Lucques du Languedoc’ is grown at altitudes not exceeding 400 metres, usually on the south side of a moderate slope with plenty of sunshine, or possibly on the north side if the soil is very favourable to the olive tree, or even on well-exposed terraces in old groves;










—


a Mediterranean climate: the few days of rainfall mean significant sunshine ranging from 2 500 to 2 900 hours of sun per year. The combination of these two factors, together with the presence of two winds, the Mistral, which blows from the north-east, and the Tramontane, which blows from the north-west, constitute climatic conditions that favour the pollination of the Lucques variety in the spring. It is one of the earliest-flowering varieties, and its pollination takes place during May, almost 15 days earlier than for other varieties.




Human factors:
The geographical origin of ‘Lucques du Languedoc’ is located at the outlet of the Hérault gorges. This is the historical birthplace of the Lucques variety and the canning of green olives in Languedoc.
The Lucques variety is more demanding than the other local varieties in terms of temperature (the variety has a low resistance to cold), wind, pollination (the tree is not self-fertile and requires external pollination).
Despite these particular cultivation conditions, the quality of the products, the commitment of the farmers to this tree and its fruit and, later, the remuneration paid for exported olives were sufficient to develop the local cultivation of the variety, although it was not possible to extend it to other regions of France.
‘Lucques du Languedoc’, which is traditionally picked when it is green, because green olives are easier to preserve than black ones, has a very fine skin that requires careful handling both during harvesting (manual) and processing (lengthy immersion in soda, avoidance of shocks when rinsing the olives and placing them in brine, use of the method of reduced lactic fermentation). These highly perfected skills have been acquired over time by the canners of Languedoc and give this olive its unique character.

Specificity of the product

The ‘Lucques du Languedoc’ olive is a whole green table olive. Each olive batch is calibrated and homogeneous in size and colour.
The taste of ‘Lucques du Languedoc’ is characterised by a special texture: the olive is firm but not crunchy. It is not very fibrous. It is characterised by light aromas of avocado or buttery avocado and sometimes even fresh hazelnut or cut hay, with average saltiness.
Furthermore, ‘Lucques du Languedoc’ distinguishes itself from other olives in that it has an asymmetrical shape and its pit is shaped like a crescent moon.

Causal link

In its geographical area, which features particular natural characteristics, ‘Lucques du Languedoc’ has benefited for centuries from ideal conditions that have naturally turned this product into a speciality of Languedoc.
In order for it to thrive, ‘Lucques du Languedoc’ needs specific climatic conditions, such as the Mistral and the Tramontane, which together allow the olive tree to cope successfully with the delicate and extremely short period of pollination (wind pollination lasting two to three days). This variety is therefore particularly well suited to the climatic conditions of the geographical area.
These specific natural conditions, coupled with the know-how of the olive growers, confer on ‘Lucques du Languedoc’ its qualities: by trimming the trees regularly it is possible to harvest fruits of a suitable size for canning. Besides, manually harvesting the Lucques when green helps preserve the integrity of this olive, which has a fine and fragile skin. Lastly, the olives are debittered with an alkaline solution according to the method of reduced lactic fermentation, with the density of the solution and the immersion time varying according to the olives used. Similarly, when placing the olives in brine, close attention must be paid to the salt concentration in order to preserve the characteristic taste of ‘Lucques du Languedoc’.
This manner of processing the olives, which has become professionalised over the years, makes it possible to obtain olives with the characteristic texture and flavours.

Electronic (URL) reference to publication of the product specification


https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/boagri/document_administratif-6ac816d2-9cb0-48f5-a1ba-69c2088f7946/telechargement



(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/2026/3114/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)