C 288/10
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
17.8.2023
This amendment to the weight of the product was decided in order to specify that only cheeses weighing over 1 kg may be marketed in portions.
The purpose of this amendment is to ensure a high standard of product presentation.
The small cheeses are not suitable for portioning as wedges.
Splitting the 0,5 kg cheese into two 250 g portions, for example, would mean two crescents rather than a single wedge.
The intention of the protection association is that ‘Pecorino Crotonese’ should continue to be sold whole and/or in portions, as the only possible formats allowed in presenting the cheese to consumers.
Dividing the cheese into portions also speeds up the maturing process, with the result that small fresh pecorino quickly takes on the properties of almost semi-hard cheese.
Small cheeses dry out quickly and lose their organoleptic characteristics unless they are treated.
This amendment concerns Article 9 of the product specification (specific details of the logo) and point 3.6 (sic) of the single document.
Current wording of Article 9 [of the product specification] and point 3.6 [sic]of the single document: ‘The logo of the product comprises two fields: the graphic logo on the left and the logo lettering on the right.
The logo must be imprinted onto the cheeses by fire branding or die stamping, while the lettering must be imprinted on the heel.’
New version: Article 9 of the product specification: ‘The logo consists of the first letter of the word “Crotone/ Crotonese”, i.e. the letter “C” turned on its side - with a small mark added to represent an eye - so that it resembles a sheep’s head, encircled by the words: “PECORINO CROTONESE DOP [PDO]”.
These items are in turn enclosed in a circle that resembles the shape of a whole Pecorino cheese.
The circumference is broken in the bottom right corner by a triangle representing a slice of Pecorino cheese that has just been cut.
The meaning is conveyed directly and immediately.
It is a logo that represents a cheese product, more specifically a cheese made from high quality sheep’s milk.
The words “PECORINO CROTONESE DOP [PDO]” are depicted again within the logo, positioned on two lines one below the other, to the right of or under the “vignette”.
The logo must always be displayed in its entirety.
The use of the simplified logo i.e. where the outer logo is absent, is solely and exclusively allowed in the “vignette” version.
However, the reverse, i.e. a logo depicting only the words “Pecorino Crotonese”, is not allowed.
To sum up, there are three authorised versions of the logo: horizontal, vertical and “vignette”.
The “vignette” version of the logo must be printed on the Pecorino by fire branding, die stamping or food ink stamping on one of the sides of the cheese.
The alphanumerical identification code for the cheese dairy must be displayed.
It may be printed directly on the cheese using the above-mentioned methods or be displayed on the label.
The heel of the cheese may be marked on an optional basis.
It is permitted to reproduce the logo on this part of the cheese using the established methods.’