20.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 57/17 Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to the product specification for a name in the wine sector referred to in Article 17(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (2020/C 57/08) This notice is publishedin accordance with Article 17(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (1). COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT ‘Saumur-Champigny’ PDO-FR-A0147-AM02 Date of communication: 18 November 2019 DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT 1. Geographical name ‘Supplementary geographical name’ has been shortened to ‘geographical name’ in points II and XII(2)(b) of Chapter I. A number of product specifications for Loire Valley wines allow what is conventionally known as the eponymous geographical name – ‘Val de Loire’ – to be used to refer to the greater region. The use of this term on wine labels is subject to specific rules laid down in those product specifications. As the term ‘supplementary geographical name’ is also used in some cases to denote smaller geographical units with more restrictive production conditions, the word ‘supplementary’ has been removed in order to prevent any confusion. Point 9 of the single document, ‘Further conditions’, has been amended accordingly. 2. Geographical area Under point IV(1) of Chapter I, the sentence ‘The grapes are harvested and the wines made, developed and aged in the following municipalities:’ is replaced by the following sentence: ‘All stages of production must take place in the geographical area, which spans the territories of the following municipalities, based on the 2018 Official Geographical Code:’ The following sentence has also been added: ‘Maps of the geographical area can be viewed on the website of the National Institute of Origin and Quality.’ The wording proposed under ‘Geographical area’ is aimed at being more reader‐friendly and removes any ambiguity concerning the description of the phases (wine-making, developing, ageing, etc.). Editorial amendment: the list of administrative entities takes into account any merger or other changes in administrative boundaries that have occurred since the approval of the specification. For greater legal certainty, the list follows the current version of the Official Geographical Code, updated yearly by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). The boundaries of the geographical area remain exactly the same. Lastly, to keep the public better informed, reference is made to the availability of maps of the geographical area on the website of the National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO). Point 6 of the single document, ‘Geographical area’, has been amended accordingly. 3. Demarcated parcel area In point IV(2) of Chapter 1 of the product specification, the words ‘and 19 January 2017’ have been added after ‘5 September 2007’. The purpose of this amendment is to add the date on which the competent national authority approved a modification of the demarcated parcel area within the geographical area of production. Parcels are demarcated by identifying the parcels within the geographical area of production that are suited to production of the product covered by the protected designation of origin in question. The single document is not affected by this amendment. (1) OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2. C 57/18 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 20.2.2020 4. Area in immediate proximity In point IV(3) of Chapter 1, the list of municipalities has been replaced as follows: — Department of Deux-Sèvres: Saint-Martin-de-Mâcon, Tourtenay; — Department of Indre-et-Loire: Chinon; — Department of Maine-et-Loire: Artannes-sur-Thouet, Brézé, Brossay, Cizay-la-Madeleine, Le Coudray-Macouard, Courchamps, Distré, Doué-en-Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Concourson-sur-Layon, Doué-la-Fontaine, Forges, Meigné and Les Verchers-sur-Layon), Épieds, Fontevraud-l’Abbaye, Montreuil-Bellay, Le Puy-Notre-Dame, Rou-Marson, Saint-Just-sur-Dive, Saumur, Terranjou (former territory of the delegated municipality of Chavagnes), Les Ulmes, Vaudelnay; — Department of Vienne: Berrie, Curçay-sur-Dive, Glénouze, Pouançay, Ranton, Saint-Léger-de-Montbrillais, Saix, Ternay, Les Trois-Moutiers. This change reflects the various mergers of municipalities that have taken place since the previous version of the product specification was published. The boundaries of the area in immediate proximity remain exactly the same. Point 9 of the single document, ‘Further conditions’, has been amended accordingly. 5. Agri-environment rule The following sentences have been added to point VI(2) of Chapter 1 after ‘naturally occurring plant growth is managed’: ‘Otherwise, operators must provide justification for using bio-control products approved by the wine- growing authorities. Where bio-control herbicides are used on a land parcel, the use of other herbicides is not permitted.’ This amendment reflects current developments in practice among operators in favour of conservation agriculture throughout the vineyards of Anjou. It takes into account growing environmental concern as part of technical procedures. By encouraging plant cover, the use of mechanical methods for weeding, or the use of bio-control products, the amendment aims to reduce the use of chemical herbicides. This reduction in herbicides should increase the protection of wine-growing soils and guard their natural properties, such as fertility, bio-diversity and self- cleaning. In this way, it will contribute to the quality and authenticity of the wines and strengthen the sense of terroir. The single document is not affected by this amendment. 6. Harvest proclamation In point VII(1) of Chapter 1, the following sentence has been deleted: ‘The start date of the harvests is set in accordance with Article D. 645-6 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.’ It is no longer necessary to set a start date for harvests, since operators now have a wide selection of tools at their disposal that allow them to gauge the ripeness of the grapes as accurately as possible. All operators have access to various machines and equipment, both individually and collectively, that enable them to determine accurately the ideal start date for harvesting each parcel, depending on the production objectives. The single document is not affected by this amendment. 7. Sugar content In point IX(1)(c) of Chapter 1, the words ‘of the wines, after fermentation’ have been added after the words ‘glucose + fructose’. This amendment has been made to avoid any confusion with the sugar content before fermentation, as it is important to specify that the content must be verified after fermentation. Point 4 of the single document, ‘Description of the wine(s)’, has been amended accordingly. 8. Wood chips In point IX(1)(d) of Chapter 1 of the product specification, the words ‘except during wine-making’ have been added after the words ‘The use of wood chips is forbidden’. 20.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 57/19 The purpose of this amendment is to lift the ban on the inclusion of oak wood chips when making red wines bearing this designation of origin. In doing so, producers wish to reinforce the distinctiveness of wines of this designation of origin as fruity, smooth wines that are ready to be drunk from an early age. Tannins from wood are used during the wine-making process, which enhances the fruitiness and develops the structure of the wines by giving them roundness and a good length on the palate, while keeping the colour stable in the case of aged wines. Point 5 of the single document, ‘Specific oenological practices’, has been amended accordingly. 9. Fermenting room capacity In point IX(1)(e) of Chapter 1, the sentence: ‘All operators have a fermenting room capacity for producing wine equal to at least 1.4 times the holding’s average yield over the past five years.’ has been replaced by the sentence: ‘All operators have a fermenting room capacity for producing wine equal to at least 1.4 times the average volume of wine produced over the past five years.’ The specification made reference not to volume capacity (expressed in hectolitres or cubic metres) but to yield, which is the harvest volume divided by the production area (expressed for example in hectolitres per hectare). The proposed amendment rectifies this inconsistency regarding measurements without making any substantial change: the minimum is still set at 1.4 times the average volume of wine produced by a holding over the previous years. The single document is not affected by this amendment. 10. Circulation of wines Point IX(4)(b) of Chapter 1, concerning the date of entry into circulation of the wines between authorised warehouses, has been deleted. The single document is not affected by this amendment. 11. Link with the geographical area The word ‘Agricultural’ has been added to ‘Angers Agricultural and Industrial Company’ (Société Agricole et Industrielle d’Angers) because the title of this journal was incomplete. The proposed correction rectifies this omission. Point 8 of the single document, ‘Description of the link(s)’, has been amended accordingly. 12. Transitional measure The transitional measure in point XI(1) of the specification has been deleted, as it expired in 2017. The single document is not affected by this amendment. 13. Labelling rules A new point 1 has been added: ‘1 General provisions Wines bearing the controlled designation of origin “Saumur-Champigny” under the terms of this product specification and presented under that designation cannot be declared after harvest, offered to the public, dispatched, marketed or sold unless the controlled designation of origin appears in the harvest declaration, in advertisements, catalogues, and on any labels, invoices or receipts.’ This rule is present in all product specifications and had been omitted by mistake.