C 72/18 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 5.3.2020 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 72/12) 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 ‘Bonnezeaux’ Reference number PDO-FR-A0926-AM02 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 of production take place in the geographical area encompassing the following municipality of the department of Maine-et-Loire, on the basis of the Official Geographic Code of 2018: Bellevigne-en-Layon (former territory of the delegated municipality of Thouarcé). Maps showing the geographical area can be viewed on the website of the National Institute of Origin and Quality.’ Editorial amendment: the new list of administrative bodies takes into account any mergers or other changes in administrative boundaries since the approval of the specification. For greater legal certainty, the list follows the current version of the Official Geographic Code, updated annually by the INSEE (the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies). The boundary of the geographical area remains exactly the same. Finally, for the purposes of better public information, reference is made to the maps of the geographical area available on the INAO website. Point 6 of the single document on the geographical area has been amended accordingly. 2. Area in immediate proximity At point IV(3) of Chapter 1, the list of municipalities has been replaced by: ‘Aubigné-sur-Layon, Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Bellevigne-en-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Champ-sur-Layon, Faveraye-Mâchelles, Faye-d’Anjou and Rablay-sur-Layon), Blaison-Saint-Sulpice (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Blaison-Gohier and Saint-Sulpice), Brissac Loire Aubance (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Alleuds, Brissac-Quincé, Charcé-Saint-Ellier-sur-Aubance, Luigné, Saint-Rémy-la-Varenne, Saint-Saturnin-sur-Loire, Saulgé-l’Hôpital and Vauchrétien), Brossay, Chalonnes-sur-Loire, Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, Chemillé-en-Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chanzeaux and Valanjou), Denée, Doué-en- Anjou (former territory of the delegated municipality of Brigné), Les Garennes-sur-Loire (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Juigné-sur-Loire and Saint-Jean-des-Mauvrets), Lys-Haut-Layon (former territory of the delegated municipality of Tigné), Mozé-sur-Louet, Mûrs-Erigné, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance, Savennières, Soulaines-sur-Aubance, Terranjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chavagnes, Martigné-Briand and Notre-Dame-d’Allençon) and Val-du-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné and Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay).’ This amendment takes into account the various mergers of municipalities since the last version of the specification. The boundary of the area in immediate proximity remains exactly the same. Point 9 of the single document on additional conditions has been amended accordingly. 3. Agri-environmental provision The following has been added to point VI(2) of Chapter 1: ‘Managed vegetation cover, either natural or planted, is compulsory between rows. In the absence of vegetation cover, operators must tend the soil to ensure that naturally occurring vegetation is managed. Otherwise, operators must justify the use of bio-control products approved by the wine-growing authorities. Where bio-control herbicides are used on a land parcel, it is not permitted to use other herbicides.’ (1) OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2. 5.3.2020 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union C 72/19 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 the existence of vegetation cover, or mechanised weeding, or even use of bio-control products, the amendment aims to reduce the use of chemical herbicides. The reduction in herbicides should strengthen the protection 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. 4. Harvest proclamation Under point VII(1)(a) of Chapter 1 of the specification, the sentence: ‘The start date of the harvests is set in accordance with Article D. 645-6 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.’ has been deleted. It is no longer necessary to set a start date for harvests, as operators have a large selection of tools at their disposal enabling them to gauge the ripeness of the grapes with the greatest possible accuracy. All operators have access to various machines and equipment, both individually and collectively, that enable them to determine accurately the ideal start date for harvesting each parcel, depending on the production objectives. The single document is not affected by this amendment. 5. Fermenting room capacity Under point IX(1)(c) of Chapter 1, 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.’ has been replaced by: ‘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 a volume capacity (expressed in hectolitres or cubic metres) but to a 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. 6. Circulation of wines Point IX(5)(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. 7. Transitional measure The following has been inserted under point XI of Chapter 1: ‘In the case of vineyard parcels already in existence when this specification was approved, and in which the spacing between rows is less than or equal to 1.7 metres, the provisions relating to the following do not apply: the requirement for managed vegetation cover, either natural or planted, between rows; and, in the absence of such vegetation cover, the requirement for operators to tend the soil or use bio-control products to ensure that naturally occurring vegetation is managed.’ 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 actually 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. C 72/20 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 5.3.2020 8. Record keeping In point II(3) of Chapter 2, the word ‘potential’ has been replaced by ‘natural’. In order to ensure consistency in the wording in all the specifications from the Anjou Saumur area, the expression ‘natural alcoholic strength by volume’ replaces ‘potential strength’ or ‘degree’. These amendments improve the readability of these 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. 9. Main points to be checked Chapter 3 has been revised to make consistent the main points to be checked in specifications from the Anjou Saumur area. The single document is not affected by this amendment. SINGLE DOCUMENT 1. Name of product Bonnezeaux 2. Geographical indication type PDO – Protected Designation of Origin 3. Categories of grapevine products 1. Wine 4. Description of the wine(s) These are still white wines made from late-harvested grapes. They are vigorous wines that have a great sweetness combined with a complex fruitiness (dried and exotic fruit, white flowers, etc.) and a light golden colour with green highlights. The wines have: a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 15 %; a fermentable sugar content (glucose and fructose) after fermentation of at least 51 grams per litre. The minimum actual alcoholic strength is 11 %, or 12 % for wines with a natural alcoholic strength by volume below 19 %. The total acid and total sulphur dioxide content are as laid down by EU legislation. General analytical characteristics Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume) Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume) Minimum total acidity in milliequivalents per litre Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) 5. Wine-making practices a. Essential oenological practices Specific oenological practice Enrichment is permitted under the rules set out in the specification.