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: 2026-06-25
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Centre-Val de Loire, France, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, leguminous vegetable, product designation, quality control of agricultural products








C_202603367EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/3367


25.6.2026






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/2026/3367)

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

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


‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’


EU reference number: PGI-FR-0030-AM01 – 3.12.2025
                  

1.   Name of product

‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’
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


Name

Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-food and Food Sovereignty
6.   Qualification as standard amendment

The application for amendment to the ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ PGI does not involve any of the three situations constituting a Union amendment; specifically, it does not:






(a)


include a change in the name of the protected geographical indication;










(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)


Heading

Description of the geographical area

Description

The product specification includes an update to the alphabetical list of the names of the municipalities in accordance with the geographical code in force in 2025.
The stages carried out in the area have been redrafted:






—


the term ‘fumigation’ has been replaced by ‘protection of the seeds from natural predators’,










—


‘selective sorting’ has been replaced by ‘sorting’.




The stage of bulk-bag pre-packaging (1 200 kg maximum) has been reformulated.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.





Heading

Evidence that the product originates in the geographical area

Description

A standard sentence on the obligations to identify operators has been added. The list of steps carried out in the area has been moved to the ‘Definition of the geographical area’ section. The traceability table for operations has been updated.






☐


The amendment affects the single document.





Heading

Evidence of the link with the geographical environment

Description

An introductory sentence has been added to indicate that the link between the product and its geographical area is based on its distinctive quality (quality sorting, uniform size) and its reputation.
In line with the section ‘Choice of parcels’, the capacity of the selected soils to have an average water reserve of 60 to 100 mm has been deleted.
The tables showing the historical data on temperature, rainfall, surface area and production volume have been deleted.
References to entities operating privately have been removed or anonymised.
The organoleptic descriptions have been removed from the sections ‘Specificity of the product’ and ‘Causal link’. The specific product feature ‘uniform colour and size before cooking’ is enhanced through the specialised know-how of skilful sorting.
Information on specific characteristics (absence of mineral matter and uniform size) has been deleted because it is already provided in the section ‘Description of product’.
In the section ‘Causal link’, the link between know-how (choice of parcels) and the specificity of the product (uniform colour and size) has been expanded.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.





Heading

Description of product

Description

The product description has been reworded to highlight the characteristic ‘a dark green husk more or less marbled with blue’, which is also already included in the product specification under the product definition.
The minimum size of the lentils has been changed from 4 mm to 3,5 mm.
The reference to the category of dried leguminous vegetables has been deleted.
The presentation of the product in the geographical area has been supplemented by a maximum of 1 200 kg for bulk bags and a maximum of 50 kg for units of sale to the consumer.
The level of foreign matter and the level of unacceptable seeds have been detailed.
The reference to protein content has been deleted, as have the references to nutritional values cited in the bibliographical annexes.
For each product characteristic presented, a description has been introduced. This description of the characteristics was initially included in the section ‘Approval upon receipt and storage of the raw product’.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.





Heading

Description of the method of production

Description

A general diagram of the production stages has been added to the specification to indicate which stages are carried out in the geographical area.






—


Choice of parcels: deletion of the average water reserve of 60 to 100 mm. The descriptive details have been deleted to leave only the provisions linked to the production conditions. Liming materials are specified as prohibited improvers. The obligation for each holding to be a member of a producer group has been deleted (regulatory obligation). A crop rotation of 3 years has been introduced.










—


Tillage: The wording relating to the obligation to loosen the soil has been redrafted. The period of tillage initially scheduled for February has now been indicated as being ‘before sowing’.










—


Sowing: The initial density of 200 to 300 plants per m2 is now 200 to 350 seeds per m2. The descriptive details have been deleted.










—


Use of crop protection products: The wording has been revised for the purpose of clarification.










—


Fertilisation: The sentence ‘The parcels on which “Lentilles vertes du Berry” are cultivated have not received sludge from industrial or urban waste water treatment plants for at least 10 years’, initially in the section ‘Choice of parcels’, has been moved to this section.










—


Irrigation: the descriptive details have been deleted.










—


Pre-selection of the batches still on the plant - harvest: the descriptive details have been deleted. A ban on chemical haulm stripping has been added. A maximum period of 1 working day between harvesting and delivery has also been introduced.










—


Approval on receipt and storage of the raw product: the product characteristics are redundant given the details presented in the section ‘Description of product’, and have been deleted. The size of the relay silos, initially between 200 and 1 200 tonnes, has been redefined as between 10 and 1 200 tonnes. The volume of the storage units initially in containers of between 2 and 75 tonnes has been changed to between 1 and 75 tonnes. The traceability details in this section have been moved to the section ‘Evidence that the product originates in the geographical area’.










—


Conditions of storage: a maximum moisture content of 16 % has been introduced to comply with the storage conditions above 40 °C. Monitoring obligations for this provisions have been introduced in addition to the corrective measures.










—


Protection of the seeds: The fumigation requirement has been replaced by the obligation to apply a means of insect control. These means of control must not generate any residue from storage insecticide.










—


Sorting of the unfinished lentils: the wording has been updated to improve readability. A prohibition on mixing 2 years of harvest in the same storage unit has been added.










—


Packaging of the lentils: the packaging periods have been deleted. It has again been specified that pre-packaging in bulk bags takes place in the geographical area and that repackaging may take place outside the area. The characteristics of the product and the descriptions of the packaging have been deleted from this section.










—


Horizontal amendments to the product specification: textual clarifications have been added (‘zone IGP’ [‘PGI area’] has been replaced by ‘aire géographique’ [‘geographical area’], ‘moisson’ [‘harvest’] by ‘récolte’ [‘harvest’] and ‘containers’ by ‘unité de stockage’ [‘storage unit’]).










☑


The amendment affects the single document.





Heading

Inspection body

Description

The details concerning the inspection body and the regulatory references have been updated.






☐


The amendment affects the single document.





Heading

Labelling

Description

The labelling information has been updated in the product specification in accordance with the legislation in force.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.





Heading

National requirements: Main points to be checked

Description

The table setting out the main points to be checked has been updated in line with all the amendments made to the product specification.






☐


The amendment affects the single document.




SINGLE DOCUMENT

Designations of origin and geographical indications of agricultural products


‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’


EU reference number: PGI-FR-0030-AM01 – 3.12.2025
                  

1.   Name(s)

‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’
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


                  0713 40  – Lentils
4.2.   Description of the agricultural product to which the registered name applies

‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ are dry seeds from the leguminous plant Lens Culinaris, Anicia variety. The seeds are 3,5 mm to 6 mm in diameter and 2 mm to 2,5 mm thick. They are dark green in colour, more or less marbled with blue. After sorting, they should have the following characteristics:






—


humidity: ≤ 16 %,










—


foreign matter: ≤ 0,2 % of which mineral matter ≤ 0,001 per thousand,










—


broken or split seeds ≤ 0,8 %,










—


cracks in seeds ≤ 0,2 %,










—


damaged seeds ≤ 0,8 %,










—


unacceptable seeds ≤ 0,1 %.




Cooking time of no more than 30 minutes.
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







 


Crop production










 


Harvesting










 


Storage










 


Protection of grains from natural predators










 


Sorting










 


Bulk-bag pre-packaging (maximum 1 200 kg)




4.5.   Specific rules concerning packaging, slicing, grating etc. of the agricultural product the registered name refers to

The packaging in bulk bags of up to 1 200 kg must take place in the defined geographical area. It is done only for loose lentils sorted to finished product standards. These bulk bags are intended for external packagers for their own packaging (consumer sales units, catering), or for industries specialising in prepared meals.
Bulk-bag packaging in the area makes it easier to ensure the identification and traceability of batches because this type of packaging is more secure than bulk transport by lorry. It also minimises the risk of mixing.
‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ may be packaged in consumer sales units and shipped from the geographical area or from the external packagers (outside the geographical area).
4.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the agricultural product the registered name refers to

—
4.7.   Concise definition of the geographical area

This area covers 49 municipalities (or parts of municipalities) of Berry located in the departments Indre and Cher.
Cher: Charost, Civray, Mareuil-sur-Arnon, Saint Ambroix, Saugy.
Indre: Les Bordes, Bouges-le-Château, Bretagne, Brion, Brives, La Champenoise, La Chapelle-Saint-Laurian, Chezelles, Chouday, Coings, Condé, Diors, Diou, Fontenay, Francillon, Giroux, Guilly, Issoudun, Levroux (only the territory of the delegated municipality of Levroux), Liniez, Lizeray, Luçay-le-Libre, Ménétréols-sous-Vatan, Meunet-Planches, Meunet-sur-Vatan, Migny, Montierchaume, Moulins-sur-Céphons, Neuvy-Pailloux, Paudy, Saint-Aoustrille, Saint-Aubin, Sainte-Fauste, Sainte-Lizaigne, Saint-Florentin, Saint-Georges-sur-Arnon, Saint-Maur (only the territory of the delegated municipality of Villers-les-Ormes), Saint-Valentin, Ségry, Thizay, Vatan, Villegongis, Vineuil, Vouillon.
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


5.   Link with the geographical area

The link between ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ and the geographical area is based on their specific quality (quality sorting, uniform size) and reputation.
5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area

5.1.1.   Soil factors
The cultivation of ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ is underpinned by the lime-clay agricultural soils composed of the rendzinas and calcareous brown soil of the Upper Jurassic plateau of Champagne Berrichonne.
These soils are:






—


healthy in terms of hydromorphy,










—


not prone to capping,










—


rich in organic matter,










—


not very compact.




They are shallow, promoting the plant’s growth, which contributes to excellent yields. These lime-clay soils are thus healthy, easy to work and perfectly suited to lentil cultivation.
5.1.2.   Climate factors
The geographical area enjoys a temperate climate with regular rainfall in the spring and high temperatures (27 °C to 30 °C) from the end of June.
5.1.3.   Human factors
The first growing techniques for improving the quality and the yields of green lentils were developed in the 1950s in Champagne Berrichonne. This expertise was passed on from farmer to farmer growing ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’, which allowed the development of this crop in the geographical area of the PGI.
Initially grown by a number of farmers in the region during the 1960s, cultivation expanded to reach 7 200 hectares in 1983 and 79 % of French lentil production.
Since 1994 when the ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ association was created and the achievement of PGI status in 1998, the share of PGI ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ has increased. The production under PGI went from an initial 170 hectares to its present level of some 900 hectares in 2025.
The expertise of ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ producers is typified by:






—


sowing the lentils in lime-clay soils;










—


sowing density adapted to the soil type;










—


mastery of weed control adapted to this type of cultivation and limiting the risk of grey rot;










—


the uniform maturity of the ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ before harvesting;










—


the quality of sorting to eliminate split, broken, cracked or damaged lentils;










—


mastery of sorting: seed diameter and characteristics of the very select finished product.




5.2.   Specificity of the product

5.2.1.   Specific characteristics of the product
‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ are characterised by the dark green colour of their husks, marbled with blue.
‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ have a uniform colour and size before cooking. This feature is often highly valued by consumers and processors.
5.2.2.   Reputation
The expansion of this crop has allowed ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ to gain a strong local and regional renown. Its renown was assessed in 1993 by a public awareness survey where 31 % of the people surveyed spontaneously said they knew ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ and 51 % did when asked by the interviewer.
‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ play a part in the local tourism industry:






—


a lentil museum (maison de la lentille) was established in Chouday, the home of the first farmer to grow the lentils;










—


in 1993 the ‘Confrérie des Fins Mangeux d’Lentilles vertes du Berry’ association was established to promote ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’;










—


in Vatan in the Indre department, a lentil festival was established in 1993, the second weekend of September, to showcase the early lentils.




As far as gastronomy is concerned, since 1972 ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ have been referred to in national newspapers (Le Figaro), with the original creation by Alain Nonnet, Maître Cuisinier de France (master chef), of ‘la crème de lentilles du Berry’ (cream of Berry lentils) at ‘La Cognette’ restaurant in Issoudun. This soup has since become a major culinary staple, mentioned in numerous cookbooks and even in the Larousse encyclopaedia of regional cuisine. In 2004, the cream of lentil soup featured in the competition to find the best apprentice chef in Europe.
The restaurateurs of the Berry gourmand association have also actively contributed to the reputation of ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ by featuring this local product in their menus.
5.3.   Causal link between the geographical area, quality and reputation

The lime-clay soils have a strong effect on the uniform size and green colour of the lentils. The fact that these soils are healthy in hydromorphic terms, not very compact and not very consolidated means that they favour the cultivation of the crop, thus helping to fight diseases.
The temperate climatic conditions do not expose the crop to any stress factors. The high temperatures at the end of the growing cycle put a rapid end to the flowering period, which contributes to a uniform degree of maturity.
The correlation of the climatic conditions with this soil type ensures that the lentils are uniform in colour, size and maturity.
The lime-clay soils are also easy to work, which limits the presence of mineral matter in the crops harvested. The know-how developed for sorting the lentils in the PGI area then contributes to this special quality of an absence of mineral matter in the finished product.
Many consumers recognise it, and this has contributed to its reputation.
It is thus the soil characteristics of the area and the growing techniques used for 30 years by the region’s farmers which give this local production its specific characteristics. Thanks to Paul Dufour’s work in developing this cultivation, which is perfectly adapted to the lime-clay soil types of the PGI area, the quality of the product and the yields have improved. This is how ‘Lentilles vertes du Berry’ obtained its reputation, which has gone from strength to strength over time thanks to the region’s chefs showcasing its gastronomic potential.

Electronic (URL) reference to publication of the product specification


https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/boagri/document_administratif-40f9105a-26b0-47e0-9799-f0161c3a8df5



(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/2026/3367/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)