C46 Official Journal

Home , Armorican Massif, Plomb du Cantal

Official Journal C 46 of the European Union

Volume 63 English edition Information and Notices 11 February 2020

Contents

II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2020/C 46/01 Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9602 — Banco Santander/Allianz Popular) (1) ...... 1

2020/C 46/02 Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9656 — CD&R/Anixter) (2) ...... 2

2020/C 46/03 Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9698 — Platinum Equity Group/Biscuit International) (3) ...... 3

2020/C 46/04 Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9615 — Glory/Grenke Bank/Cash Payment Solutions) (4) ...... 4

IV Notices

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Commission

2020/C 46/05 Euro exchange rates — 10 February 2020 ...... 5

Court of Auditors

2020/C 46/06 Special Report 5/2020 ‘Sustainable use of plant protection products: limited progress in measuring and reducing risks’ ...... 6

NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

2020/C 46/07 Information communicated by Member States regarding closure of fisheries ...... 7

EN (4) Text with EEA relevance. V Announcements

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

European Commission

2020/C 46/08 Notice of the impending expiry of certain anti-dumping measures ...... 8

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

European Commission

2020/C 46/09 Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9725 — Ardian/Groupe Cérélia) Candidate case for simplified procedure (5) ...... 9

2020/C 46/10 Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9729 — Bouygues Telecom/Phoenix Tower International/JV) Candidate case for simplified procedure (6) ...... 11

2020/C 46/11 Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9642 — Acerinox/VDM) Candidate case for simplified procedure (7) ...... 12

2020/C 46/12 Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9768 – OLF/Trenitalia/ILSA) Candidate case for simplified procedure (8) ...... 13

OTHER ACTS

European Commission

2020/C 46/13 Publication of an application for approval of non-minor amendments to a product specification pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs ...... 14

2020/C 46/14 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 ...... 31

2020/C 46/15 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 ...... 39

2020/C 46/16 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 ...... 48

2020/C 46/17 Publication of the amended single document following the approval of a minor amendment pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 ...... 56

(8) Text with EEA relevance. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Uni on C 46/1

(Information)

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9602 — Banco Santander/Allianz Popular)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 46/01)

On 8 January 2020, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available: — in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes, — in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32020M9602. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law.

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1. C 46/2 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9656 — CD&R/Anixter)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 46/02)

On 24 January 2020, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available: — in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes, — in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32020M9656. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law.

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Uni on C 46/3

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9698 — Platinum Equity Group/Biscuit International)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 46/03)

On 29 January 2020, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available: — in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes, — in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32020M9698. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law.

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1. C 46/4 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9615 — Glory/Grenke Bank/Cash Payment Solutions)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 46/04)

On 16 January 2020, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the internal market. This decision is based on Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). The full text of the decision is available only in English and will be made public after it is cleared of any business secrets it may contain. It will be available: — in the merger section of the Competition website of the Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/). This website provides various facilities to help locate individual merger decisions, including company, case number, date and sectoral indexes, — in electronic form on the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=en) under document number 32020M9615. EUR-Lex is the on-line access to European law.

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Uni on C 46/5

(Notices)

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Euro exchange rates (1) 10 February 2020

(2020/C 46/05)

1 euro =

Currency Exchange rate Currency Exchange rate

USD US dollar 1,0951 CAD Canadian dollar 1,4580 JPY Japanese yen 120,18 HKD Hong Kong dollar 8,5039 DKK Danish krone 7,4724 NZD New Zealand dollar 1,7108 GBP Pound sterling 0,84628 SGD Singapore dollar 1,5209 KRW South Korean won 1 301,41 SEK Swedish krona 10,5728 ZAR South African rand 16,4786 CHF Swiss franc 1,0700 CNY Chinese yuan renminbi 7,6471 ISK Iceland króna 137,90 HRK Croatian kuna 7,4550 NOK Norwegian krone 10,1188 IDR Indonesian rupiah 15 037,15 BGN Bulgarian lev 1,9558 MYR Malaysian ringgit 4,5425 CZK Czech koruna 25,026 PHP Philippine peso 55,657 HUF Hungarian forint 337,37 RUB Russian rouble 70,1120 PLN Polish zloty 4,2656 THB Thai baht 34,277 RON Romanian leu 4,7663 BRL Brazilian real 4,7210 TRY Turkish lira 6,5897 MXN Mexican peso 20,5466 AUD Australian dollar 1,6373 INR Indian rupee 78,1070

(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB. C 46/6 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

COURT OF AUDITORS

Special Report 5/2020 ‘Sustainable use of plant protection products: limited progress in measuring and reducing risks’

(2020/C 46/06)

The European Court of Auditors hereby informs you that Special Report 5/2020 ‘Sustainable use of plant protection products: limited progress in measuring and reducing risks’ has just been published.

The report can be accessed for consultation or downloading on the European Court of Auditors’ Internet: http://eca.europa.eu. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Uni on C 46/7

NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

Information communicated by Member States regarding closure of fisheries

(2020/C 46/07)

In accordance with Article 35(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy (1), a decision has been taken to close the fishery as set down in the following table:

Date and time of closure 11.1.2020 at 11:00 UTC Duration 11.1.2020 - 31.12.2020 Member State Member States fishing under ‘Other Member States’ quota Stock or Group of stocks COD/1/2B. Species Cod (Gadus Morhua) Zone 1 and 2b Type(s) of fishing vessels — Reference number 01/TQ123

(1) OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1. C 46/8 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

(Announcements)

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Notice of the impending expiry of certain anti-dumping measures

(2020/C 46/08)

1. As provided for in Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Union (1), the Commission gives notice that, unless a review is initiated in accordance with the following procedure, the anti-dumping measures mentioned below will expire on the date mentioned in the table below.

2. Procedure Union producers may lodge a written request for a review. This request must contain sufficient evidence that the expiry of the measures would be likely to result in a continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury. Should the Commission decide to review the measures concerned, importers, exporters, representatives of the exporting country and Union producers will then be provided with the opportunity to amplify, rebut or comment on the matters set out in the review request.

3. Time limit Union producers may submit a written request for a review on the above basis, to reach the European Commission, Directorate-General for Trade (Unit H-1), CHAR 4/39, 1049 Brussels, Belgium (2) at any time from the date of the publication of the present notice but no later than three months before the date mentioned in the table below.

4. This notice is published in accordance with Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036.

Country(ies) of Product origin or Measures Reference Date of expiry (1) exportation Acesulfame The People’s Anti-dump Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 1 November 2020 potassium Republic of ing duty 2015/1963 of 30 October 2015 imposing a China definitive anti-dumping duty and collecting de- finitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of acesulfame potassium originating in the People’s Republic of China (OJ L 287, 31.10.2015, p. 52) (1) The measure expires at midnight of the day mentioned in this column.

(1) OJ L 176, 30.6.2016, p. 21. (2) [email protected] 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Uni on C 46/9

PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION POLICY

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9725 — Ardian/Groupe Cérélia) Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 46/09)

1. On 31 January 2020, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

— Ardian France SA (‘Ardian’, FRANCE),

— Groupe Cérélia (FRANCE), via Osiris SAS.

Ardian acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Groupe Cérélia.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

— Ardian France is a private equity firm that manages and advises investment funds with shareholdings in various companies around the world.

— Groupe Cérélia is an international group specialising in the manufacture and marketing of doughs and bakery products.

3. On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2), it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4. The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.9725 — Ardian/Groupe Cérélia

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’). (2) OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5. C 46/10 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

E-mail: [email protected]

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/11

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9729 — Bouygues Telecom/Phoenix Tower International/JV) Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 46/10)

1. On 30 January 2020, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). This notification concerns the following undertakings: — Phoenix Tower International Holdco LLC (‘PTI’, USA), belonging to the Blackstone Group (USA), — Bouygues Telecom (‘BYTEL’, France).

PTI and BYTEL acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of a newly created company.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are: — PTI: hosting service provider for mobile telephony equipment outside France, — BYTEL: mobile and fixed telecommunications operator in France, — BTI: hosting service provider for mobile telephony equipment in France.

3. On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

4. The Commission invites interested third parties to submit to it their possible observations on the proposed operation.

Observations must reach the Commission no later than ten days following the date on which this notification is published. The following reference should always be specified:

M. 9729 — Bouygues Telecom/Phoenix Tower International/JV

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: [email protected]

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIUM

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’). (2) OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5. C 46/12 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9642 — Acerinox/VDM) Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 46/11)

1. On 31 January 2020, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1). This notification concerns the following undertakings: — Acerinox, S.A. (Spain, ‘Acerinox’), — VDM Metals Holding GmbH (Germany, ‘VDM’)

Acerinox acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of VDM.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are: — for Acerinox: manufacture and supply of stainless steel, — for VDM: manufacture and supply of high-performance alloys such as nickel-based alloys.

3. On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4. The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.9642 — Acerinox/VDM

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: [email protected]

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’). (2) OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/13

Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9768 – OLF/Trenitalia/ILSA) Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 46/12)

1. On 4 February 2020, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

This notification concerns the following undertakings: — Trenitalia S.p.A. (‘Trenitalia’, Italy); owned by Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A.; — Operador Ferroviario de Levante, S.L. (‘OFL’, Spain), belonging to the Befemar Group; — Intermodalidad de Levante, S.A. (‘ILSA’, Spain).

Trentialia and OFL acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of ILSA.

The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are: — for Trenitalia: an Italian railway company active in long distance and local passenger transport and international passenger transport; — for OFL: a Spanish company that is dedicated mainly to the provision of asset management activities and services related to passenger transport; — for ILSA: a Spanish company which will be dedicated to the privision of all types of passenger railway transport services in the context of the liberalisation of the railway sector in Spain and in the rest of the European Union.

3. On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

4. The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.9768 – OLF/Trenitalia/ILSA

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: [email protected]

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’). (2) OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5. C 46/14 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

OTHER ACTS

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Publication of an application for approval of non-minor amendments to a product specification pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2020/C 46/13)

This publication confers the right to oppose the amendment application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within three months of the date of this publication.

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF NON-MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE PRODUCT SPECIFICATION FOR A PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN OR PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION

Application for approval of amendments pursuant to the first subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012

‘CANTAL’/‘FOURME DE CANTAL’/‘CANTALET’

EU No: PDO-FR-0113-AM02 – 30 January 2019

PDO (X) PGI ( )

1. Applicant group and legitimate interest Joint Trades Committee for cheeses produced in the department of Cantal and in the geographical area of the ‘Cantal’ designation of origin (Comité Interprofessionnel des Fromages, CIF) Address:

52 avenue des Pupilles de la Nation BP 124 15001 Aurillac cedex FRANCE Tel. +33 471483994 Email: [email protected] The group is made up of milk producers, processors and ripeners and therefore has a legitimate right to request amendments to the product specification.

2. Member State or third country France

3. Heading in the product specification affected by the amendment(s) Product name Product description Geographical area Proof of origin Production method

(1) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/15

Link Labelling Other: responsible body in the Member State, applicant group, inspection bodies, national requirements

4. Type of amendment(s) Amendments to the product specification of a registered PDO or PGI not to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 Amendments to the product specification of a registered PDO or PGI for which a Single Document (or equivalent) has not been published not to be qualified as minor in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012

5. Amendment(s)

— ‘Product name’ heading ‘Cantal or Fourme de Cantal, Petit Cantal, Cantalet’ has been replaced by‘“Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal”’. The name ‘Cantalet’ has been dropped, as it is seldom used. The name ‘Petit Cantal’ has been removed from the product name, as it has not been registered as a PDO. Instead, the adjective ‘small’ is to be used for smaller-sized cheeses in the ‘Labelling’ section. These amendments are also made in point 1 of the Single Document in relation to point 3 of the summary sheet.

— ‘Product description’ heading The paragraph ‘“Cantal” is a cheese with a pressed, uncooked paste and dry crust, and its total dry extract contains at least 45 % fat’ has been replaced by: ‘“Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” is a cheese with a dry crust whose thickness increases as the cheese ripens. It is made entirely of cow’s milk with rennet added, and has a hard, uncooked paste that is pressed twice, with grinding of the curds between the first and second pressing. The cheese mass is salted, and its total dry extract contains at least 45 % fat. The minimum dry extract is 57 % at the end of the minimum ripening period for “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal”, namely 30 days from the renneting date.’ It has thus been added that the thickness of the crust of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ increases as the cheese ripens, that the cheese is made entirely of cow’s milk with rennet added, that it has a hard paste that is pressed twice, with grinding of the curds between the first and second pressing, and that the cheese mass is salted, as these details are required to accurately describe the product. It has also been added that the minimum dry extract is 57 % at the end of the minimum ripening period for ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’, namely 30 days from the renneting date. Adding this analytical descriptor enables the product to be more accurately defined. — The following paragraphs: ‘The cheese is in the form of a slightly bulging wheel, weighing 35 to 45 kilogrammes and having a diameter of 36 to 42 centimetres.’ ‘Small-sized cheeses with the following names may bear the Designation of Origin: — Petit Cantal, weighing 15 to 20 kg and having a diameter of 26 to 28 cm, — Cantalet, weighing 8 to 10 kg and having a diameter of 20 to 22 cm.’ have been replaced by the following paragraph: ‘“Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” is in the form of a slightly bulging wheel, with rounded edges and no irregularities: — weighing either 35 to 45 kg, when made in moulds of 36 to 42 cm in diameter (large size); — or weighing 8 to 10 kg, when made in moulds of 20 to 22 cm in diameter (small size).’ The description of the cheese’s shape in the form of a wheel has been further qualified: the reference to a ‘slightly bulging wheel’ has been replaced by an indication that the truckle is regular, with rounded edges and no irregularities, to avoid confusion with other similar products. C 46/16 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

The diameters of the cheese (36 to 42 cm for the large cheese and 20 to 22 cm for the small cheese) have been replaced with the diameters of the moulds, as the diameter of the cheese may fluctuate slightly during ripening.

The 15 to 20 kg size, which is rare, has been removed and replaced by the existing size of 8 to 10 kg, which is referred to as the ‘small size’ compared to the ‘large size’ of 35 to 45 kg.

— For the reasons referred to above, the following paragraphs in points 5(b) ‘description’ and 5(e) ‘acquisition’, respectively, of the summary sheet:

‘Cow’s milk cheese with pressed, uncooked paste and dry crust in the form of a slightly bulging wheel, weighing 35 to 45 kilogrammes and having a diameter of 36 to 42 centimetres, but also made in smaller sizes (20 kg or 10 kg); contains at least 45 % fat.’

‘Made entirely of cow’s milk with rennet added. The grains of curd are gathered together, pressed and allowed to mature, then ground; the resulting granules are salted then put into moulds before being pressed for a second time; the cheese ripens for at least 30 days in a cool, damp room’

have been replaced with the following paragraphs in point 3.2 of the Single Document:

‘“Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” is a cheese with a dry crust whose thickness increases as the cheese ripens, made entirely of cow’s milk with rennet added. It has a hard, uncooked paste that is pressed twice, with grinding of the curds between the first and second pressing. The cheese mass is salted, and the total dry extract contains at least 45 per cent fat. The minimum dry extract is 57 % at the end of the minimum ripening period for “Cantal”/ “Fourme de Cantal”, or 30 days from the renneting date.’

‘Truckles of “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” are in the traditional form of a slightly bulging wheel with rounded edges and no irregularities:

— weighing either 35 to 45 kg, when made in moulds of 36 to 42 cm in diameter (large size);

— or weighing 8 to 10 kg, when made in moulds of 20 to 22 cm in diameter (small size).’

— The following paragraph has been added:

‘“Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” cheeses bear the words “jeune”, “entre-deux” or “vieux”, depending on the ripening period and the dry extract, and they are defined as follows:

— “Jeune”: the ripening period ranges from a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of 60 days, and the dry extract is at least 57 %;

— “Entre-deux”: the ripening period varies from a minimum of 90 days to a maximum of 210 days, and the dry extract is at least 58 %;

— “Vieux”: the ripening period is a minimum of 240 days and the dry extract at least 60 %.’

In other words, three ripening stages (‘jeune’, ‘entre-deux’ and ‘vieux’) are defined according to the ripening period and the minimum dry extract, (which increases as ripening progresses), to make it easier for consumers to read and identify their preferred cheese. ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ is traditionally eaten at various ripening stages. The external appearance (a crust that changes from a greyish white, to golden and then brown), paste (a texture that becomes slightly crumblier) and taste (increasingly intense) of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ cheese changes depending on how long it has been ripened.

These additions have also been made to point 3.2 of the Single Document.

— The following sentence has been added: ‘The ripening period is counted from the renneting date’, because this information is required for checks.

This sentence has also been added under point 3.2 of the Single Document.

— The sentences ‘The paste, ranging in colour from cream or ivory to straw yellow, tastes creamy and subtle’ and ‘As the ripening period lengthens, the dry crust develops from a greyish white to dark ochre in colour’

have been replaced by the words:

‘The hard paste, ranging in colour from ivory to dark yellow, which is malleable for the younger cheeses and may become slightly crumbly for the more mature cheeses’ and ‘The dry crust develops gradually from a greyish white to golden and then brown, and it may be speckled with ochre to brown spots’.

The description of the cheese’s paste and crust has thus been amended based on the data collated by the tasting panels. This description better charts how the cheese develops as it ripens. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/17

This new description of the paste and crust has been added to point 3.2 of the Single Document.

— A description of the taste of the product has been added: ‘The taste, which is milky and may be slightly acidic at the beginning of ripening, gradually richens until it becomes fruity, intense and lasting’ to better describe the product.

This has also been added to point 3.2 of the Single Document.

— The sentences ‘“Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” may be sold in portions or grated’ and ‘With the exception of individual portions of less than 70 g, cubes and grated cheese, it is obligatory to keep part of the crust’ has been added. These provisions make it possible to lay down a framework in a context of continuous flux in the how cheese is eaten.

The sentence ‘It is prohibited to mix grated cheese obtained from “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” cheeses marked as being at different stages of ripening’ has been added so that the grated product can be clearly labelled using the correct designation of origin and stage of ripening, thereby better informing consumers.

These additions have also been made to point 3.5 of the Single Document.

— ‘Geographical area’ section

— The sentence ‘The production area covers the entire department of Cantal and the contiguous cantons from the following departments: Aveyron, Corrèze, Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme (cf. list of municipalities under Article 1 of the Decree of 29 December 1986)’

has been replaced by the following paragraph:

‘The milk is produced and the cheeses with the designation of origin “Cantal” / “Fourme de Cantal” are manufactured and ripened in the geographical area approved by the National Institute of Origin and Quality at the meeting of the competent national committee on 21 March 2018. The perimeter of this area comprises the territory of the following municipalities, based on the 2017 Official Geographic Code: […]’. This paragraph is followed by the list of municipalities or parts of municipalities making up the geographical area, which replaces the previous geographical area. The proposed geographical area, where all of the production and processing of the product take place, covers the territory of 278 municipalities, of which two only partially, spread over five departments. Compared to the previous geographical area, it has lost three municipalities in the department of Aveyron, nine in the department of Cantal and 210 municipalities in their entirety, plus part of one municipality in the department of Puy-de-Dôme. It is supplemented by part of a municipality in the department of Corrèze and by a municipality in the department of Haute-Loire.

The purpose of the overall reduction in the geographical area is to make it more consistent with the elements linking the area to the origin of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’. The revised geographical area corresponds to the traditional production and ripening area of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’, which is associated with the historical community of Haute-Auvergne and the department of Cantal and where practices for collecting the milk and manufacturing and ripening ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ were established a good 30 years ago. The geographical area combines agricultural practices that are strongly geared towards grass production with the characteristics of a cool and humid mid-range mountain environment, which typically has a minimum altitude of 500 m and/or significant rises and drops with a steepness of over 15 %, minimum annual rainfall of 700 mm, vegetation typical of hill and alpine levels on a geological substratum consisting of a Hercynian base with an eroded volcanic top layer and, here and there, small sedimentary basins between the mountains.

The municipalities withdrawn from the geographical area can no longer be said to have consistently manufactured ‘Cantal’ / ‘Fourme de Cantal’ over the past 30 years or so. The two municipalities or parts of municipalities added to the departments of Corrèze and Haute-Loire have a natural environment with characteristics comparable to those in other parts of the geographical area as well as long-standing, quality-oriented practices for ripening ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ beyond the minimum ripening period of 30 days.

— The sentence ‘The entire department of Cantal and the contiguous cantons from the departments of Aveyron, Corrèze, Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme’ in point 5(c) of the summary sheet has been replaced by the list of municipalities or parts of municipalities making up the new geographical area under point 4 of the Single Document. C 46/18 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

— The following two sentences have been inserted: ‘The National Institute of Origin and Quality shall submit the maps establishing the limits of the geographical area thus approved to the town halls of the municipalities included in part. Maps of the geographical area can be found on the National Institute of Origin and Quality website’. This addition clarifies how to consult the map of the geographical area.

— ‘Proof of origin’ heading

All the provisions under this heading have been added to the product specification to take account of changes in the inspection system for protected designations of origin.

Several statement forms have therefore been added:

— an ‘ID statement’, which is a prerequisite for establishing operators’ ability to comply with the specification of the designation from which they wish to benefit;

— ‘statements authorising producers to suspend or resume production’; these statements enable accurate monitoring of operators wishing to withdraw for a short period from the designation of origin. This makes it easier to manage the designation of origin, in particular as regards checks on production conditions and organoleptic tests.

— ‘statements required to notify and monitor the products to be sold under the designation of origin’: the contents of these statements and the rules for making them have been added.

These statements enable the applicant group to properly monitor the designation.

— The list of ‘registrations concerning traceability, monitoring and inspection of production conditions’ that must be carried out by operators in milk production, collection, processing and ripening has been added to make it easier to check traceability and production conditions as defined in the specification.

— The sentence ‘An uncoloured aluminium label used to identify the cheese must be affixed during production to the heel of each truckle’ in the ‘Labelling’ section of the current specification.

has been replaced by the sentences:

‘It is obligatory to identify the cheese. This is done by affixing an identification mark to the cheese when placing it in the mould’.

This specifies more precisely when the identification mark is affixed (‘when placing [the cheese] in the mould’ instead of ‘during production’), in accordance with current practice. The reference to where on the cheese where the mark is affixed (‘to the heel’) has been removed, as it is not necessary for identifying the product.

It has been added that ‘This identification mark may only be used once’ in order to improve traceability.

— The reference to ‘an uncoloured aluminium label’ and the sentence ‘It has two letters, either “CA” for Cantal, “CP” for Petit Cantal or “CT” for Cantalet, and the identification number of the production workshop’ in the ‘Labelling’ section of the current specification.

has been replaced by the sentence:

‘The nature, colour, dimensions and description of the identification mark comply with the rules in force’. This takes account of changes in materials and, marking techniques used for products and in the identifying information appearing on the product for the purpose of guaranteeing and reinforcing its traceability.

— The following sentences have been added:

‘Above the identification mark, “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” cheeses manufactured on the farm bear an embossed stamp on both sides, with the words “Cantal Fermier”, affixed when the cheese is placed in the mould. They may also feature an embossed stamp with the inscription “Ferme de...” (“Farm of...”) on one side, affixed when the cheese is placed in the mould.’

The inscriptions on these stamps show that the cheese was made on the farm. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/19

— The following sentences have been added:

‘Identification marks and embossed stamps are distributed solely by the applicant group to all authorised producers. The group keeps an updated register of the allocation of identification marks, which may be consulted by the inspection bodies. The group will withdraw from the producer the identification marks and the stamps if notified by the inspection bodies that the producer’s authorisation has been suspended or revoked. Where products have to be downgraded, the identification marks are removed from the downgraded cheeses and any inscriptions including the name “Cantal” left by the stamp(s)are removed from the product, in accordance with the procedure provided for in the inspection plan.’

These provisions ensure that identification marks and stamps are distributed to all producers complying with the specification and that they are removed from producers whose authorisation to produce has been revoked or suspended by the inspection bodies. These provisions also help ensure that any identification marks and inscriptions including the name ‘Cantal’ left by the stamp(s) are removed from downgraded cheeses.

— The following paragraph has been added: ‘As part of the checks on the specified features of the designation of origin, an analytical and organoleptic test is carried out to ensure the products submitted for examination are of high quality and possess the requisite typical characteristics. The test is carried out by random sampling on cheeses bearing the ripening indications “jeune”, “entre-deux” and “vieux”, respectively, in accordance with the procedures provided for in the inspection plan.’ This addition provides information on the procedure for inspecting the product and ensuring its compliance with the description of the designation of origin.

— ‘Production method’ section

— Milk production

Provisions on the conditions for rearing, managing and feeding the dairy herd have been inserted in order to record traditional practices:

— The sentence ‘The milk used to make “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” cheese comes from holdings with an area equal to at least one hectare of utilised agricultural area per cow’ has been added to guarantee the extensive nature of the milk production, in line with the traditional production method in the geographical area.

The sentences ‘The term “cow” covers all dairy and suckler cows that have calved once and are present on the holding. UAA hectares are used solely to record the area used by the farmer for feeding all the animals present on the holding’ have been added to clarify the categories of cattle and the areas covered by the previous provision.

— The following sentences have been added:

— ‘The dairy herd comprises all the dairy cows and replacement heifers present on the holding. Dairy cows are the lactating livestock and the livestock that have run dry, with the exception of cull cows being fattened. Heifers are the livestock that have been weaned but have not yet given birth.’

— ‘The entire dairy herd of a holding must fulfil the production conditions of the “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” designation of origin.’

These provisions identify precisely the livestock subject to the production conditions defined in the specification and thereby facilitate checks.

— The following provisions have been added: ‘The milk used to make “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” cheese comes from dairy herds composed of cows and heifers born and bred in the geographical area. It is forbidden to introduce into the dairy herds cows or heifers born and/or bred outside the geographical area’.

The local breeds Salers and, to a lesser extent, Aubrac, which were used until the 1950s-1970s for the production of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’, are today mostly geared towards meat production, and their share in dairy production has fallen markedly. The majority of the dairy herd of the geographical area that is home to the ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ PDO consists of cows of the Prim’Holstein and Montbéliarde breeds. When the designation of origin was registered in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/96, the specification did not contain any provisions on the cattle breeds authorised for the production of milk intended for the production of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’. Introducing an obligation whereby the dairy cows must be born and bred in the geographical area will make it easier to use animals that are adapted to the local environmental conditions, in particular to the harsh climate, the longer stabling period and the diet. C 46/20 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

Furthermore, it has been added that ‘However, for health reasons or for the mountain breeds Brune, Simmental Française, Abondance, Aubrac and Tarentaise, only small numbers of which are kept in the geographical area and for which demand exceeds the supply authorised by the director of the National Institute of Origin and Quality, a derogation from the provisions in the three preceding paragraphs may be granted by the director of the Institute’. In other words, a derogation from the obligation for the dairy cows to be born and bred in the geographical area may be granted by the competent national authority for a specific period of time and for a well-justified reason, and only for certain breeds (Brune, Simmental Française, Abondance, Aubrac and Tarentaise), so that the producers in question are able to obtain animals of those breeds outside the geographical area if a sufficient number of animals are not available within the geographical area. The breeds concerned by this measure are currently present on certain holdings in the geographical area (in small numbers), and they are deemed well adapted to mountainous conditions, meaning that they are able to meet the requirements of the geographical environment even if not born in the geographical area or if bred partially outside the geographical area. Furthermore, cows benefiting from this measure are subject to the same production conditions as cows of other breeds, once they are on a holding producing ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’.

— The following provisions have been added regarding the cows’ diet:

‘The dairy herd’s basic ration consists exclusively of coarse fodder from the geographical area.’

‘Pasture grass and/or grass silage/hay accounts for at least 70 % of the dry matter in the daily basic ration of the dairy herd.’

‘When grass is available, daily grazing is mandatory for the lactating cows as soon as the weather allows. During the minimum annual grazing period of 120 days, grazing must account for at least 70 % of the basic ration, expressed as a quantity of dry matter per cow and per day.’

‘Green feeding of the dairy herd is prohibited.’

‘Rearing the dairy herd without a grazing area is prohibited.’

‘During the period when grazing does not cover at least 70 % of the basic rations, each lactating dairy cow receives at least 5 kg of dry matter of hay per day. “Hay” means cut and dried grass with a dry matter content above 80 %.’

‘For dairy cows, the amount of supplementary feed with a dry matter content above 85% may not exceed 1,800 kg gross per dairy cow and calendar year. For replacement heifers, the amount of supplementary feed may not exceed an average of 30% of the total ration over the year, expressed as dry matter.’

These provisions help ensure that at least 70 % of the feed of the dairy cows comes from the geographical area and confirm the importance of fresh grass or grass silage/hay in the dairy herd’s diet.

For these same reasons, the paragraphs ‘The basic ration of the dairy herd is made up exclusively of coarse fodder from the geographical area, with pasture grass and/or grass silage/hay accounting for at least 70 % of the dry matter. During the minimum annual grazing period of 120 days, grazing of lactating cows must account for at least 70 % of the basic ration, expressed as a quantity of dry matter per cow and per day’ and ‘For dairy cows, the amount of supplementary feed with a dry matter content above 85 % may not exceed 1,800 kg gross per dairy cow and calendar year’ have been added to point 3.3 of the Single Document.

It has also been added to the Single Document that ‘Compliance with these provisions means that at least 70 % of the dairy cows’ feed comes from the geographical area. It may not be possible to obtain certain feed from the geographical area due to the topography, altitude and climate’.

— The following paragraphs have been added:

‘Grass preserved by silage and distributed to the dairy herd is made from pre-dried grass.’

‘Silage fodder is stored on a slab made of concrete or tar, while fermented fodder other than silage is stored on a surface made of concrete or stabilised sand before 1 November each year.’

‘Maize silage with a pH of 4,4 or higher or a dry matter content below 30 % may not be distributed to dairy cows.’

‘Grass silage with a pH of 4,4 or higher or a dry matter content below 25 % may not be distributed to dairy cows.’

‘The wrapped feed distributed to dairy cows must have a dry matter content above 50 %.’ 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/21

‘A systematic analytic of this fodder is carried out before 1 November each year by an approved laboratory on the basis of samples coordinated by the applicant group.’ ‘The following is banned from the dairy herd’s feed: — fodder preserved by silage that is more than 12 months old, — fodder with adverse effects on the smell or taste of the milk, such as leeks, cabbage, rapeseed, turnips and beet leaves.’ ‘Enzymes and bacterial inoculants are the only additives authorised in silage.’ By introducing criteria relating to the harvesting, storage, pH and dry matter content of the fodder (including a systematic annual analysis), it is possible to guarantee the proper conservation and quality of the fodder given to the animals. — The supplementary feed authorised in the dairy herd’s diet is set out in a positive list in order to select the raw materials that are most compatible with a traditional diet for cattle and to facilitate checks on the feed. Therefore the following paragraphs have been added: ‘Only the following supplementary feed is authorised in the basic ration of the dairy herd: 1. Cereals: barley, maize, wheat, oat, rye and triticale. 2. Cereal co-products: wheat bran and wheat feed, wheat and maize dregs, corn gluten feed, maize gluten, wheat gluten, maize germ cake and barley malt culms. 3. Dehydrated and pelleted fodder: dehydrated lucerne. 4. Whole protein and oil-protein seeds: soya, rapeseed, sunflower, flax, field beans, lupins and peas. 5. Co-products of protein and oil-protein seeds: soya cake, rapeseed cake, sunflower cake, flax cake, soya oil, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil. 6. Roots, tubers and their co-products: dehydrated beet pulp, molasses as a binder, with a maximum of 5 % of the compound feed taken into account in the dry matter content. 7. Minerals: authorised minerals set out in the Annex to amended Decree 86-1037 implementing the Act of 1 August 1905 on misrepresentation and adulteration of products or services relating to products and substances for use in animal nutrition. 8. Additives: authorised pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition and in accordance with the following list: — emulsifiers — stabilisers — thickeners — gelling agents — preservatives — binders — anti-caking agents — anti-oxidants of natural origin — vitamins, provitamins and chemically well-defined substances having a similar effect — compounds of trace elements’ ‘The only liquid feed authorised is whey from the holding.’ It has also been added that ‘The supplementary feed must have a dry matter content above 85 %, with the exception of liquid whey’ to make it easier to check the nature of the supplementary feed. In the Single Document, the sentence ‘The authorised supplementary feed is specified in a positive list’ has been inserted in point 3.3. — Transgenic feed and crops are banned by the addition of the paragraph ‘Only plants, co-products and supplementary feed derived from non-transgenic products are authorised in the animal feed. Transgenic crops are prohibited in all areas of farms producing milk intended for processing into cheese with the d “Cantal”/ “Fourme de Cantal” designation of origin. This prohibition applies to all types of plant likely to be given as feed to animals on the farm and to all crops liable to contaminate such plants.’ The aim of these provisions is C 46/22 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

to guarantee the traditional character of the dairy herd’s diet.

The provision ‘Only plants, co-products and supplementary feed derived from non-transgenic products are authorised in the animal feed.’ has been added to point 3.3 of the Single Document.

— The following paragraphs have been added to enable checks:

‘Compound feed is manufactured solely from the authorised raw materials listed above. Each bag and/or each delivery of compound feed is accompanied by a label containing, among other information, a list of the raw materials incorporated in the product and an indication that the share of molasses is less than 5 % of the compound feed , in dry matter.’

‘All of the harvested fodder and supplementary feed intended for the dairy herd is stored on identified sites.’

— The following paragraphs have been added:

‘In order to protect the cows’ feed against any risk of contamination from pollutants in organic fertilisers, the following measures apply when spreading these fertilisers on the land of holdings producing cheese with the “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” designation of origin:

— Origin: only organic fertilisers from the geographical area of the “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” designation of origin are authorised, and they include compost, manure, slurry, purin (of agricultural origin) as well as organic fertilisers of non-agricultural origin, such as sewage sludge (or by-products) and green waste.

— Monitoring the quality of non-agricultural organic fertiliser: each application of non-agricultural organic fertiliser is subject to analytical monitoring on a batch-by-batch basis: lorry-load, tankful, etc. The analysis concerns pathogenic germs, heavy metals and organic trace compounds covered by the legislation.

— Conditions for the spreading of non-agricultural organic fertiliser: spreading non-agricultural organic fertilisers is authorised on farmland, provided it is covered over immediately and done in compliance with the legislation in force regarding the specific restrictions (dates, protected areas, etc.), quantities, etc.

— After spreading fertilisers on meadows and pastures intended for the feed of cows whose milk is to be used to produce cheeses with the “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” designation of origin, a latency period of at least eight weeks should be observed prior to any use. During this time, the areas are used for purposes other than the production of fodder relating to the “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” designation of origin.’

These provisions on the spreading of organic fertilisers have been added to protect the cow’s feed against any risk of contamination from pollutants.

— Milking and storage of the milk

— The following sentence has been added: ‘The functioning of the milking installation is checked each year and whenever necessary by an undertaking authorised to inspect such installations’ to help preserve the quality of the milk used to make the cheese.

— The following paragraphs have been added to limit any spoilage of the milk and thus preserve the characteristics of the cheese:

‘In dairy production, after milking, the milk intended for the production of “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” cheese is stored in a cooling milk vat that complies with the mandatory standard. The milk may not be stored on the holding for more than 48 hours from the first milking.’

‘In farmhouse production, renneting takes place within 24 hours of the first milking. If the milk is not renneted immediately after milking, the milk is stored in a cooling milk vat that complies with the mandatory standard.’

— Production

— The sentence ‘The cheeses are made entirely of cow’s milk with rennet added’ has been removed from the ‘production method’ section, as this point has been added to the ‘product description’ section.

— The following paragraphs have been added:

‘The milk may be used raw or may be heat-treated.’

‘If “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” cheese is made with raw milk, or if it is made on the farm, all of the renneted milk is raw.’ 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/23

‘If heat-treated milk is used to produce the cheese, not more than 48 hours may elapse between the beginning of collection and the renneting of the milk. This period includes collection, deferred use of the milk, standardisation as well as the maturing period, which may not exceed 24 hours.’

‘If raw milk is used to produce dairy-made cheese, the milk is processed as soon as it is received at the dairy.’

‘Only milk that is produced by holdings fulfilling the conditions described and that is collected and stored separately from other milk may be used to make cheese with the “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” designation of origin.’

‘The standardisation of the protein content is prohibited, while the standardisation of the fat content is authorised so that it can be adjusted in the milk to obtain a minimum fat content in dry matter of 45 %.’

Together these provisions provide a better framework for the practices preceding the processing of the milk.

— Several provision have been added on the use of treatments and additives for the cheeses:

‘In addition to the dairy raw materials, the only ingredients or production aids or additives authorised in the milk and during production are rennet, bacterial cultures, yeasts and moulds that are shown to be harmless, as well as salt and calcium chloride.’

‘Concentrating the milk by partially removing the water content before coagulation is not permitted.’

‘The dairy raw materials, partly finished products, curd and fresh cheese must not be conserved at a temperature below 0 °C.’

‘Fresh cheese and cheese undergoing ripening may not be conserved under a modified atmosphere.’

New techniques, some of which concern treatments and additives, such as microfiltration, partial concentration of milk or enzymes for the ripening process, may impact the characteristics of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’. In particular, certain enzyme additives appear to be incompatible with preservation of the key characteristics of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’. It was therefore necessary to add to the specification provisions corresponding to the current practices regarding the use of treatments and additives for milk and in cheese production to prevent future practices not covered by the provisions from adversely affecting the characteristics of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’.

— The paragraph ‘The grains of curd are gathered together to form a truckle, which is pressed and left to mature. It is then ground and the mass of grains obtained is salted and moulded’

has been replaced by the following provisions to describe more precisely the different stages of production of the cheese:

‘The milk is renneted at a temperature of between 30 and 34 °C using rennet only.’

‘For “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” cheese made on the farm, the milk may be renneted in a wooden vat called a “gerle”, which may not be used for storage. However, during milking, the vat may be used as a recipient and for transporting the milk.’

‘The renneting time varies between 22 and 45 minutes. It is obtained by multiplying the renneting to cutting time by a coefficient of 1.5 to 3.’

‘The cutting and mixing is carried out manually or mechanically to obtain grains of curd whose size is between that of a grain of wheat and a corn kernel.’

‘The curd undergoes gradual pressing in a truckle press. The truckle, which is a consistent mass made from the curd, is turned over at least twice in the press. These operations consist in opening the truckle press and then cutting the truckle into blocks, which are stacked before the next pressing. Pressing makes it possible to obtain a truckle with a dry extract above 48% in less than four hours after renneting.’

‘After pressing, the truckle is matured for at least 10 hours in a room at a temperature of between 15 °C and 20 °C.’

‘The truckle, whose pH is between 5 and 5.4, is then ground and the mass is salted. This takes place at least 13 hours after the renneting.’

‘The temperature of the ground and salted truckle ranges from 17 to 21 °C. Dry salt is used for the salting. The truckle is kept in salt for at least one hour before being placed in a mould.’

‘The moulds are stacked one on the other, and the layers are pressed manually or mechanically.’ C 46/24 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

‘It is obligatory to use the “Cantal”/ “Fourme de Cantal” mould. The mould is an upright cylinder with flat bottoms that form a rounded edge not higher than 20 mm with the cylinder walls. The central part of the mould consists of one piece.’

‘The pressing is carried out gradually, either vertically or horizontally. The minimum pressing period is 12 hours for the small cheeses and 18 hours for the large cheeses.’

By providing much more detailed information on the production operations, it is possible to preserve the quality of the cheeses and the know-how of the cheesemakers.

— Ripening period

— The sentence ‘The ripening period is calculated from the renneting date’ has been added after the provision ‘The cheese is ripened for at least 30 days’. This sentence has been added to define a rule for calculating the ripening period, which is useful information for the checks.

— Provisions describing the ripening conditions and the handling of the cheeses have been added:

‘The cheeses are ripened in premises with a minimum humidity level of 95 % and a temperature of between 6 °C and 12 °C. The cheeses are regularly massaged or brushed and turned over to obtain an even crust.’

‘Ripening under a film is prohibited.’

These additions contain provisions on traditional ripening rules.

— The following paragraphs have been added, in line with practice:

‘Cheeses with a ripening period of 61 days to 89 days after renneting or of 211 days to 239 days after renneting must remain on sites that are authorised for the ripening of “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” cheeses. They may only be sold to an authorised undertaking, and solely under the designation “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal”.’

‘The indication is changed if, and only if, the product is kept in the ripening conditions provided for above on one or several sites authorised for the ripening of “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal”. A transfer from one authorised site to another authorised site, whether or not it is operated by the same undertaking, does not constitute a breach of the ripening conditions.’

‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ cheeses may not be marketed to the final consumer or to undertakings that do not engage in the ripening of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ until one of the three ripening stages defined above, i.e. ‘jeune’, ‘entre-deux’ or ‘vieux’, and this must be done using the corresponding ripening indication. These different ripening stages are separated by latency periods (first between 61 and 89 days, then between 211 and 239 days) during which the cheeses continue to ripen in order to obtain the characteristics typical of each ripening stage. During the latency periods, the cheeses may not be sold to the final consumer or to undertakings that are not authorised to ripen ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’. However, they may be transferred from a site authorised for the ripening of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ to another authorised site, whether or not it is operated by the same undertaking, which will continue to ripen the cheese under the conditions described above until one of the specified ripening stages has been reached and the cheese may be marketed for consumption accordingly, using the appropriate classification. When moving products between authorised sites, cheeses ripened for 61 to 89 days or from 211 to 239 days are called ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ without any indication of the ripening stage. They are not available for sale to the consumer.

— It has been added that ‘The product receives its final name upon leaving the cellar of an authorised site prior to being marketed to the consumer or to a distributor that is not eligible for the designation of origin for ripening purposes’. This provisions supplements previous provisions by defining the moment when the product receives its final name, which includes a reference to the ripening stage (‘jeune’, ‘entre-deux’ or ‘vieux’).

— ‘Link with the geographical area’ heading

The ‘History’ and ‘Link with the geographical area’ sections of the current specification are re-written in their entirety in point 6 of the specification, ‘Elements justifying the link with the geographical area’, to better highlight the link between ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ and its geographical area without making any substantive changes to the link. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/25

This section is introduced by two paragraphs specifying the basis for the link to the geographical origin:

‘“Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” is a large cow’s milk cheese well suited for keeping, with a paste that is pressed twice and salted. Its texture, crust and taste develop as ripening progresses.

The harsh climate, the altitude and the topography of the geographical area, which is prime grassland, have resulted in special know-how relating to the management of the herds and the processing and ripening of the cheese that confer these characteristics on “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal”.’

The section is then divided into three parts:

— The part ‘specificity of the geographical area’ describes the natural factors by underlining the harshness of this mid-range mountain territory, which is why it is prime grassland, as well as the human factors by referring to the ancient origins of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ and explaining how the product’s history determined the production techniques, which focus on conserving the product.

— The part ‘specificity of the product’ emphasise the particular characteristics of the product (the large size, a paste that is pressed twice and salted, the ripening period, changes in the organoleptic characteristics as ripening progresses).

— Finally, the point ‘causal link’ explains the interactions between the natural and human factors and the product. The reference to the ‘autochthonous dairy breeds Salers and Aubrac’ has been removed, because the share of these breeds in dairy production has fallen markedly, as indicated above, and therefore these breeds are used very little for the production of milk used to make ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’.

For the reasons mentioned above, points 5(d) on the history and 5(f) on the link in the summary sheet have been replaced by point 5 of the Single Document.

— ‘Labelling’ section

— The phrase ‘The labelling must include the designation of origin’ has been replaced by the following paragraph in order to supplement the information provided to the consumer and make sure the name of the designation, the ripening information and the adjective ‘small’ for the small cheeses are clearly legible:

‘The labelling of cheeses with the “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” designation of origin must bear:

— the name of the designation of origin;

— the words “jeune”, “entre-deux” or “vieux”;

— the adjective “small” for the small cheeses, as laid down in the chapter “Product description”;

All of this information is written in characters at least two-thirds the size of the largest characters on the label.

— the European Union’s PDO symbol, in the same visual field as the name of the designation of origin;

— the words “produced (by)...” and “ripened by...”.’

This paragraph is also inserted under point 3.6 of the Single Document.

— The provision in the current specification and in point 5(h) of the summary sheet, on the requirement to use the words ‘Appellation d’Origine’ in conjunction with the use of the designation ‘Fourme de Cantal’, has been removed; the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 apply.

— The sentence ‘The INAO logo must be affixed to the product and include the name of the designation, the words “controlled designation of origin” and the INAO acronym’ has been removed following changes to national legislation. Likewise, the sentence ‘Requirement to carry the logo bearing the initials INAO, the words “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée” and the product designation’ in point 5(h) of the summary sheet has been deleted.

— The following paragraph has been added:

‘Irrespective of the regulatory terms applicable to all cheeses, the use of any adjective or other words accompanying the designation of origin is prohibited in labelling, advertising, communication, invoices and commercial documents, with the exception of:

— specific brand names or trademarks; C 46/26 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

— the words “ripened on the farm”, “ripened in a tunnel”, “produced from milk obtained from cows of the Salers breed” (for cheeses made entirely from milk from cows of the Salers breed), “produced (by)...” and “ripened by...”, in characters not larger than two-thirds the size of the name of the “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” designation of origin; — the ripening terms “jeune”, “entre-deux” or “vieux”; — the adjective “small” for small “Cantal”/“Fourme de Cantal” cheeses, as laid down in the “Product description” section; — Where applicable if the cheese is cut, information on the physical condition of the cheese or the mechanical treatment it has undergone.’ In this positive list it is possible to indicate labelling references that may be included in the labelling, advertising, communication, invoices or commercial documents of the designation of origin, irrespective of the regulatory terms applicable to all cheeses, in order to improve the clarity of the text for consumers and make checks easier. In particular, it is specified that the words ‘produced from milk obtained from cows of the Salers breed’ may only be included if the cheeses are made entirely from milk from cows of the Salers breed. This paragraph is also inserted under point 3.6 of the Single Document. — The sentence ‘The ripening period may be specified in months as of 120 days, i.e. from the fourth month after renneting’ has been added so that the operator can decide whether to indicate the ripening period in days or months as of the 4th month, but within a clear framework. This sentence has also been added under point 3.6 of the Single Document.

— Other — The contact details of the INAO have been updated in the ‘Responsible body in the Member State’ section. — In the ‘Applicant group’ section: — the address of the group has been updated and supplemented with the group’s telephone numbers and email addresses; — the composition of the group has been supplemented with a reference to the ripeners: ‘Producers, processors, ripeners’ replaces ‘Producers and processors’. Ripeners should indeed be included among the operators involved in making the product. — In the ‘References to the inspection body’ section, the name and contact details of the inspection bodies have been changed and updated. In other words, the contact details of the authorities responsible for inspections are indicated: they consist of the National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO) and the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF), which replace a reference to a note presenting obsolete accreditation procedures for dairy products. It has been added that ‘In accordance with the provisions of Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, verification of compliance with the specification, before placing the product on the market, is carried out by a product certification body whose name and contact details are available on the INAO’s website and in the European Commission’s database’. With the introduction of this provision, it will not be necessary to amend the specification if the inspection body changes. — In the ‘National requirements’ section, a table setting out the main points to be checked, their reference values and their evaluation methods has been added, and the reference to the Decree of 29 December 1986 has been removed, in accordance with the national regulations in force.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘CANTAL’/‘FOURME DE CANTAL’

EU No: PDO-FR-0113-AM02 – 30 January 2019

PDO (X)PGI ( )

1. Name(s) ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’

2. Member State or third country France 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/27

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product Class 1.3 Cheeses

3.2. Description of product to which the name in (1) applies ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ is a cheese with a dry crust whose thickness increases as the cheese ripens. It is made entirely of cow’s milk with rennet added and has a hard, uncooked paste that is pressed twice, with grinding of the curds between the first and second pressing. The cheese mass is salted, and the total dry extract contains at least 45 per cent fat. The minimum dry extract is 57 % at the end of the minimum ripening period for ‘Cantal’/ ‘Fourme de Cantal’, or 30 days from the renneting date. ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ is in the form of a slightly bulging wheel, with rounded edges and no irregularities: — weighing either 35 to 45 kg, when made in moulds of 36 to 42 cm in diameter (large size); — or weighing 8 to 10 kg, when made in moulds of 20 to 22 cm in diameter (small size). ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ cheeses bear the words ‘jeune’, ‘entre-deux’ or ‘vieux’, depending on the ripening period and the dry extract, and they are defined as follows: — ‘Jeune’: the ripening period ranges from a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of 60 days, and the dry extract is at least 57 %; — ‘Entre-deux’: the ripening period ranges from a minimum of 90 days to a maximum of 210 days, and the dry extract is at least 58 %; — ‘Vieux’: the ripening period is a minimum of 240 days and the dry extract at least 60 %. The ripening period is calculated from the renneting date. The hard paste, ranging in colour from ivory to dark yellow, is malleable for the younger cheeses and may become slightly crumbly for the more mature cheeses. The dry crust changes gradually from greyish white to golden and then brown, and it may be speckled with ochre to brown spots. The taste, which is milky and may be slightly acidic at the beginning of ripening, gradually richens until it becomes fruity, intense and lasting.

3.3. Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only) The basic ration of the dairy herd is made up exclusively of coarse fodder from the geographical area, with pasture grass and/or grass silage/hay accounting for at least 70 % of the dry matter. During the minimum annual grazing period of 120 days, grazing of lactating cows must account for at least 70 % of the basic ration, expressed as a quantity of dry matter per cow and per day. For dairy cows, the amount of supplementary feed with a dry matter content above 85 % may not exceed 1 800 kg gross per dairy cow and calendar year. The authorised supplementary feed is specified in a positive list. Compliance with these provisions means that at least 70 % of the dairy cows’ feed comes from the geographical area. It may not be possible to obtain certain feed from the geographical area due to the topography, altitude and climate. Only plants, co-products and supplementary feed derived from non-transgenic products are authorised in the animal feed.

3.4. Specific steps in production that must take place in the defined geographical area The milk is produced and the cheeses manufactured and ripened in the geographical area.

3.5. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ PDO cheese may be presented in portions or grated. With the exception of individual portions of less than 70 g, cubes and grated cheese, it is obligatory to keep part of the crust. It is prohibited to mix grated cheese obtained from ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ cheeses bearing different ripening information. C 46/28 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

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

The labelling of cheeses with the ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ designation of origin must bear:

— the name of the designation of origin;

— the words ‘jeune’, ‘entre-deux’ or ‘vieux’;

— the adjective ‘small’ for the small cheeses, as laid down in the ‘Product description’ section;

All of this information is written in characters at least two-thirds the size of the largest characters on the label.

— the European Union’s PDO symbol in the same visual field as the name of the designation of origin;

— the words ‘produced (by)...’ and ‘ripened by...’.

Irrespective of the regulatory terms applicable to all cheeses, the use of any adjective or other words accompanying the designation of origin is prohibited in labelling, advertising, communication, invoices and commercial documents, with the exception of:

— specific brand names or trademarks;

— the words ‘ripened on the farm’, ‘ripened in a tunnel’, ‘produced from milk obtained from cows of the Salers breed’ (for cheeses made entirely from milk from cows of the Salers breed), ‘produced (by)...’ and ‘ripened by...’, in characters not larger than two-thirds the size of the name of the ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ designation of origin;

— the ripening terms ‘jeune’, ‘entre-deux’ or ‘vieux’;

— the adjective ‘small’ for small ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ cheeses, as laid down in point 3.2;

— Where applicable if the cheese is cut, information on the physical condition of the cheese or the mechanical treatment it has undergone.

The ripening period may be specified in months as of 120 days, i.e. the fourth month after renneting.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area covers the territory of the following municipalities or parts of municipalities:

Department of Aveyron: Brommat, Lacroix-Barrez, Mur-de-Barrez, Taussac and Thérondels.

Department of Cantal: All municipalities with the exception of Anterrieux, Chaudes-Aigues, Deux-Verges, Espinasse, Jabrun, Lieutades, Saint-Rémy-de-Chaudes-Aigues, Saint-Urcize and Trinitat (La).

Department of Corrèze: Auriac, Latronche, Neuvic, Pandrignes (in part), Rilhac-Xaintrie, Saint-Julien-aux-Bois, Saint-Privat and Soursac.

Department of Haute-Loire: Ally and Lubilhac.

Department of Puy-de-Dôme: Anzat-le-Luguet, Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, Bourboule (La), Chambon-sur-Lac, Chastreix, Compains, Égliseneuve-d’Entraigues, Espinchal, Godivelle (La), Laqueuille, Mazoires, Mont-Dore, Murat-le-Quaire, Picherande, Roche-Charles-la-Mayrand, Saint-Alyre-ès-Montagne, Saint-Donat, Saint-Genès- Champespe, Saint-Pierre-Colamine, Saint-Sauves-d’Auvergne, Saint-Victor-la-Rivière, Sayat (in part), Tauves, Tour- d’Auvergne (La) and Valbeleix.

5. Link with the geographical area

‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ is a large cow’s milk cheese fit for storage, with a paste that is pressed twice and salted. Its texture, crust and taste develop as ripening progresses.

The geographical area of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ cheese covers most of the department of the same name as well as a few municipalities in the bordering departments of Puy-de-Dôme, Corrèze, Aveyron and Haute-Loire. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/29

It is a cool and humid, rather harsh, mid-range mountain environment. It has a minimum altitude of 500 m and/or significant rises and drops with a steepness of over 15 %, a continental climate largely subject to oceanic influences, with significant annual rainfall of at least 700 mm. The area centres around the volcanic zone of the Monts du Cantal massif, whose highest point is the Plomb du Cantal at 1 858 m. On the periphery the area extends over the Hercynian base, which is made up of magmatic and metamorphic rocks and, here and there, small sedimentary basins between the mountains.

The nature of the soils, the altitude, the topography and the climate combined mean that the municipalities of the geographical area are prime grassland.

The current husbandry practices take advantage of this resource to produce milk intended for the production of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’. Grazing of lactating cows is obligatory for part of the year, and the dairy herd’s basic ration consists exclusively of coarse fodder from the geographical area, with grass accounting for at least 70 %. The amount of supplementary feed is restricted.

There are a number of references to the long history of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’, a product that is part of the identity of the historical community of Haute-Auvergne and the department of Cantal. Its reputation was highlighted by16th and 17th century authors. In the 18th century, the famous Encyclopédie of Diderot and Alembert featured engravings showing how this cheese is made. ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ was recognised as an Appellation d’Origine by the Saint- Flour civil court’s ruling of 17 May 1956 and as an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée by a decree of 19 February 1980.

Originally ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ was a cheese made from the milk of large herds that were led to the pastures of the Mounts of Cantal from May to October. The large size of the herd and the ample grass resources available at that time of the year made it possible to produce the quantity of milk necessary to make this large cheese. The cheeses were produced and stored in herdsmen’s cottages called ‘burons’ - low stone structures where the farmers also lived - and brought down into the valleys in the autumn, where they were sold to trading companies operating on various markets. These companies were responsible for continuing to ripen the cheeses and for dispatching them. A number of archives refer to ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ as an exchange product between wine-growing areas in southern France and Haute Auvergne. In other words, right from the start, specific production techniques were needed to ensure the conservation of the product, so that it could be transported over long distances and consumed throughout the year. ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ was made to be a cheese that keeps well.

From the end of the 19th century, production gradually moved out of burons and into dairies. Milk was collected from a number of holdings, allowing ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ to be produced all year round, and the geographical area was extended to cover the foothills of the Mounts of Cantal. However, most production units established back then did not have the technical expertise, premises and capital required to ripen the cheeses, which was therefore entrusted to specialised ripeners.

These ripeners built up expertise in maturing cheese by managing the ambient conditions (cool and damp cellars) and the handling of the cheeses (rubbing, brushing and turning regularly), and this allowed them to market ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ at different ripening stages, which today are called ‘jeune’, ‘entre-deux’ and ‘vieux’.

The current production techniques follow from old, empirically-derived techniques that cattle farmers applied when making cheese in burons, so that they could adjust the parameters to produce a cheese that would keep well. For example, pressing the curd in a traditional tool, the truckle press, helps to drain it and increases the dry extract. Long maturation of the truckle enables acidification. Grinding the truckle between the first and second pressing gives the paste of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ its texture. The cheese mass is salted evenly throughout to prepare for the ripening process. The second pressing shapes the cheese.

‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’ is a large cow’s milk cheese, with a paste that is pressed twice and salted. Cheeses bearing the word ‘jeune’ are ripened for 30 to 60 days after renneting and have a dry extract of at least 57 %. Cheeses bearing the words ‘entre-deux’ and ‘vieux’ are ripened for 90 to 210 days and at least 240 days, respectively, and have respective dry extracts of at least 58 % and 60 %.

The paste is malleable for the younger cheeses and may become slightly crumbly for the more mature cheeses. The dry crust changes gradually from greyish white to golden and then brown, and it may be speckled with ochre to brown spots. The taste, which is milky and may be slightly acidic at the beginning of ripening, gradually richens until it becomes fruity, intense and lasting. C 46/30 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

The combination of a harsh and rainy climate and a hilly terrain, which made the geographical area prime grassland, guided agricultural production towards dairy cattle farming, which applies practices that take advantage of the grass resources of the geographical area to produce milk intended for the production of ‘Cantal’/ ‘Fourme de Cantal’. The harsh climate, difficulties of access caused by the topography and the wintry weather, and the high milk production fostered the development of shared expertise in the production of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’, which is a large, easily recognisable, long-lasting cheese that constituted a reserve of food that was always available and a product that could be traded and transported over long distances. The production techniques used today (double pressing, long acidification, salting the cheese mass) are the fruit of specific and traditional know-how that makes it possible to sell this cheese at different ripening stages and to conserve it for long periods of time because of its high dry extract. The specific characteristics of ‘Cantal’/‘Fourme de Cantal’, in particular its crust, the texture of its paste and its flavour, develop as it matures, thanks to the ambient conditions and the ripeners’ expertise and practices.

Reference to publication of the specification

(the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of this Regulation)

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-a68e7228-d4ac-4896-beb3-7272baf7b6e6 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/31

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 46/14)

This notice is published in accordance with Article 17(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (1).

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

‘Anjou-Villages Brissac’

PDO-FR-A0259-AM01

Date of communication: 14 November 2019

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Geographical area The geographical area has been amended as follows: ‘All stages in the production process take place in the geographical area encompassing the territory of the municipalities belonging to the department of Maine-et-Loire named below, on the basis of the Official Geographic Code of 2018: Brissac Loire Aubance (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Brissac-Quincé, Saint-Saturnin-sur-Loire and Vauchrétien), Denée, Les Garennes sur Loire (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Juigné-sur-Loire and Saint-Jean-des-Mauvrets), Mozé- sur-Louet, Mûrs-Erigné, Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance, Soulaines-sur-Aubance. Maps showing the geographical area can be viewed on the website of the National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO)’. Editorial amendment: the new list of administrative entities takes into account any mergers 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 boundary of the geographical area remains entirely unchanged. Finally, in the interests of better public information, the product specification now states that maps of the geographical area can be found on the website of the National Origin and Quality Institute (INAO). Point 6 of the Single Document on the geographical area has been amended accordingly.

2. Demarcated parcel area In Chapter 1(IV)(2) of the product specification, the words ‘and the meeting of the standing committee of the national committee of 19 January 2017’ have been added after ‘14 February 2002’. 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 suitable for producing the product covered by the protected designation of origin in question. The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

3. Area in immediate proximity In Chapter 1(IV)(3), the list of municipalities has been replaced by: ‘ — department of Deux-Sèvres: Argenton-l’Église, Bouillé-Loretz, Brion-près-Thouet, Louzy, Mauzé-Thouarsais, Saint-Cyr-la-Lande, Sainte-Radegonde, SainteVerge, Saint-Martin-de-Mâcon, Saint-Martin-de-Sanzay, Thouars, Tourtenay, Val en Vignes (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Bouillé- Saint-Paul and Cersay) ;

(1) OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2. C 46/32 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

— department of Indre-et-Loire: Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil; — department of Loire-Atlantique: Ancenis, Le Loroux-Bottereau, Le Pallet, La Remaudière, Vair-sur-Loire (formerly a territory belonging to the delegated municipality of Anetz), and Vallet; — department of Maine-et-Loire: Allonnes, Angers, Antoigné, Artannes-sur-Thouet, Aubigné-sur-Layon, Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Bellevigne-en-Layon (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Champ-sur-Layon, Faveraye-Mâchelles, Faye-d’Anjou, Rablay-sur-Layon and Thouarcé), Blaison-Saint-Sulpice (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Blaison-Gohier et Saint-Sulpice), Bouchemaine, Brain-sur-Allonnes, Brézé, Brissac Loire Aubance (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities ofs Alleuds, Charcé-Saint-Ellier-sur-Aubance, Chemellier, Coutures, Luigné, Saint- Rémy-la-Varenne and Saulgé-l’Hôpital), Brossay, Cernusson, Chacé, Chalonnes-sur-Loire, Champtocé-sur- Loire, Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, Chemillé-en-Anjou (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Chanzeaux, La Jumellière et Valanjou), Cizay-la-Madeleine, Cléré-sur-Layon, Le Coudray- Macouard, Courchamps, Dénezé-sous-Doué, Distré, Doué-en-Anjou (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Brigné, Concourson-sur-Layon, Doué-la-Fontaine, Forges, Meigné, Montfort, Saint-Georges-sur-Layon and les Verchers-sur-Layon), Épieds, Fontevraud-l’Abbaye, Gennes-Val-de-Loire (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault, Gennes, Grézillé, Saint-Georges-des-Sept-Voies and Le Thoureil), Huillé, Ingrandes-Le Fresne sur Loire (formerly a territory belonging to the delegated municipality of Ingrandes), Jarzé Villages (formerly a territory belonging to the delegated municipality of Lué-en-Baugeois), Louresse-Rochemenier, Lys-Haut-Layon (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Cerqueux-sous-Passavant, La Fosse-de-Tigné, Nueil- sur-Layon, Tancoigné, Tigné, Trémont and Vihiers), Mauges-sur-Loire (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of La Chapelle-Saint-Florent, Le Marillais, Le Mesnil-en-Vallée, Montjean-sur-Loire, La Pommeraye, Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, Saint-Laurent-de-la-Plaine and Saint-Laurent-du-Mottay), Mazé-Milon (formerly a territory belonging to the delegated municipality of Fontaine-Milon), Montilliers, Montreuil- Bellay, Montsoreau, Orée d’Anjou (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Bouzillé, Champtoceaux, Drain, Landemont, Liré, Saint-Laurent-des-Autels and La Varenne), Parnay, Passavant-sur- Layon, La Possonnière, Le Puy-Notre-Dame, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Rou-Marson, Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg, Sainte- Gemmes-sur-Loire, Saint-Georges-sur-Loire, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Just-sur-Dive, Saint-Macaire-du- Bois, Saint-Martin-du-Fouilloux, Saint-Sigismond, Saumur, Savennières, Soucelles, Souzay-Champigny, Terranjou (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Chavagnes, Martigné-Briand and Notre-Dame-d’Allençon), Tuffalun (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Ambillou-Château, Louerre and Noyant-la-Plaine), Turquant, Les Ulmes, Val-du-Layon (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné and Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay), Varennes- sur-Loire, Varrains, Vaudelnay, Verrie, Verrières-en-Anjou (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Pellouailles-les-Vignes and Saint-Sylvain-d’Anjou), Villevêque; — department of Vienne: Berrie, Curçay-sur-Dive, Glénouze, Pouançay, Ranton, Saint-Léger-de-Montbrillais, Saix, Ternay and Les Trois-Moutiers.’ This change takes into account the various mergers of municipalities that have occurred since the last version of the specification. The actual boundary of the area in immediate proximity remains unchanged. Point 9 of the Single Document on additional conditions has been amended accordingly.

4. Agro-environmental provision The following has been added to Chapter 1(VI)(2): ‘Controlled green cover, whether naturally occurring or sown, must be in place between the rows; where there is no such green cover, the grower must work the soil or justify the use of bio-control products approved by the public authorities for use in wine-growing. Where bio-control herbicides are used on a land parcel, the use of other herbicides is not permitted.’ This amendment reflects current developments in the practices of operators promoting conservation agriculture throughout the vineyards of Anjou. It takes into account growing concern for the environment 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. The reduction in herbicides should strengthen the defences of wine-growing soils and preserve their natural properties such as fertility, bio-diversity and self-cleaning. This 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.

5. Harvest proclamation At Chapter 1(VII)(1) of the specification, 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, as operators have a large selection of tools at their disposal to enable them to gauge the ripeness of the grapes with the greatest possible accuracy. All operators have access to a certain number of machines and equipment, owned both privately and collectively, enabling them to accurately determine the ideal start date for harvesting each parcel based on the production objectives. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/33

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

6. Sugar content

Under Chapter 1(IX)(1)(b), the words ‘of the wines, after fermentation’ have been added after glucose and fructose.

This amendment was made to avoid any confusion with the sugar content before fermentation, as it is important to specify that this content must be verified after fermentation.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

7. Fermenting room capacity

Under Chapter 1(IX)(1)(d), the sentence: ‘All operators have a fermenting room capacity for wine production equal to at least 1.4 times the average yield of their holding during the preceding five years’ is replaced by the sentence: ‘All operators have a fermenting room capacity for wine production equal to at least 1.4 times the average volume of wine produced during the preceding 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 removes this inconsistency regarding measurements without making any substantial changes. The minimum capacity remains 1.4 times the average volume of wine produced by a holding in the preceding years.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

8. Circulation of wines

Chapter 1(IX)(5)(b) 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.

9. Link with the geographical area

The link has been revised in order to update the number of municipalities involved (7 instead of 10). It has been specified in the link that the average temperatures are the annual temperatures.

Point 8 of the Single Document for the designation has been amended accordingly.

10. Transitional measure

The following has been inserted under Chapter 1(XI): ‘The provisions relating to the requirement for managed plant cover, either natural or planted, between rows, along with the provisions relating to the requirement for operators to work the soil or use bio-control products to ensure that naturally occurring plant growth is managed, do not apply to vineyard parcels already in existence at the time of accreditation of this specification and in which the spacing between rows is less than or equal to 1.70 metres’.

The transitional measure avoids the need to penalise existing vineyards currently using a training method not adapted to the agri-environmental provisions. In densely planted vineyards, where the spacing between rows is less than or equal to 1.7 metres, maintaining permanent grass cover or attempting to work the soil could, in effect, cause technical problems with machinery, materials or tools, for example. In low-growing vines, grass cover also increases the risk of spring frosts. Furthermore, the presence of vegetation cover significantly increases the pressure on the water supply to the vines in the more densely-planted vineyards. Nevertheless, any vines planted after the specification has been approved will have to comply fully with the new agri-environmental provisions, regardless of planting density and spacing between rows.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

11. Record-keeping

Under Chapter 2(II)(3), the word ‘potential’ has been replaced by ‘natural’. C 46/34 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

In order to ensure consistency in the drafting across all specifications from the Anjou Saumur area, the formula ‘natural alcoholic strength by volume’ replaces ‘potential strength’ or ‘degree’. These amendments improve the readability of the product specifications. The harmonisation of record-keeping provisions is intended to make it easier to draw up inspection plans and check records.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

12. Main points for checking

Chapter 3 has been revised to ensure consistency across the check-lists included in the different product specifications for Anjou Saumur wines.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name of the product

Anjou-Villages Brissac

2. Geographical indication type

PDO – Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine product

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

These are still red wines with the following main analytical characteristics:

The wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 11 %.

Malolactic fermentation must be completed. Wines ready to be marketed in bulk or at the packaging stage have a malic acid content that does not exceed 0,4 grams per litre.

The maximum fermentable sugar content (glucose + fructose) of the wines after fermentation is set at 3 grams per litre.

After enrichment, the wines’ total alcoholic strength by volume must not exceed 12,5 %.

The total volatile acidity, total acidity and total sulphur dioxide contents are those laid down by EU legislation.

Wines are aged at the wine-making premises at least until 30 June of the year following that of the harvest.

This red wine is made from the Cabernet Franc N and Cabernet Sauvignon N varieties and their richness is felt in its strong taste. It is generally complex in the nose, with combinations of red or black fruits and notes of spices, game or even undergrowth. Ample and unctuous in the mouth, the full range of aromas is preserved. Strong underlying tannins and a long finish.

General analytical characteristics

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)

Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)

Minimum total acidity

Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)

Total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/35

5. Wine-making practices

a. Essential oenological practices

Specific oenological practices Planting density - Spacing Growing method The minimum vine planting density is 4 000 plants per hectare. The spacing between the rows of these vines must not exceed 2,5 metres, and the spacing between plants in the same row must be at least 1 metres. The controlled designation of origin may be used for the harvests of vineyard parcels with a density of fewer than 4 000 — but at least 3 300 — vines per hectare, subject to compliance with certain vine-training and foliage height rules laid down in the product specification. The spacing between the rows of the vines must not exceed 3 metres, and the spacing between plants in the same row must be at least 1 metre. Irrigation Growing method Irrigation is prohibited. Specific oenological practice Reductive methods of enrichment are permitted, with the maximum partial concentration rate set at 10 % in relation to the volumes used. The use of wood chips is forbidden. After enrichment, the wines’ total alcoholic strength by volume must not exceed 12,5 %. In addition to the above provisions, the oenological practices concerning these wines must meet the requirements laid down at Community level and in the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.

b. Maximum yields 56 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area All stages in the production process take place in the geographical area encompassing the territory of the municipalities belonging to the department of Maine-et-Loire named below, on the basis of the Official Geographic Code of 2018: Brissac Loire Aubance (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Brissac- Quincé, Saint-Saturnin-sur-Loire and Vauchrétien), Denée, Les Garennes sur Loire (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Juigné-sur-Loire and Saint-Jean-des-Mauvrets), Mozé-sur-Louet, Mûrs-Erigné, Saint- Melaine-sur-Aubance, Soulaines-sur-Aubance. Maps showing the geographical area can be viewed on the website of the National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO)’.

7. Main wine grapes Cabernet-Sauvignon N Cabernet franc N

8. Description of the link(s)

1. Information on the geographical area

a) Description of the natural factors relevant to the link The geographical area for the ‘Anjou Villages Brissac’ controlled designation of origin lies on a vast shale or shale/ sandstone plateau in the Armorican Massif sloping gently down towards the Loire. The landscape features rolling hills with variable aspects and altitudes ranging between 50 and 90 metres. In 2018 it overlaps with the ‘Coteaux de l’Aubance’ controlled designation of origin and spans 7 municipalities south-west of the city of Angers. As of 2018, the geographical area extends across seven municipalities. It is bordered to the west by the confluence of the River Aubance with the Loire; to the east by a Cretaceous plateau at the edge of the Paris basin; to the north by the course of the Loire; and at the southern edge by the forests of Brissac and Beaulieu. The Aubance is a small tributary of the Loire, emblematic of this geographical area. It flows northwards from its source to the municipality of Brissac- Quincé, which is famous for its sixteenth century castle. The Aubance then takes a north-west course as far as the municipality of Mûrs-Erigné from where it flows parallel to the Loire. C 46/36 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

The soils that have developed on the shale substrate are often shallow, with good thermal properties and typically low water reserves. The western part of the geographical area is studded with subvolcanic rocks formed of igneous rocks of an acidic (rhyolite) or basaltic (spilite) nature producing very stony soils. The municipalities in the north of the geographical area are built on schist and slate formations. Over the years, people have used these formations to build walls and roofing for their houses, as well as paving stones and even furniture and fittings such as sinks, tables and staircases. This is an indication of how unique the territory is. These elements are very much features of the landscape and part of the identity of the vineyards. The eastern part of the geographical area, on the other hand, lies on Cenomanian formations overlying the Precambrian bedrock.

The geographical area has limited irrigation and benefits from a foehn effect, sheltered from maritime mists by the higher slopes of Choletais and Mauges. Annual rainfall is around 585 millimetres, compared with 800 millimetres in Choletais. The figures recorded in Brissac-Quincé are the lowest among the meteorological stations in the department of Maine-et-Loire. Similarly, during the growing cycle, there is a difference in rainfall levels of around 100 millimetres compared with the rest of the department. The average annual temperatures are relatively high, around 12 degrees, which is 1 degree higher than the rest of the department of Maine-et-Loire as a whole. The characteristic mesoclimate of this area is evident in the Mediterranean nature of the vegetation, which includes holm oak and umbrella pine.

b) Description of the human factors relevant to the geographical link

Some of the emblematic properties of the vineyards are of ancient origin, as recorded by Guillory senior in 1865 in an ‘Angers Agricultural and Industrial Company Bulletin’, who explained that the plantations were of the ‘Breton plant’ as it was known (thus named because it had been introduced by boat through the Loire estuary, which belonged to the Breton region at the time) in the municipality of Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance. This plant is none other than the Cabernet Franc N variety, which spread rapidly after the Phylloxera crisis that destroyed over three-quarters of the vineyards in Anjou.

In the early 20th century, wine-making efforts were mostly focused on making ‘rouget’, the local name for a light wine served in the cafés. Red wine started to be made in the 20th century, when the Brissac cooperative winery was set up. It was also at that time that plantings of Cabernet-Sauvignon N developed, a later variety in shallow soils.

On the initiative of and with the backing of wine growers from the Brissac region campaigning since 1979, the controlled designation of origin ‘Anjou Villages’ was recognised on 14 November 1991. Spanning 46 municipalities in the geographical area of the ‘Anjou’ controlled designation of origin, specific parcel boundaries and strict rules on production were put in place to enable the production of a well-structured red wine bottled in early summer and aged to ensure that the tannins would be refined.

However, wine-makers in the Brissac region had always been convinced that they had access to a territory and a level of expertise that could further enhance the originality of their red wine production. Having worked tirelessly to achieve the best possible combinations between vine varieties and planting locations, adapted their vine pruning and training methods to enable the grapes to be harvested at optimal ripening, and made various technical enhancements to temperature control and maceration times, these growers managed to obtain recognition for the controlled designation of origin ‘Anjou Villages Brissac’ on 17 February 1998.

2. Information on the quality and characteristics of the product

This red wine is made from the Cabernet Franc N and Cabernet Sauvignon N varieties.

Their richness is felt in its strong taste. It is generally complex in the nose, with combinations of red or black fruits and notes of spices, game or even undergrowth. Ample and unctuous in the mouth, the full range of aromas is preserved. Strong underlying tannins and a long finish.

Generous wines, which benefit from being left for five or six years before tasting. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/37

3. Causal interactions The combination of the shallow soils on clearly demarcated land parcels demonstrating the methods in use and the terrain which provides excellent exposure and encourages a regular water supply has enabled the Cabernet franc N and Cabernet-Sauvignon N varieties to achieve their full expression and originality. The location of the vineyards requires optimal management of the vines and their potential yield, in the form of vine training systems and strict pruning rules. Winegrowers observe and analyse the behaviour of their vines in order to determine the right location for the vineyards, giving preference to Cabernet-Sauvignon N in shallow soils and essentially reserving the Cabernet Franc N variety for the Cenomanian clay-limestone soils or the brown soils that developed on the shale deposits, which feature better water reserves. The expertise of the operators ensures that grapes are harvested with a minimum sugar content of 189 grams per litre and having reached an optimal stage of phenolic ripeness. Over the generations, the operators have successfully adapted their wine-making techniques to bring the best out of the grapes. It was very quickly decided to impose an ageing period in the tank after fermentation to enable the production of wine with complex aromas but in particular so that the tannins could become rounder and smoother. To achieve these goals, a minimum ageing period lasting until 30 June after the harvest year was defined in the Product Specification. The ‘Anjou Villages Brissac’ controlled designation of origin is one of the most highly esteemed wines in the Anjou region. Winegrowers and professionals from the wine sector come together at a special wine-tasting event to select the ‘cuvée ambassadeur’ (ambassador batch or blend), i.e. the wine that is most representative of the ‘Anjou Villages Brissac’ controlled designation of origin. This premium event promotes the vintages tasted and the red wines from the Anjou region.

9. Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Area in immediate proximity Legal framework: EU legislation Type of further condition: Derogation concerning production in the demarcated geographical area Description of the condition: The area in the immediate vicinity, defined by derogation for the making, processing and ageing of the wines, comprises the territory of the following municipalities, based on the Official Geographic Code for 2018: — department of Deux-Sèvres: Argenton-l’Église, Bouillé-Loretz, Brion-près-Thouet, Louzy, Mauzé-Thouarsais, Oiron, Saint-Cyr-la-Lande, Sainte-Radegonde, Sainte-Verge, Saint-Martin-de-Mâcon, Saint-Martin-de-Sanzay, Thouars, Tourtenay, Val-en-Vignes (territory formerly part of the delegated municipalities of Bouillé-Saint-Paul and Cersay); — department of Indre-et-Loire: Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil; — department of Loire-Atlantique: Ancenis, Le Loroux-Bottereau, Le Pallet, La Remaudière, Vair-sur-Loire (formerly a territory belonging to the delegated municipality of Anetz), Vallet; — department of Maine-et-Loire: Allonnes, Angers, Antoigné, Artannes-sur-Thouet, Aubigné-sur-Layon, Beaulieu- sur-Layon, Bellevigne-en-Layon (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Champ-sur- Layon, Faveraye-Mâchelles, Faye-d’Anjou, Rablay-sur-Layon and Thouarcé), Blaison-Saint-Sulpice (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Blaison-Gohier et Saint-Sulpice), Bouchemaine, Brain-sur- Allonnes, Brézé, Brissac Loire Aubance (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities ofs Alleuds, Charcé-Saint-Ellier-sur-Aubance, Chemellier, Coutures, Luigné, Saint-Rémy-la-Varenne and Saulgé-l’Hôpital), Brossay, Cernusson, Chacé, Chalonnes-sur-Loire, Champtocé-sur-Loire, Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, Chemillé-en- Anjou (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Chanzeaux, La Jumellière and Valanjou), Cizay-la-Madeleine, Cléré-sur-Layon, Le Coudray-Macouard, Courchamps, Dénezé-sous-Doué, Distré, Doué-en- Anjou (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Brigné, Concourson-sur-Layon, Doué-la- Fontaine, Forges, Meigné, Montfort, Saint-Georges-sur-Layon and Les Verchers-sur-Layon), Épieds, Fontevraud- l’Abbaye, Gennes-Val-de-Loire (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Chênehutte- Trèves-Cunault, Gennes, Grézillé, Saint-Georges-des-Sept-Voies and Le Thoureil), Huillé, Ingrandes-Le Fresne sur Loire (formerly a territory belonging to the delegated municipality of Ingrandes), Jarzé Villages (formerly a territory belonging to the delegated municipality of Lué-en-Baugeois), Louresse-Rochemenier, Lys-Haut-Layon (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Cerqueux-sous-Passavant, La Fosse-de-Tigné, Nueil-sur-Layon, Tancoigné, Tigné, Trémont and Vihiers), Mauges-sur-Loire (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of La Chapelle-Saint-Florent, Le Marillais, Le Mesnil-en-Vallée, Montjean-sur-Loire, La Pommeraye, Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, Saint-Laurent-de-la-Plaine and Saint-Laurent-du-Mottay), Mazé-Milon (formerly a territory belonging to the delegated municipality of Fontaine-Milon), Montilliers, Montreuil-Bellay, Montsoreau, Orée d’Anjou (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Bouzillé, Champtoceaux, Drain, C 46/38 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

Landemont, Liré, Saint-Laurent-des-Autels and La Varenne), Parnay, Passavant-sur-Layon, La Possonnière, Le Puy- Notre-Dame, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Rou-Marson, Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg, Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire, Saint-Georges-sur- Loire, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Just-sur-Dive, Saint-Macaire-du-Bois, Saint-Martin-du-Fouilloux, Saint- Sigismond, Saumur, Savennières, Soucelles, Souzay-Champigny, Terranjou (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Chavagnes, Martigné-Briand and Notre-Dame-d’Allençon), Tuffalun (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Ambillou-Château, Louerre and Noyant-la-Plaine), Turquant, Les Ulmes, Val-du-Layon (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Saint-Aubin- de-Luigné and Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay), Varennes-sur-Loire, Varrains, Vaudelnay, Verrie, Verrières-en-Anjou (formerly territories belonging to the delegated municipalities of Pellouailles-les-Vignes and Saint-Sylvain- d’Anjou), Villevêque; — department of Vienne: Berrie, Curçay-sur-Dive, Glénouze, Pouançay, Ranton, Saint-Léger-de-Montbrillais, Saix, Ternay, Les Trois-Moutiers.

Labelling Legal framework: National legislation Type of further condition: Additional provisions relating to labelling Description of the condition: All the voluntary indications are marked on the labels in letters that may not be larger, either in height or width, than double the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin. The name of the controlled designation of origin may be followed by the geographical designation ‘Val de Loire’, in accordance with the rules laid down in the specification. The size of the letters of the geographical name ‘Val de Loire’ may not be larger, either in height or width, than two- thirds of the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin. Wines eligible for the controlled designation of origin may specify a smaller geographical entity on their labels, provided that it is a place name listed in the land registry and that it appears on the harvest declaration. The place name must be printed in letters no larger, either in height or in width, than half the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-0a43e4f9-b0f4-400f-b86a-ed65865455b8 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/39

(2020/C 46/15)

This notice is published in accordance with Article 17(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (1).

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

Rosé de Loire

PDO-FR-A0150-AM01

Date of communication: 14 November 2019

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Geographical area The geographical area is amended as follows: ‘All stages of production shall take place in the geographical area covering the territory of the following municipalities, on the basis of the 2018 official geographical code: Department of Deux-Sèvres: Argenton-l’Église, Bouillé-Loretz, Brion-près-Thouet, Louzy, Mauzé-Thouarsais, Oiron, Saint-Cyr-la-Lande, Sainte-Radegonde, Sainte-Verge, Saint-Martin-de-Mâcon, Saint-Martin-de-Sanzay, Thouars, Tourtenay, Val-en-Vignes (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Bouillé-Saint-Paul and Cersay); Department of Indre-et-Loire: Amboise, Anché, Artannes-sur-Indre, Athée-sur-Cher, Avoine, Avon-les-Roches, Azay- le-Rideau, Azay-sur-Cher, Beaumont-en-Véron, Benais, Bléré, Bossay-sur-Claise, Bourgueil, Brizay, Candes-Saint- Martin, Cangey, Chambray-lès-Tours, Chançay, Chanceaux-sur-Choisille, La Chapelle-sur-Loire, Chargé, Cheillé, Chemillé-sur-Indrois, Chenonceaux, Chinon, Chisseaux, Chouzé-sur-Loire, Cinais, Cinq-Mars-la-Pile, Civray-de- Touraine, Coteaux-sur-Loire (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Ingrandes-de-Touraine, Saint-Michel- sur-Loire and Saint-Patrice), Couziers, Cravant-les-Côteaux, La Croix-en-Touraine, Crouzilles, Dierre, Draché, Épeigné- les-Bois, Esvres, Fondettes, Francueil, Genillé, Huismes, L’Île-Bouchard, Joué-lès-Tours, Langeais (former territory of the delegated municipality of Langeais), Larçay, Lémeré, Lerné, Lignières de-Touraine, Ligré, Limeray, Lussault-sur- Loire, Luynes, Luzillé, Marçay, Montlouis-sur-Loire, Montreuil-en-Touraine, Mosnes, Nazelles-Négron, Neuillé-le- Lierre, Noizay, Panzoult, Parçay-Meslay, Pocé-sur-Cisse, Pont-de-Ruan, Razines, Restigné, Reugny, Rigny-Ussé, Rivarennes, Rivière, La Roche-Clermault, Rochecorbon, Saché, Saint-Avertin, Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt, Sainte-Maure-de- Touraine, Saint-Étienne-de-Chigny, Saint-Germain-sur-Vienne, Saint-Martin-le-Beau, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Saint-Ouen-les-Vignes, Saint-Règle, Savigny-en-Véron, Savonnières, Sazilly, Seuilly, Souvigny-de-Touraine, Tavant, Theneuil, Thilouze, Thizay, Tours, Vallères, Véretz, Vernou-sur-Brenne, Villaines-les-Rochers, Vouvray; Department of Loir-et-Cher: Angé, Blois, Chailles, Châteauvieux, Châtillon-sur-Cher, Chaumont-sur-Loire, Chémery, Chissay-en-Touraine, Choussy, Contres, Couddes, Couffy, Faverolles-sur-Cher, Mareuil-sur-Cher, Méhers, Mesland, Meusnes, Monteaux, Monthou-sur-Bièvre, Monthou-sur-Cher, Montrichard Val de Cher (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Bourré and Montrichard), Noyers-sur-Cher, Oisly, Pontlevoy, Pouillé, Rilly-sur-Loire, Saint- Aignan, Saint-Georges-sur-Cher, Saint-Julien-de-Chédon, Saint-Romain-sur-Cher, Sassay, Seigy, Soings-en-Sologne, Thenay, Thésée, Valaire, Valencisse (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chambon-sur-Cisse and Molineuf), Vallières-les-Grandes, Valloire-sur-Cisse (former territory of the delegated municipality of Chouzy-sur- Cisse), Veuzain-sur-Loire (former territory of the delegated municipality of Onzain); Department of Maine-et-Loire: Allonnes, Angers, Antoigné, Artannes-sur-Thouet, Aubigné-sur-Layon, Beaulieu-sur- Layon, Bellevigne-en-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Champ-sur-Layon, Faveraye- Machelles, Faye-d’Anjou, Rablay-sur-Layon and Thouarcé), Blaison-Saint-Sulpice (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Blaison-Gohier and Saint-Sulpice), Bouchemaine, Brain-sur-Allonnes, Brézé, Brissac Loire Aubance (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Alleuds, Brissac-Quincé, Charcé-Saint-Ellier-sur-Aubance, Chemellier, Coutures, Luigné, Saint-Rémy-la-Varenne, Saint-Saturnin-sur-Loire and Vauchrétien), Brossay, Cernusson, Chacé, Chalonnes-sur-Loire, Champtocé-sur-Loire, Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, Chemillé-en-Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chanzeaux, La Jumellière and Valanjou), Cizay-la-Madeleine, Cléré-sur-Layon, Le Coudray-Macouard, Courchamps, Denée, Dénezé-sous-Doué, Distré, Doué-en-Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Brigné, Concourson-sur-Layon, Doué-la-Fontaine, Forges, Meigné, Montfort, Saint- Georges-sur-Layon and Les Verchers-sur-Layon), Épieds, Fontevraud-l’Abbaye, Les Garennes sur Loire (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Juigné-sur-Loire and Saint-Jean-des-Mauvrets), Gennes-Val-de-Loire (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chênehutte-Trêves-Cunault, Gennes, Grézillé, Saint-Georges-des-

(1) OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2. C 46/40 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

Sept-Voies and Le Thoureil), Huillé, Ingrandes-Le Fresne sur Loire (former territory of the delegated municipality of Ingrandes), Jarzé Villages (former territory of the delegated municipality of Lué-en-Baugeois), Louresse-Rochemenier, Lys-Haut-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Cerqueux-sous-Passavant, La Fosse-de-Tigné, Nueil-sur-Layon, Tancoigné, Tigné, Trémont and Vihiers), Mauges-sur-Loire (former territories of the delegated municipalities of La Chapelle-Saint-Florent, Le Mesnil-en-Vallée, Montjean-sur-Loire, La Pommeraye, Saint-Florent-le- Vieil, Saint-Laurent-de-la-Plaine and Saint-Laurent-du-Mottay), Mazé-Milon (former territory of the delegated municipality of Fontaine-Milon), Montilliers, Montreuil-Bellay, Montsoreau, Mozé-sur-Louet, Mûrs-Erigné, Orée d’Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Bouzillé, Champtoceaux, Drain, Landemont, Liré and La Varenne), Parnay, Passavant-sur-Layon, La Possonnière, Le Puy-Notre-Dame, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Rou-Marson, Saint- Cyr-en-Bourg, Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire, Saint-Georges-sur-Loire, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Just-sur-Dive, Saint- Macaire-du-Bois, Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance, Saumur, Savennières, Soulaines-sur-Aubance, Souzay-Champigny, Terranjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chavagnes, Martigné-Briand and Notre-Dame- d’Allençon), Tuffalun (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Ambillou-Château, Louerre and Noyant-la- Plaine), Turquant, Les Ulmes, Val-du-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Saint-Aubin-de- Luigné and Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay), Varennes-sur-Loire, Varrains, Vaudelnay, Villevêque;

Department of Vienne: Berrie, Curçay-sur-Dive, Glénouze, Pouançay, Ranton, Saint-Léger-de-Montbrillais, Saix, Ternay, Les Trois-Moutiers.

The mapping documents representing the geographical areas are available on the website of the National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO).’

Editorial amendment: the new list of administrative entities takes into account mergers or other changes in administrative zoning since the approval of the specification. To increase legal certainty, this list is referenced according to the current version of the official geographic code, updated yearly by the INSEE (French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies). The geographical area remains strictly identical.

Finally, mention is made of the provision, on the INAO’s website, of the maps representing the geographical area for better public information.

Point 6 of the Single Document on the geographical area has been amended accordingly.

2. Demarcated parcel area

In the first paragraph of point IV(2) of Chapter 1 of the specification for the ‘Rosé de Loire’ PDO, the words ‘and 20 June 2018’ shall be added after the words ‘10 February 2011’ and the words ‘and 19 January 2017’ shall be added after the words ‘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 suitable for producing the product covered by the registered designation of origin in question.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

3. Area in immediate proximity

In point IV(3) of Chapter 1 the list of municipalities is replaced by the following:

— Department of Indre: Faverolles-en-Berry, Fontguenand, Lye, La Vernelle, Veuil, Villentrois;

— Department of Indre-et-Loire: Chaveignes, Chezelles, Crissay-sur-Manse, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil;

— Department of Loir-et-Cher: Candé-sur-Beuvron, Cheverny, Cormeray, Feings, Fresnes, Fougères-sur-Bièvre, Les Montils, Mont-près-Chambord, Ouchamps, Sambin;

— Department of Loire-Atlantique: Ancenis, Le Loroux-Bottereau, Le Pallet, La Remaudière, Vair-sur-Loire (former territory of the delegated municipality of Anetz), Vallet;

— Department of Maine-et-Loire: Orée d’Anjou (former territory of the delegated municipality of Saint-Laurent-des- Autels), Saint-Martin-du-Fouilloux.

This makes it possible to take account of the different mergers of municipalities since the last version of the specification. The area of immediate proximity remains strictly identical.

Point 9 of the Single Document on the additional conditions has been amended accordingly. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/41

4. Agri-environmental provision

The following is added to point VI(2) of Chapter 1: ‘Controlled soil cover, wild or sown, is mandatory in the space between the rows; in the absence of this cover, the operator works the soil in order to control the wild vegetation or to justify the use of biocontrol products approved by the public wine-growing authorities. If biocontrol herbicides are used on a parcel, the use of other herbicides is prohibited.

These provisions shall not apply to vineyard parcels with a distance between the rows of 1,7 m or less.’

This amendment is due to the current changes in operators’ practices in favour of agroecology in all Anjou vineyards. It reflects the increasing consideration of environmental factors in technical methods. By favouring the presence of plant cover, the use of mechanical weeding or the use of biocontrol products, this leads to a reduction in the use of chemical herbicides. This reduction in herbicides should make it possible to further protect vineyard soils and preserve their natural features (fertility, biodiversity, biological purification) which contribute to the quality and authenticity of the wines and strengthens the concept of terroir.

The provision excludes from the scope of the agri-environmental provisions vines where the spacing between the rows is 1,7 m or less. The production areas of the AOCs Crémant de Loire and Rosé de Loire are large and include a certain diversity of practices linked to variations in the natural environment. In the eastern part of the wine-growing area there is a greater risk of spring frosts and the permeable sandy soils increase the vines’ water deficit in summer. It therefore did not make sense to impose the application of agri-environmental measures in narrow rows which are generally denser and lower.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

5. Harvest proclamation

In point VII(1) of Chapter 1 of the specification, 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 date for the start of the harvest as operators now have a wide range of tools to enable them to assess the ripeness of the grapes more accurately. Each operator has a number of devices and items of equipment, both personal and collective, which makes it possible to determine precisely the optimum date for initiating the harvesting of each parcel, depending on the production objectives.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

6. Winemaking capacity

In point IX(1)(c) of Chapter 1 the sentence: ‘Each operator shall have a winemaking capacity of at least 1,4 times the average yield on the holding over the last five years.’ is replaced by the sentence: ‘Each operator shall have a winemaking capacity of at least 1,4 times the average volume of wine produced over the last five years.’

The specification referred not to volume capacity (expressed in hl or m3) but to a yield, in other words a harvest volume divided by the production area (expressed for example in hl/ha). The proposed amendment makes it possible to correct this inconsistency in terms of unit without any change to the substance (the minimum is still set at 1,4 times the average volume of wine produced by the holding during the previous marketing years).

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

7. 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.

8. Link with the geographical area

The link has been revised to update the number of municipalities concerned (232 instead of 294). The link now mentions that the average rainfall is annual rainfall.

Point 8 of the Single Document on the link has been amended accordingly. C 46/42 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

9. Transitional measure The now obsolete transitional measures set out in point 1 of section XI of the specification have been deleted. The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

10. Record-keeping In point II(3) of Chapter 2 the word ‘potential’ is replaced by ‘natural’. In keeping with the wording used in all the specifications of the Anjou Saumur area, the wording ‘natural alcoholic strength by volume’ has replaced the terms ‘potential strength’ or ‘degree’. These amendments improve the readability of these specifications. The harmonisation of the provisions on record-keeping aim at making it easier to draft the inspection plan and to check the records. The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

11. Main points for checking Chapter 3 has been revised to ensure consistency in drafting the main points to be checked in the specifications of the Anjou Saumur area. The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name of the product Rosé de Loire

2. Geographical indication type PDO – Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine product 1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s) These are dry, still rosé wines with the following main analytical characteristics: - The wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 9,5 %. - After fermentation the wines have a fermentable sugar content (glucose and fructose) not exceeding 3 grams per litre. - Before packaging the wines have a total acidity content of 91,84 milliequivalents per litre or less. - After enrichment, the wines’ total alcoholic strength by volume must not exceed 12,5 %. The volatile acidity and total sulphur dioxide content are those set out in EU legislation. ‘Rosé de Loire’ is a dry wine, generally salmon-pink in colour. Its light aromas are often reminiscent of cherries and strawberries. The taste is powerful, fresh, round and harmonious. Fresh and thirst-quenching, it gives the impression of biting into ripe fruit, and its originality is best appreciated when young.

General analytical characteristics

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)

Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)

Minimum total acidity

Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)

Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/43

5. Wine-making practices

a. Essential oenological practices

Specific oenological practices

Planting density - Spacing

Growing method

The minimum vine planting density is 4 000 plants per hectare. The spacing between the rows of these vines must not exceed 2,5 metres, and the spacing between plants in the same row must be at least 1 metre. Vineyard parcels with a planting density of less than 4 000 plants per hectare but greater than or equal to 3 300 plants per hectare, have the right, for harvesting, to the controlled designation of origin, subject to compliance with the rules on trellising and foliage height laid down in the specification. The spacing between the rows of these vines must not exceed 3 metres, and the spacing between plants in the same row must be at least 1 metre.

Rules on vine pruning and trellising

Growing method

The vines are pruned by 30 April at the latest, using the cane and spur method, with a maximum of 12 buds per plant and 7 buds on the cane.

The minimum height of the foliage when trellised is at least 0,6 times the spacing between the rows, the height being measured between the lower limit of the foliage, at least 0,4 m above ground, and the upper limit of the canopy, at least 0,2 m above the upper trellising wire.

Vineyard parcels with a planting density of less than 4 000 plants per hectare but greater than or equal to 3 300 plants per hectare are also subject to the following trellising rules: the minimum height of the trellising posts above ground is 1.9 m; there are 4 levels of trellising wires; the minimum height of the upper wire is 1.85 m above the ground.

Irrigation

Growing method

Irrigation is prohibited.

Specific oenological practice

The use of oenological charcoal to make the rosé wines is forbidden, whether alone or mixed in preparations;

The use of wood chips is forbidden;

After enrichment, the wines’ total alcoholic strength by volume must not exceed 12,5 %.

In addition to the above provisions, the oenological practices concerning these wines must meet the requirements laid down at Community level and in the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.

b. Maximum yields

72 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area

All stages of production shall take place in the geographical area covering the territory of the following municipalities, on the basis of the 2018 official geographical code:

— Department of Deux-Sèvres: Argenton-l’Église, Bouillé-Loretz, Brion-près-Thouet, Louzy, Mauzé-Thouarsais, Oiron, Saint-Cyr-la-Lande, Sainte-Radegonde, Sainte-Verge, Saint-Martin-de-Mâcon, Saint-Martin-de-Sanzay, Thouars, Tourtenay, Val-en-Vignes (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Bouillé-Saint-Paul and Cersay); C 46/44 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

— Department of Indre-et-Loire: Amboise, Anché, Artannes-sur-Indre, Athée-sur-Cher, Avoine, Avon-les-Roches, Azay-le- Rideau, Azay-sur-Cher, Beaumont-en-Véron, Benais, Bléré, Bossay-sur-Claise, Bourgueil, Brizay, Candes-Saint-Martin, Cangey, Chambray-lès-Tours, Chançay, Chanceaux-sur-Choisille, La Chapelle-sur-Loire, Chargé, Cheillé, Chemillé-sur- Indrois, Chenonceaux, Chinon, Chisseaux, Chouzé-sur-Loire, Cinais, Cinq-Mars-la-Pile, Civray-de-Touraine, Coteaux- sur-Loire (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Ingrandes-de-Touraine, Saint-Michel-sur-Loire and Saint- Patrice), Couziers, Cravant-les-Côteaux, La Croix-en-Touraine, Crouzilles, Dierre, Draché, Épeigné-les-Bois, Esvres, Fondettes, Francueil, Genillé, Huismes, L’Île-Bouchard, Joué-lès-Tours, Langeais (former territory of the delegated municipality of Langeais), Larçay, Lémeré, Lerné, Lignières de-Touraine, Ligré, Limeray, Lussault-sur-Loire, Luynes, Luzillé, Marçay, Montlouis-sur-Loire, Montreuil-en-Touraine, Mosnes, Nazelles-Négron, Neuillé-le-Lierre, Noizay, Panzoult, Parçay-Meslay, Pocé-sur-Cisse, Pont-de-Ruan, Razines, Restigné, Reugny, Rigny-Ussé, Rivarennes, Rivière, La Roche-Clermault, Rochecorbon, Saché, Saint-Avertin, Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt, Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, Saint-Étienne-de- Chigny, Saint-Germain-sur-Vienne, Saint-Martin-le-Beau, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Saint-Ouen-les-Vignes, Saint-Règle, Savigny-en-Véron, Savonnières, Sazilly, Seuilly, Souvigny-de-Touraine, Tavant, Theneuil, Thilouze, Thizay, Tours, Vallères, Véretz, Vernou-sur-Brenne, Villaines-les-Rochers, Vouvray; — Department of Loir-et-Cher: Angé, Blois, Chailles, Châteauvieux, Châtillon-sur-Cher, Chaumont-sur-Loire, Chémery, Chissay-en-Touraine, Choussy, Contres, Couddes, Couffy, Faverolles-sur-Cher, Mareuil-sur-Cher, Méhers, Mesland, Meusnes, Monteaux, Monthou-sur-Bièvre, Monthou-sur-Cher, Montrichard Val de Cher (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Bourré and Montrichard), Noyers-sur-Cher, Oisly, Pontlevoy, Pouillé, Rilly-sur-Loire, Saint-Aignan, Saint-Georges-sur-Cher, Saint-Julien-de-Chédon, Saint-Romain-sur-Cher, Sassay, Seigy, Soings-en-Sologne, Thenay, Thésée, Valaire, Valencisse (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chambon-sur-Cisse and Molineuf), Vallières-les-Grandes, Valloire-sur-Cisse (former territory of the delegated municipality of Chouzy-sur-Cisse), Veuzain-sur-Loire (former territory of the delegated municipality of Onzain); — Department of Maine-et-Loire: Allonnes, Angers, Antoigné, Artannes-sur-Thouet, Aubigné-sur-Layon, Beaulieu-sur- Layon, Bellevigne-en-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Champ-sur-Layon, Faveraye-Machelles, Faye-d’Anjou, Rablay-sur-Layon and Thouarcé), Blaison-Saint-Sulpice (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Blaison-Gohier and Saint-Sulpice), Bouchemaine, Brain-sur-Allonnes, Brézé, Brissac Loire Aubance (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Alleuds, Brissac-Quincé, Charcé-Saint-Ellier-sur-Aubance, Chemellier, Coutures, Luigné, Saint-Rémy-la-Varenne, Saint-Saturnin-sur-Loire and Vauchrétien), Brossay, Cernusson, Chacé, Chalonnes-sur-Loire, Champtocé-sur-Loire, Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, Chemillé-en-Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chanzeaux, La Jumellière and Valanjou), Cizay-la-Madeleine, Cléré-sur-Layon, Le Coudray- Macouard, Courchamps, Denée, Dénezé-sous-Doué, Distré, Doué-en-Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Brigné, Concourson-sur-Layon, Doué-la-Fontaine, Forges, Meigné, Montfort, Saint-Georges-sur-Layon and Les Verchers-sur-Layon), Épieds, Fontevraud-l’Abbaye, Les Garennes sur Loire (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Juigné-sur-Loire and Saint-Jean-des-Mauvrets), Gennes-Val-de-Loire (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chênehutte-Trêves-Cunault, Gennes, Grézillé, Saint-Georges-des-Sept-Voies and Le Thoureil), Huillé, Ingrandes-Le Fresne sur Loire (former territory of the delegated municipality of Ingrandes), Jarzé Villages (former territory of the delegated municipality of Lué-en-Baugeois), Louresse-Rochemenier, Lys-Haut-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Cerqueux-sous-Passavant, La Fosse-de-Tigné, Nueil-sur-Layon, Tancoigné, Tigné, Trémont and Vihiers), Mauges-sur-Loire (former territories of the delegated municipalities of La Chapelle-Saint-Florent, Le Mesnil-en-Vallée, Montjean-sur-Loire, La Pommeraye, Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, Saint-Laurent-de-la-Plaine and Saint- Laurent-du-Mottay), Mazé-Milon (former territory of the delegated municipality of Fontaine-Milon), Montilliers, Montreuil-Bellay, Montsoreau, Mozé-sur-Louet, Mûrs-Erigné, Orée d’Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Bouzillé, Champtoceaux, Drain, Landemont, Liré and La Varenne), Parnay, Passavant-sur-Layon, La Possonnière, Le Puy-Notre-Dame, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Rou-Marson, Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg, Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire, Saint-Georges-sur-Loire, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Just-sur-Dive, Saint-Macaire-du-Bois, Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance, Saumur, Savennières, Soulaines-sur-Aubance, Souzay-Champigny, Terranjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chavagnes, Martigné-Briand and Notre-Dame-d’Allençon), Tuffalun (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Ambillou-Château, Louerre and Noyant-la-Plaine), Turquant, Les Ulmes, Val-du-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné and Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay), Varennes- sur-Loire, Varrains, Vaudelnay, Villevêque; — Department of Vienne: Berrie, Curçay-sur-Dive, Glénouze, Pouançay, Ranton, Saint-Léger-de-Montbrillais, Saix, Ternay, Les Trois-Moutiers.

7. Main wine grapes Gamay N Grolleau N Cabernet franc N Cabernet-Sauvignon N Pineau d’Aunis N Pinot noir N Grolleau gris G 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/45

8. Description of the link(s)

1. Information on the geographical area

a) Description of the natural factors relevant to the link The geographical area consists of an undulating plateau which corresponds geologically to the primary formations of the foothills of the Armorican massif; it also includes the more recent formations of the Mesozoic and, to a lesser extent, the Tertiary eras, on the south-western fringe of the Parisian basin. The area runs along the River Loire and its tributaries the Vienne, the Indre and the Cher, for around 200 kilometres. In 2018 it comprised 232 municipalities, some of which are famous for their chateaus. The parcels for the harvesting of grapes have slaty or clayey-slaty soils in the western part and clayey-shaley soils (Cenomanian, Turonian, Senonian and Eocene) in the eastern part. The Turonian level is essential, originally formed from tufa, the mining of which in a multitude of quarries led to the construction of the Loire chateaus and, more generally, of the entire architecture of the region, resulting in countless caves. These quarries have become cellars, with constant temperature and humidity, devoted to mushroom growing and wine storage. All the soils are special in that they have useful modest water reserves and good drainage capacity. The climate is oceanic, but the eastern section, corresponding to the Sologne wine-growing area, has a more continental influence with a combination of annual precipitation which is slightly higher than the rest of the geographical area, of between 550 and 650 millimetres. In the west, where the ocean’s influence is at its strongest, the temperatures are moderate, the winters mild and the summers not too hot. By contrast, towards the east, the temperature range tends to increase. In this general context, the river network formed by the Loire and its tributaries acts as a thermal regulator.

b) Description of the human factors relevant to the geographical link The story of wine-growing in the area is a relatively old one, linked as it is to the development of several monasteries and abbeys. In the 6th century St Gregory of Tours, in his ‘History of France’, reported on the extensive culture of vines in this area and the use of ‘traquettes’ to scare the birds during the ripening period. In the 15th century, with the arrival of the ‘Breton’ vine variety, which is none other than Cabernet franc N, originating in the Bordeaux area, the growers produced a new rosé wine, known as ‘clairet’, with characteristic aromas of red fruit. The first historical records relate to the offering made by the residents of Saumur of two ‘busses’ [barrels] (536 litres) of ‘clairet’ wine to Jean V, Duke of Brittany. A short distance to the east, rosé wines were also produced in the province of Touraine. Some municipalities situated on the right bank of the Loire earned a certain reputation with these wines in the past. The vineyards of Blois, Azay-le- Rideau or Mesland were important producers. The wines produced in the municipality of Cinq-Mars-La-Pile were recognised, and the local grape variety, Grolleau N, was developed considerably. In the early 19th century this variety was very common in Anjou, particularly in the cantons of Thouarcé and Brissac. The extent of the geographical area encourages the diversity of varieties due to the differences in soil and climate found there. The main varieties planted in Anjou are Cabernet franc N, Cabernet-Sauvignon N, Grolleau N and Grolleau gris G. Grolleau N is very common in Touraine on the right bank of the Loire. The Gamay N variety is also present in the entire wine-growing area, along with, to a lesser extent, Pineau d’Aunis N and more locally Pinot noir N.

The beginning of the 20th century marks the large-scale development of rosé wines known as ‘rouget’ in Anjou and ‘vin gris’ in Touraine. In the early 1970s the Loire Valley producers, in an effort to reinforce the image of this dry rosé wine and to preserve its identity, sought its recognition. The ‘Rosé de Loire’ controlled designation of origin was recognised in 1974.

2. Information on the quality and characteristics of the product ‘Rosé de Loire’ is a dry wine, generally salmon-pink in colour. Its light aromas are often reminiscent of cherries and strawberries. The taste is powerful, fresh, round and harmonious. Fresh and thirst-quenching, it gives the impression of biting into ripe fruit, and its originality is best appreciated when young.

3. Causal interactions The major hydrographic network of the Loire, Vienne, Cher and Indre rivers has over time largely formed the undulating plateau of hard Primary and softer Secondary and Tertiary rocks. During the Middle Ages, under the influence of the Church, vines were planted and the vineyards of Anjou and Touraine developed along almost 200 kilometres of the Loire and its tributaries. C 46/46 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

Over time the producers have favoured planting the Cabernet franc N and Grolleau N varieties in the western part of the geographical area, while in the eastern part producers have mainly planted the Gamay N and Pineau d’Aunis N varieties. This choice is explained by the configuration of the geographical area and the oceanic climate. The varieties have naturally fitted into this diversity of wine production situations faced by the producers. In line with their uses, the demarcated area for the harvesting of grapes only takes into account parcels with well-drained clayey-shaley or slaty soils.

The production of ‘rouget’ and ‘vin gris’, a wine that is fresh, original, drinkable and with a low alcoholic strength by volume thus developed at the beginning of the 20th century. From generation to generation, the producers have highlighted the original characteristics of their wines, on the one hand by choosing blends which promote their aromatic potential, and on the other hand by optimum management of the plant and its production potential by strict training of the vines.

The success of this production was crowned by the recognition of the ‘Rosé de Loire’ controlled designation of origin in 1974. The dynamism and know-how of the producers and their historical commitment to the Loire wine producing area maintain the reputation acquired by this controlled designation of origin which has been very successful since its recognition.

9. Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Labelling

Legal framework:

EU legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

All the voluntary indications are marked on the labels in letters that may not be larger, either in height or width, than double the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

The name of the controlled designation of origin may be followed by the supplementary geographical designation ‘Val de Loire’, in accordance with the rules laid down in the specification. The size of the letters of the geographical name ‘Val de Loire’ may not be larger, either in height or width, than two-thirds of the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

Wines with the controlled designation of origin may specify a smaller geographical unit on their labels, provided that: - it is a registered location; - it appears on the harvest declaration. The place name must be printed in letters no larger, either in height or in width, than half the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

Area in immediate proximity

Legal framework:

EU legislation

Type of further condition:

Derogation concerning production in the demarcated geographical area

Description of the condition:

The area in immediate proximity, defined by derogation for the making and processing of the wines, is made up of the territory of the following municipalities, on the basis of the 2018 official geographical code:

— Department of Indre: Faverolles-en-Berry, Fontguenand, Lye, La Vernelle, Veuil, Villentrois;

— Department of Indre-et-Loire: Chaveignes, Chezelles, Crissay-sur-Manse, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil;

— Department of Loir-et-Cher: Candé-sur-Beuvron, Cheverny, Cormeray, Feings, Fresnes, Fougères-sur-Bièvre, Les Montils, Mont-près-Chambord, Ouchamps, Sambin; 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/47

— Department of Loire-Atlantique: Ancenis, Le Loroux-Bottereau, Le Pallet, La Remaudière, Vair-sur-Loire (former territory of the delegated municipality of Anetz), Vallet; — Department of Maine-et-Loire: Orée d’Anjou (former territory of the delegated municipality of Saint-Laurent-des- Autels), Saint-Martin-du-Fouilloux.

Link to the product specification https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-92621e99-82b3-4528-9773-4d35d2805177 C 46/48 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

(2020/C 46/16)

This notice is published in accordance with Article 17(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (1).

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

‘Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu’

PDO-FR-A0496-AM01

Date of communication: 14 November 2019

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Geographical area The revision of the geographical area of the ‘Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu’ designation has the following consequences: — the inclusion of two municipalities (Geneston, La Planche) and four part-municipalities (Le Bignon, Montbert, Les Sorinières, Vieillevigne), all of which come from the geographical area of the ‘Muscadet’ regional designation; — the exclusion of two municipalities (Bouguenais, Touvois) and two part-municipalities (Legé, Sainte-Pazanne) following work to restrict the wine-growing area to those sectors where quality viticulture has been maintained. In order to increase legal certainty, the new list of administrative entities is referenced according to the current version of the official geographic code, updated annually by the INSEE (French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies). The Single Document has been amended accordingly regarding the geographical area.

2. Demarcated parcel area In chapter I, point IV(2) of the specification, the words ‘and 19 January 2017’ are added after the words ‘ 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 suitable for producing the product covered by the registered designation of origin in question. The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

3. Area in immediate proximity The area in immediate proximity has been updated following the merger of municipalities and the revision of the geographical area. The overall winemaking area of the designation has not changed. The Single Document has been amended accordingly regarding the additional conditions.

4. Growing methods In chapter I, point IX(1), the words ‘They remain on their fine winemaking lees at the time of packing or when first dispatched from the winery.’ are added. Keeping wines on their fine lees makes it possible to give the products their typical roundness. This makes it possible to assert and strengthen the segmentation of the different Muscadet designations. The Single Document has been amended accordingly regarding the wine-making practices.

(1) OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/49

5. Heat treatment The ban on the use of heat treatment on wine involving temperatures above 40 °C is deleted. This amendment is intended to allow operators to use all the technical means available to manage the effects of difficult growing years that typically cause sensory alterations such as an ‘earthy-musty’ taste. The technique of heating the must, known as ‘thermovinification’, has proved to be much less damaging in terms of producing wines lacking in structure and body than using mesoporous oenological carbon. The Single Document has been amended accordingly regarding the wine-making practices.

6. Packaging The end of the packaging period for wines marked ‘sur lie’ [aged on the lees] is extended from 30 November to 31 December. This amendment makes it possible to extend the bottling period of such wines by a month in order to optimise the marketing period of this category without changing the roundness and slight effervescence associated with that marking. The Single Document has been amended accordingly regarding the additional conditions.

7. Circulation of wines Point 4(b) of section IX 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.

8. Link The link has been modified to take account of the change in the number of municipalities, to correct an error (the name is ‘Bay of Bourgneuf’ and not ‘Bay of Bourgneuf-en-Retz’), and to update the last paragraph of point 1 concerning the number of producers and the volume produced. The Single Document has been amended accordingly regarding the link with the geographical area.

9. Labelling A point c) has been added to section XI: ‘c) Wines with the controlled designation of origin may specify a smaller geographical unit on their labels, provided that: — it is a registered location; — it appears on the harvest declaration. The place name must be printed in letters no larger, either in height or in width, than half the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin. It must be within the same visual field as the name of the designation of origin.’ The Single Document has been amended accordingly regarding the additional conditions.

10. Reporting requirements The time limit for submitting a claim statement has changed from 15 to 31 December. The prior declaration of transaction has been changed into a prior declaration of dispatch. The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

11. Withdrawal The details of the withdrawal declaration are specified in order to improve their accountability. The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

12. Records Editorial changes have been made with regard to record-keeping. — In point II(2) of Chapter II: C 46/50 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

— point (b), the words ‘until the date of submitting the claim statement’ and ‘the acidity of the must’ have been deleted; — point (c), the word ‘book’ has been replaced by ‘records’; — point (d), the word ‘book’ has been replaced by ‘records’ and the words ‘or marketing wines of the registered designation of origin unbottled’ have been deleted. The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

13. Main points for checking Chapter 3 has been updated to harmonise the wording of the main points to be checked across specifications from the Nantes area. The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name of the product Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu

2. Geographical indication type PDO – Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine product 1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s) These are still white, dry wines. These wines have: — a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 10 %; — a maximum fermentable sugar content (glucose and fructose) of 3 grams per litre; — a maximum volatile acid content of 10 milliequivalents per litre; — a total alcoholic strength by volume after enrichment of 12 %. The total acidity content, the total sulphur dioxide content and the total actual alcoholic strength comply with the thresholds laid down in EU legislation. These are still white, dry wines. They have intense aromas, dominated by fruit and citrus, sometimes iodine notes and a balance of taste which generally tends towards freshness. Prolonged maturation can give them greater richness in the mouth and make them suitable for ageing. They are packed carefully in bottles to preserve and strengthen their aromatic richness.

General analytical characteristics

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)

Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)

Minimum total acidity

Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)

Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/51

5. Wine-making practices

a. Essential oenological practices

Specific oenological practices Growing method The minimum planting density of the vines is 6500 plants per hectare. The distance between the rows is 1,5 metres or less, and the spacing between plants in the same row is between 0,9 and 1,1 metres. The vines are pruned with a maximum of 12 buds per plant: — either by short pruning with a maximum of 5 spurs per plant; — or by means of either simple or double Guyot. Pruning is carried out before the budding stage or stage 5 on the Eichhorn and Lorenz scale. Regardless of the pruning method, the vines can be pruned with four additional buds per plant on condition that, at the phenological stage corresponding to 11 or 12 leaves, there are no more than 12 fruit-bearing branches for the year per plant. Specific oenological practice Any heat treatment of the wine harvest at a temperature below -5 °C is prohibited. After enrichment, the wines’ total alcoholic strength by volume does not exceed 12 %. The wines are aged on their fine winemaking lees at the end of alcoholic fermentation and at least until 1 March of the year following harvest. They remain on their fine winemaking lees at the time of packing or when first dispatched from the winery. In addition to the above provisions, the oenological practices concerning these wines meet the requirements laid down at Community level and in the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.

b. Maximum yields 66 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area All stages of the production must take place within the geographical area approved by the National Institute of Origin and Quality at the meeting of the relevant national committee on 15 June 2017. The perimeter of this area, on the date of approval of this specification by the competent national committee, comprises the territory of the following municipalities or part-municipalities, as based on the 2018 Official Geographic Code: — Department of Loire-Atlantique: Le Bignon (partly), Bouaye, Brains, La Chevrolière, Corcoué-sur-Logne, Geneston, Legé (partly), La Limouzinière, La Planche, Montbert (partly), Pont-Saint-Martin, Port-Saint-Père, Saint-Aignan- Grandlieu, Saint-Colomban, Sainte-Pazanne (partly), Saint-Léger-les-Vignes, Saint-Lumine-de-Coutais, Saint-Mars- de-Coutais, Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu, Les Sorinières (partly), Vieillevigne (partly). — Department of Vendée: Rocheservière, Saint-Philbert-de-Bouaine.

7. Main wine grapes Melon B

8. Description of the link(s)

1. Information on the geographical area

a) Description of the natural factors relevant to the link The wine-growing area with the registered designation of origin ‘Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu’ is essentially situated on the hillsides surrounding the Lac de Grandlieu and on the banks of the rivers feeding it (the Logne, Boulogne and Ognon), as well as on the slopes of the river Acheneau which serves as an outlet and joins the estuary of the Loire between Nantes and Saint-Nazaire. The geographical area covers a part of the territory of the departments of Loire- Atlantique and Vendée, south of the city of Nantes, not far from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It forms the westernmost part of the geographical area of the ‘Muscadet’ registered designation of origin. The vineyards are C 46/52 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

situated within ‘islands’ in the best locations, often isolated in a landscape mainly devoted to livestock and crop farming.

The geographical area has a particularly temperate oceanic climate with very small temperature variations throughout the year due to the proximity of the coast. In winter the Lac de Grandlieu is the largest freshwater area in metropolitan France and helps to increase the sweetness of the air, greatly reducing the frequency of frost. The absence of any significant hills between the coast and the vineyards favours the rapid circulation of cloudbearing sea air, thus leading to low rainfall within the geographical area and to more hours of sunshine than further inland. Summer temperatures are generally mild and moisture from the Lac de Grandlieu mitigates the rare heatwaves. The area’s geological structure is principally composed of metamorphic rocks, mainly misaschists and gneiss, as well as broad bands of basic rocks, amphibolites, eclogites and prasinites. In the lower areas, around the Lac de Grandlieu, the primary base is sometimes covered with tertiary sediments, mainly consisting of sand with a variable proportion of clay and pebbles. The soils that develop on these different formations are usually brown, healthy and well-drained. The well-established parcel area where the grapes are harvested follows the contours of hillsides forming open landscapes mainly or traditionally planted with vines, and parcels with shallow and moderately fertile soils which have a good heat-retaining capacity and a limited water-holding capacity.

b) Description of the human factors relevant to the geographical link The vineyard area with the registered designation of origin ‘Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu’ has inherited an ancient wine-growing tradition. During the Middle Ages the salt route from the Bay of Bourgneuf and Noirmoutier already passed via the Lac de Grandlieu for the supply of wine. There had long been active trade with Ireland and the Celtic countries. The medieval vineyards were extended at the instigation of the abbeys of Buzay (on the banks of the Acheneau) and Villeneuve (on the banks of the Ognon).

From the 14th century onwards a commercial wine trade was established thanks to the presence of the northern European fleets in the Bay of Bourgneuf. In the 16th century demand from Dutch traders encouraged the production of white wines. Thus the Melon B variety was established in the region, where it was called ‘Muscadet’ from the mid- 17th century. At the end of the end of the 18th century the parish of Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu already had one third of its land planted with vines. This municipality had up to 750 hectares of vines during the Second Empire. Following the phylloxera outbreak, the wine-growing area rebuilt itself using grafted plants and new techniques such as the Guyot pruning method and planting in rows. Since then, production know-how is well consolidated with winegrowers using Melon B as the sole variety, maintaining a high planting density, checking the vines’ growth and limiting their yield, and harvesting the grapes once fully ripened. To produce richer and more complex wines, the operators adopted a particular technical winemaking procedure known as the Nantes method, which consists in keeping the wines on fine winemaking lees for at least one winter without any racking. This knowhow stems from the winegrowers’ habit of keeping a barrel of their best wine on the lees to celebrate family events the following spring. It is an ageing method that makes for round and unctuous wines, as they are enriched, in particular, with mannoproteins and other compounds resulting from the autolysis of yeast cell walls. Moreover, this method, based on letting the wines rest and keeping them in a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere, which strongly limits oxidation and the release of volatile compounds, allows the wines to preserve the aromas formed during the alcoholic fermentation until the spring and beyond. During ageing, the wines are also enriched with tertiary aromas. The grapes, musts and wines produced by the melon B variety contain a significant concentration of precursors of glycosidic aromas. These molecules, formed from aglycones related to sugars, are normally odourless, but the breaking of the β-glucosidic linkages by various chemical and enzymatic processes generates strongly odorous compounds, mainly of monoterpenes and C13-norisoprenoids, with the formation of mainly β-damascone, a substance known for its role as a supplier of fruity aromas of wines. The operators have acquired special expertise in protecting the wines from oxidation in the vat and bottling them with care, so that their fragrances can continue to be released as long as possible, making for more complex wines. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/53

Since 1937 the best wine-growing locations in the geographical area have been recognised as the ‘Muscadet’ registered designation of origin. However, from 1955 the wine-growers on the best hillsides, seeking improve the value of the wines produced there, called for recognition of a registered designation of origin, repeating this request in 1979. The registered designation of origin ‘Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu’ was finally recognised by decree of 29 December 1994. The wines may benefit from the traditional term ‘sur lie’ [aged on lees], the rules for which have been defined since 1977 in the ‘Muscadet’ AOC area. The wines are bottled during the year following the harvest, directly in the winery, so as to keep any racking and decanting to a minimum. In 2016 the area under production was approximately 250 hectares operated by around 80 producers. The annual volume marketed amounts to approximately 12000 hectolitres of which the majority is marked ‘sur lie’.

2. Information on the quality and characteristics of the product The wines with the registered designation of origin ‘Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu’ are still white wines. They have intense aromas, dominated by fruit and citrus, sometimes iodine notes and a balance of taste which generally tends towards freshness. Prolonged maturation can give them greater richness in the mouth and make them suitable for ageing. They are packed carefully in bottles to preserve and strengthen their aromatic richness. The wines with the endorsement ‘sur lie’ are balanced in the mouth, tending more towards roundness; they have a more complex bouquet and they may be slightly sparkling due to the residual carbon dioxide formed during the alcoholic fermentation. To preserve their freshness, aromatic richness and endogenous carbon dioxide, the wines are protected from oxidation during ageing. The wines are bottled, their carbon dioxide content being too high for them to be packed in flexible containers, and particular care is required during bottling.

3. Causal interactions The geographical area benefits from a climate directly influenced by the nearby Atlantic Ocean and the Lac de Grandlieu, characterised by very mild winters. Together with the fact that most parcels have soils that are mainly sandy, this climate ensures that the vines get off to an early start, benefit from long and sunny days throughout their growth cycle, and can be harvested before the autumn rains. This early start is reflected in the wines’ open and well- rounded character even when young. The fracturing of the metamorphic rocks which form the geological base and the coarse texture of the soil allow the vines to develop deep roots, thus benefiting from a moderate and regular water supply which enables the grape bunches to ripen quickly. The cool summers ensure that the precursors of the fragile aromas present in the bunches of Melon B are preserved. Protected from diseases by the ocean breezes, the grapes can be harvested at full maturity, giving the wines their fruity character and delicate iodine aroma. Even though it has inherited a long-standing wine production, the geographical area has for a long time been one of mixed farming dominated by livestock. The route taken by the operators to obtain recognition of the ‘Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu’ AOC has led them to pool their wine practices. This collective know-how enables producers to optimise wine yields and the ripeness of the grapes. Made in line with local custom, the wines are aged on their fine winemaking lees until packaging, without any racking. The geographical area’s mild winter temperatures, which favour interaction with the lees, allow the wines to continue to improve during ageing, growing richer on the palate from the very next spring. Careful bottling makes it possible to preserve the wine’s essential characteristics, as some aromas continue to develop after packaging. This know-how, perfectly suited to the potential of the natural environment and the melon B variety, allow the odorous molecules formed in fermentation and the precursors of glycosidic aromas to be fully expressed in the wines. Bottled the year after the harvest, AOC wines marked ‘sur lie’ keep their characteristic freshness supported by a light effervescence due to the residual carbon dioxide formed during the wine-making process. To avoid any oxidation the wines are bottled directly at the winery. This traditional practice, which minimises handling, is perfectly suited to preserving the delicate aroma compounds of the wines. C 46/54 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

The proximity of coastal tourist sites to the geographical area favoured the direct sales of wines. Unlike the majority of the products in the ‘Muscadet’ region, however, the share of production sold in bulk to traders is fairly small. Thanks to this commercial dynamism and the quality of the wines, almost all of the production has the label ‘sur lie’, whether exported abroad, sold to private clients, or served in the restaurants in the Atlantic coastal resorts, where the freshness of the wines harmonises well with shellfish, crustaceans, fish and all seafood products.

9. Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Area in immediate proximity

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Derogation concerning production in the demarcated geographical area

Description of the condition:

The area in immediate proximity, defined by derogation for the vinification, processing, ageing and packaging of wines eligible for the endorsement ‘sur lie’, comprises the territory of the following municipalities or part- municipalities on the basis of the 2018 Official Geographic Code:

— Department of Loire-Atlantique: Aigrefeuille-sur-Maine, Ancenis, Basse-Goulaine, La Bernerie-en-Retz, Le Bignon (partly), La Boissière-du-Doré, Bouguenais, Boussay, Carquefou, Le Cellier, La Chapelle-Heulin, Château-Thébaud, Chaumes-en-Retz, Chauvé, Cheix-en-Retz, Clisson, Couffé, Divatte-sur-Loire, Frossay, Gétigné, Gorges, La Haie- Fouassière, Haute-Goulaine, Le Landreau, Legé (partly), Ligné, Loireauxence (delegated municipalities of La Chapelle-Saint-Sauveur and Varades only), Le Loroux-Bottereau, Machecoul-Saint-Même, Maisdon-sur-Sèvre, La Marne, Mauves-sur-Loire, Mésanger, Monnières, Montbert (partly), Montrelais, Les Moutiers-en-Retz, Mouzillon, Oudon, Le Pallet, Paulx, Le Pellerin, Pornic, La Regrippière, La Remaudière, Remouillé, Rezé, Rouans, Sainte- Pazanne (partly), Saint-Étienne-de-Mer-Morte, Saint-Fiacre-sur-Maine, Saint-Géréon, Saint-Hilaire-de-Chaléons, Saint-Hilaire-de-Clisson, Saint-Julien-de-Concelles, Saint-Lumine-de-Clisson, Saint-Père-en-Retz, Saint-Viaud, Les Sorinières (partly), Thouaré-sur-Loire, Touvois, Vair-sur-Loire, Vallet, Vertou, Vieillevigne (partly), Villeneuve-en- Retz, Vue.

— Department of Maine-et-Loire: Beaupréau-en-Mauges (delegated municipalities of Beaupréau and Gesté only), Ingrandes-Le Fresne sur Loire (delegated municipality of Fresne-sur-Loire only), Mauges-sur-Loire (delegated municipalities of La Chapelle-Saint-Florent, Le Marillais and Saint-Florent-le-Vieil only), Montrevault-sur-Èvre (delegated municipalities of La Boissière-sur-Èvre, La Chaussaire, Le Fief-Sauvin, Le Fuilet, Montrevault, Le Puiset- Doré, Saint-Pierre-Montlimart and Saint-Rémy-en-Mauges only), Orée d’Anjou, Sèvremoine (delegated municipalities of Montfaucon-Montigné, Saint-Crespin-sur-Moine, Saint-Germain-sur-Moine and Tillières only).

— Department of Vendée: Cugand, Montaigu, Saint-Étienne-du-Bois, Saint-Hilaire-de-Loulay.

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Packaging in the demarcated area

Description of the condition:

Wines that may be labelled ‘sur lie’ [aged on the lees] must be bottled within the demarcated area.

They are bottled at the winery, so as to keep decanting to a minimum, between 1 March and 30 November of the year following the harvest to preserve the qualities obtained using specific winemaking and ageing methods, in particular their freshness and complex aromas, some of which develop after bottling, and a slight effervescence due to their naturally occurring carbon dioxide content.

It is an ageing method that makes for round and unctuous wines, as they are enriched, in particular, with mannoproteins and other compounds resulting 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/55

from the autolysis of yeast cell walls. This method is based on letting the wines rest and keeping them in a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere, which strongly limits oxidation and the release of volatile compounds. The wines are bottled, their carbon dioxide content being too high for them to be packed in flexible containers, and particular care is required during bottling. They remain on their fine winemaking lees at the time of packing or when first dispatched from the winery. Legal framework: National legislation Type of further condition: Additional provisions relating to labelling Description of the condition: The name of the registered designation of origin may be followed by the reference ‘sur lie’ for wines meeting the production conditions laid down for that reference in the specification. The name of the controlled designation of origin may be followed by the geographical designation ‘Val de Loire’, in accordance with the rules laid down in the specification. The size of the letters of the reference ‘sur lie’ and the geographical name ‘Val de Loire’ may not be larger, either in height, width or thickness, than two-thirds of the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin. For wines labelled ‘sur lie’, the vintage must also appear on the label. Wines with the controlled designation of origin may specify a smaller geographical unit on their labels, provided that: it is a registered location; it appears on the harvest declaration. The place name must be printed in letters no larger, either in height or in width, than half the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin. It must be within the same visual field as the name of the designation of origin.

Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-82f0846a-250f-4d39-a81d-0232a960a3a6 C 46/56 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

Publication of the amended single document following the approval of a minor amendment pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012

(2020/C 46/17)

The European Commission has approved this minor amendment in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 6(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 (1)

The application for approval of this minor amendment can be consulted in the Commission’s eAmbrosia database.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘MIELE VARESINO’

EU No: PDO-IT-0990-AM01-9.7.2019

PDO (X)PGI ( )

1. Name(s) ‘Miele Varesino’

2. Member State or Third Country Italy

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product Class 1.4. Other products of animal origin (eggs, honey, various dairy products except butter, etc.)

3.2. Description of product to which the name in (1) applies ‘Miele Varesino’ is a single-flower acacia (Robinia Pseudoacacia L.) honey.

Physical and chemical characteristics ‘Miele Varesino’ must have the following chemical and physical characteristics in its various forms: the HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural) content (when the product is put on sale) must be less than 15 mg/kg and the water content must not exceed 17,5 %.

Organoleptic characteristics ‘Miele Varesino’ has the following organoleptic characteristics: Colour: transparent, from almost colourless to straw yellow; Aroma: typical of honey, light and delicate, without any predominating scent; Taste: very sweet and delicate with a note of vanilla; Physical state: generally liquid, rarely crystallises (and then only after a considerable length of time).

Pollen characteristics ‘Miele Varesino’ is produced by bees from the nectar of Robinia pseudoacacia (false acacia) flowers. Robinia pseudoacacia pollen can be identified via qualitative melissopalynological analysis.

(1) OJ L 179, 19.6.2014, p. 17. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/57

The Robinia pseudoacacia pollen content in ‘Miele Varesino’ must account for over 25 % of the pollen from nectariferous plants, calculated by excluding pollen from non-nectariferous species and any contaminating pollen. PK/10g must be below 20 000 (average 9 500). The types of pollen typically found together with Robinia pseudoacacia are: Non-nectariferous species: Trachycarpus fortunei, Ilex aquifolium, Graminaceae, Fraxinus, Quercus robur, Rumex, Sambucus nigra, Chelidonium, Luzula, Actinidia and Pinaceae. Nectariferous species: Acer, Prunus f., Salix, Trifolium repens and Castanea sativa (always present in the pollen spectrum), Aesculus, Gleditsia and Liriodendron. ‘Miele Varesino’ must not contain the following types of pollen: Loranthus europaeus, Hedysarum coronarium or Onobrychis.

3.3. Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only) It is absolutely forbidden to use pollen that is not strictly local in origin for the bees’ protein nutrition.

3.4. Specific steps in production that must take place in the defined geographical area All steps in production, including the collection of nectar by the bees in the fields and the extraction and preparation of the honey for consumption, must take place in the province of Varese.

3.5. Specific rules concerning the slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product to which the registered name refers Honey is a living product that is greatly affected by environmental conditions. The ripening/extraction of the honey and the packaging should therefore take place in the production area and the honey should not be transported until it has been packaged so as not to adversely affect its quality, freshness and shelf-life. ‘Miele Varesino’ is packaged in glass jars with metal lids. A seal bearing the product logo is affixed to the lid. Packaging the honey in single-portion sachets, tubs or miniature jars made out of a suitable material is also permitted; the labelling on such packaging must bear the information required by the legislation currently in force. Solely in the case of ‘Miele Varesino’ not intended for the final consumer, all the packaging materials provided for by the legislation in force may be used.

3.6. Specific rules concerning the labelling of the product to which the registered name refers The labelling must include: — the name ‘Miele Varesino’; — the acronym ‘DOP’ [PDO], or ‘Denominazione di Origine Protetta’ [Protected Designation of Origin] written out in full; — the EU symbol; — the product identification logo; The ‘Miele Varesino’ logo, shown below, consists of a central design on a white background featuring three orange hexagons with a stylized five-petal ‘bee flower’. To the right there are three blue mountains above six blue lines of decreasing thickness representing a lake. This central design is encircled by a band of yellow, printed with the words ‘Miele Varesino D.O.P.’ [‘Miele Varesino’ PDO] and ‘di acacia’ [acacia] in dark blue. An orange border completes the logo. C 46/58 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 11.2.2020

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area reaches into the foothills of the Alps, between the Ticino and Olona rivers and the Maggiore and Lugano lakes. It coincides with the territory of the province of Varese.

5. Link with the geographical area

The geographical area enjoys a mild continental climate with low fluctuations in temperature during both summer and winter due to the moderating effect of the lakes. These conditions, which are typical of the area, provide a suitable environment for trees, including exotic species.

The lakes make the climate milder and spring comes earlier here than in Milan and its surrounding area; this renders multiple and long-lasting flowerings possible on the gentle, sun-bathed hills.

In Varese, Robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), the predominant melliferous species, grows widely and densely such that it has taken over marginal farmland areas and in many places it is the main species of tree growing in the woods.

During its flowering season, Robinia pseudoacacia L. blooms more abundantly than any other nectariferous species in the area. In most parts of the province of Varese the flowering of Robinia pseudoacacia is staggered and lasts for a considerable time thanks to the valleys that extend southwards, such as the Ticino and Olona, and to the sun-bathed hillsides that are protected from the wind.

The vegetation characterising the province of Varese is thus the result of the interaction between topography, climate and soil, plus the influence of human intervention.

Between the 17th and the 20th centuries, many villas were built in the area and their extensive grounds were embellished with exotic ornamental plants. Over time, thanks to the favourable climate, these species have become so widespread that they are considered invasive in parks and gardens and in the local undergrowth.

Beekeeping has always been widespread in the province of Varese, principally among farmers, members of the various ecclesiastical orders established in the area and members of the bourgeoisie with a passion for scientific research.

At the beginning of the last century, the dramatic growth and spread of Robinia pseudoacacia L. in woodland areas, due to the favourable environmental conditions, led local beekeepers to specialise increasingly in the production of acacia honey which, on account of its particular organoleptic and physical characteristics, stood out from other honeys produced in the area up to that point.

Since then, local beekeepers have achieved a high degree of specialisation in producing honey, in particular acacia honey, which became the most-produced honey in the province of Varese.

Professional beekeeping developed gradually in this province as beekeepers began experimenting with new types of hive and production methods.

The modernisation of production methods happened with the changeover from traditional to rational beekeeping, as the traditional braided-straw bee skeps were replaced with rational beehives and honey extractors, which made it possible to produce single-flower honey and to extract the honey from the honeycomb in the removable frames without destroying the comb.

Lastly, a continuous selection of bee breeds that were more productive and more resistant to disease also contributed to further improving both the quality and the quantity of the honey produced by the province’s beekeepers.

‘Miele Varesino’ is a single flower acacia honey with a high level of purity with regard to the origin of the nectar, characterised by the presence of Robinia nectar and pollen, with some pollen from ornamental plants.

The sediment of this honey contains pollen from both nectariferous and non-nectariferous species as specified in point 3.2.

The honey is very runny, with a light colour varying from transparent to light straw yellow, a light and delicate aroma without any predominating scent, and a very sweet taste. Its fragrance is delicate and sweet with a note of vanilla.

Another specific feature of ‘Miele Varesino’ is the absence of sainfoin (Onobrychis), French honeysuckle (Hedysarum coronarium), and, in particular, Loranthus (Loranthus europaeus) pollen, as evidenced by research by authoritative botanists who consider this species to be absent from the area where the honey is produced. 11.2.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 46/59

Interest in beekeeping and the successful production of ‘Miele Varesino’ has developed over the past 150 years or more thanks to the long-lasting, abundant and successive Robinia pseudoacacia L. flowerings in this geographical area. The extensive presence of Robinia pseudoacacia L. in the woods of Varese has contributed to the development and evolution of local beekeeping, in terms of improved production, rearing and breed selection techniques. Indeed, over the years ever more beekeepers have adopted beekeeping as their main profession or as a hobby or semi- professional activity, as evidenced by the steady increase in the number of beehives in the Varese woods during the Robinia pseudoacacia flowering season. This increase can be attributed to the fact that, unlike in other areas where acacia honey is produced, in the Varese area there are no crops or wild plants whose flowering adversely affects the quality of the product, thus resulting in a purer acacia honey of the highest standard. Furthermore, the geographical area’s specific features, including its climatic and environmental characteristics, make it possible to produce an acacia honey that can be distinguished from other types of honey. The ornamental species traditionally planted to embellish the area’s gardens and parks distinguish ‘Miele Varesino’ from other Lombardy acacia honeys, as it contains pollen from ornamental exotic species that are well adapted to the local environment. The presence of pollen from such species helps determine the organoleptic characteristics of ‘Miele Varesino’, not least the aroma, which is influenced by the presence of evergreens (Ilex aquifolium, Trachycarpus fortunei).

Publication reference of the specification

(the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of the Regulation)

The full text of the product specification can be found at: http://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB. php/L/IT/IDPagina/3335

or alternatively:

by going directly to the home page of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy (www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Qualità’ (at the top right of the screen), then on ‘Prodotti DOP IGP STG’ (on the left-hand side of the screen) and finally on ‘Disciplinari di Produzione all’esame dell’UE’.

ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition) ISSN 1725-2423 (paper edition)

Publications Office of the European Union 2985 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG EN