C 93/6EN Official Journal of the European Communities 31.3.2000

Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin

(2000/C 93/03) This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of the abovementioned Regulation. Any objection to this application must be submitted via the competent authority in the Member State concerned within a time limit of six months from the date of this publication. The arguments for publication are set out below, in particular under 4.6, and are considered to justify the application within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2081/92

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION: ARTICLE 5

PDO (x) PGI ( )

National application No: 9/99 1. Responsible department in the Member State:

Name: Ministero delle Politiche agricole e forestali

Address: Via XX Settembre, 20, I-00187 Roma

Tel.: 06-481 99 68

Fax: 06-42 01 31 26

2. Applicant group:

2.1. Name: Consorzio volontario fitosanitario e di miglioramento fondiario per la Provincia di

2.2. Address: Via della Sapienza, 8, I-53100 Siena

Tel.: 0577/28 02 80

Fax: 0577/28 09 70

2.3. Composition: producer/processor (x) other ( )

3. Type of product: Extra virgin olive oil — class 1.5

4. Specification:

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1. Name: ‘Terre di Siena’

4.2. Description: ‘Terre di Siena’ oil is produced from olives from at least two of the cultivars Frantoio, Correggiolo, Moraiolo, Leccino each of which must, on any holding, account for at least 10 % individually and 85 % in all of total production. Other recognised varieties may account for not more than 15 %. When the product is marketed, it must have the following characteristics:

(a) acidity (as oleic acid) not exceeding 0,5 %,

(b) peroxide value not exceeding 12 (meq/O2), (c) ultraviolet extinction K232 not exceeding 2.2, K270 not exceeding 0.2,

(d) high oleic acid content over 72 %,

(e) total polyphenols 100 ppm or more.

Panel test: at least seven. 31.3.2000EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 93/7

4.3. Geographical area: The production area of ‘Terre di Siena’ oil comprises in the the administrative districts of the municipalities of Abbadia S. Salvatore, , , Casole d’, Castiglione d’Orcia, , Chianciano, , , Colle Val d’Elsa, , , , Monteroni d’, , , , , , , , , S. Gimignano, S. Giovanni d’Asso, S. Quirico d’Orcia, , Siena, , , , , Castelnovo Berardenga and . In the case of the last two municipalities, the area of production of ‘ Classico’ covered by the interministerial Decree of 31 July 1932 published in the Italian Gazzetta Ufficiale No 209 of 9 September 1932 is excluded. The designation concerns 33 (two only in part) of the 36 municipalities in the province.

The exclusions are due to the different nature of production and images relating to ‘Chianti Classico’ wine and also to different factors concerning soil and climate, which are of a more continental type and closer to those of the central Apennines.

The area of the province of Siena covered by this designation is hilly with more or less broad valley areas with small riverbeds and seasonal streams.

The altitude of the area ranges from 150 m to 1 750 m above sea level on .

The area of production occupies some 33 000 ha of which about half is woodland and pasture and only 14 000 ha are given over to olives.

4.4. Proof of origin: There can be no doubt that olive trees have been cultivated around Siena for a very long time; they appear in pictures and other works of art of the late Middle Ages and writers and travellers refer to their presence on the hills around Siena. The cultivation of olive trees has always been very important in this area, as is attested by E. Repetti, a highly cultured man working for the Grand Duke of who visited all the municipalities in the Grand Duchy between 1835 and 1841 to gather historical and economic information and stressed the importance of olive growing around Siena for agriculture, the landscape and tradition.

4.5. Method of production:

Harvesting and conservation

Olives must be picked direct from the tree. They must be kept, if necessary, in a suitable cool, well-ventilated place for not more than three days from harvesting and sheltered from excessive heat and fermentation. Sacks or bales may not be used to transport the olives to the mill.

Olives must processed within 24 hours of delivery to the mill, which must be located on the territory defined in 4(c).

Method of pressing and composition of lots After the olives have been washed in water at room temperature, ‘Terre di Siena’ oil is extracted by mechanical and physical means using tried and tested methods which do not detract from the particular characteristics of the fruit. The yield of oil may not exceed 22 % of the weight of the olives.

Newly planted olive trees may not be used to produce ‘Terre di Siena’ oil for three years after planting.

Not more than 30 kg of oil per tree and 12 000 kg per hectare may be obtained.

‘Terre di Siena’ oil may be produced only from sound olives produced in accordance with the most appropriate agricultural standards and picked direct from the tree before 31 December each year.

The year of production must always be clearly shown on the labels of ‘Terre di Siena’ oil. C 93/8EN Official Journal of the European Communities 31.3.2000

The oil must be packaged in the area of production in glass containers of specified volumes up to five litres; metal containers may also be used for quantities of five litres. Containers must be hermetically sealed so that the security seal is broken when they are opened.

4.6. Link: The features of the product derive from the special soil and climate in the area. There are two main types of soil: limestone clay with a skeletal structure and sandy fibrous clay. The soil is not usually deep and was formed recently. Its structure ranges from sandy to with average percentages of clay. Chemically, it has a relatively small percentage of organic matter, its ph is sub-alkaline (< 7.5) and has a large number of exchangeable cations. The terrain is predominantly hilly, often with steep slopes. This means that for centuries the best place to grow trees (vines and olives) in the province of Siena has been on hills with of limestone clay with a skeletal structure and on sandy fibrous clay.

The climate around Siena is Mediterranean with annual rainfall of 700-800 mm. The range of winter and summer temperatures permits both steady plant growth and balance. The distance from the sea means that the trees are not attacked by the dacus oleae worm.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name: Agroqualità Srl

Address: P.za Sallustio, 1, I-00187 Roma

4.8. Labelling: In addition to the normal legal and commercial requirements, the labels on the containers must bear the words ‘Olio Extravergine di Oliva Terre di Siena’ followed immediately by ‘Denominazione di Origine Protetta’ (protected designation of origin) and clearly showing in indelible fashion the year of production of the olives from which the oil was obtained.

The label may not bear any description not specifically provided for in the production rules. However, the names of the firms, holdings, famrs and castles and references to places where the olives were actually grown may appear. The establishment where the oil was extracted or bottled may also be shown.

The designation must appear on the label in light, indelible characters which contrast sharply with the colour of the label.

4.9. National requirements: —

EC No: IT/00109/99.10.01.

Date of receipt of the full application: 29 February 2000.