COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

(Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143)

‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’

EU reference number: PGI-IT-1515-AM02 – 28.7.2025

1.   Name of product

Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco

2.   Geographical indication type

☑

PGI

☐

PDO

☐

GI

3.   Sector

☑	Agricultural products

☐

Wines

☐	Spirit drinks

4.   Country to which the geographical area belongs

Italy

5.   Member State authority communicating the standard amendment

Name

Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry

6.   Qualification as standard amendment

The amendments are standard amendments within the meaning of Article 24(4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 as they do not include a change in the name, do not risk voiding the link and do not entail further restrictions on the marketing of the product.

7.   Description of the approved standard amendment(s)

Title

Article 5 of the product specification. Change to sowing and transplanting dates.

Description

The scheduled dates for the completion of sowing and transplanting have been changed from 15 to 30 August and from 10 to 30 September respectively.

☐	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 5 of the product specification. Increased planting density.

Description

The planting density has been increased from 8 to 9 plants per square metre.

☐	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 5. Editorial change to the description of the forcing/blanching stage.

Description

In order to make the text easier to understand, the description of the forcing/blanching stage has been amended to read:

‘It involves creating conditions where the heads form new leaves which, in the absence of light, are entirely or almost entirely without chlorophyll pigments, bringing out the background variegation of the leaf blade, with the leaves losing their fibrous consistency and taking on a crisp texture and agreeable bitter taste.’

This is an exclusively editorial amendment.

☐	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 5 of the product specification. Insertion of a range that precisely specifies the temperature of the spring water to be used in the forcing stage.

Description

Article 5 of the product specification has been supplemented with a range that precisely defines the temperature of the spring water to be used in the forcing stage, replacing the previous reference to the minimum temperature only.

☐	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 5 of the product specification. Increase in the maximum yield per hectare of cultivated land and the maximum unit weight of heads.

Description

The maximum yield per hectare of cultivated land has been increased to 25 000 kg and the maximum unit weight of the heads that are the finished product has been increased to 0,650 kg.

☐	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 8 of the product specification and point 4.5 of the single document.

Description

The following sentence has been deleted from Article 8 of the product specification and point 4.5 of the single document: ‘The characteristics of such packages must be such as to allow the product to be conserved properly without breaking or going off.’

☑	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 8 of the product specification and point 4.5 of the single document. Change to the rule on sealable covers.

Description

In Article 8 of the product specification and point 4.5 of the single document, the following sentence:

has been amended to read:

☑ The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 8 of the product specification and point 4.6 of the single document. Change to the rules for displaying the wording ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ PGI.

Description

In Article 8 of the product specification and point 4.6 of the single document, the following sentence:

has been amended to read:

☑	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 8 of the product specification and point 4.6 of the single document. Change to the rules for displaying the ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ PGI logo.

Description

In Article 8 of the product specification and point 4.6 of the single document, the following sentence:

has been amended to read:

☑	The amendment affects the single document.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

Designations of origin and geographical indications of agricultural products

‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’

EU reference number: PGI-IT-1515-AM02 – 28.7.2025

1.   Name(s)

Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco

2.   Geographical indication type

☐

PDO

☑

PGI

☐

GI

3.   Country to which the defined geographical area belongs

Italy

4.   Description of the agricultural product

4.1.   Classification of the agricultural product in accordance with the Combined Nomenclature heading and code, as referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143

0705 19 – other

4.2.   Description of the agricultural product to which the registered name applies

The crops grown to produce ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ PGI must be plants of the Compositae family, Cichorium intybus genus, wild variety, which includes the variegated type.

Characteristics of the product

When released for consumption, radicchio bearing the ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ PGI must have the following characteristics:

—

appearance: well-shaped head resplendent with colour and with a minimum diameter of 15 cm; starting from the base of the head it has a ring of flat leaves, a second ring of slightly more upright leaves, a third ring that is inclined even further upwards and so on until the centre, which does not have a heart; maximum length of the taproot 4 cm, with a diameter proportionate to the dimensions of the head; leaves as thick as possible with jagged edges, a wavy surface of the blade and a rounded shape;

—	colour: cream-white leaves, evenly variegated all over the leaves in hues varying from pale purple to purplish red and bright red;

—	taste: the taste of the leaves is very delicate, from sweet to an agreeable bitterness;

—	size: minimum head weight 100 g with a minimum diameter of 15 cm.

The commercial product profile of ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ is as follows: perfectly ripe; cream-white colour, evenly variegated all over the leaves from pale purple to bright red; leaves with a jagged edge and slightly wavy blade; good head firmness; medium to large in size; uniformly sized heads; precise, careful trimming without flaws; taproot in proportion to the head and not longer than 4 cm.

4.3.   Derogations on sourcing of feed (for products of animal origin designated by a Protected Designation of Origin only) and restrictions on sourcing of raw materials (for processed products designated by a Protected Geographical Indication only)

–

4.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

All steps in the production of ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ PGI, from sowing/transplanting to harvesting, including forcing, blanching and trimming, must take place within the geographical production area.

4.5.   Specific rules concerning packaging, slicing, grating etc. of the agricultural product the registered name refers to

Radicchio released for consumption bearing the ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ PGI must be packaged within the geographical production area in appropriate containers suitable for food use, provided that the total weight does not exceed 10 kg.

Where the product is intended for processing, it may be marketed inside appropriate containers (bins) provided that their net weight does not exceed 250 kg. As a further guarantee for the final consumer, all containers may come with a sealable cover.

For retail sale in packages exceeding 2 kg net, the product may be taken out of the crates, with the seal thus being broken, and sold as individual heads to the final consumer.

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

Irrespective of whether or not there is a seal, containers must bear the wording ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ PGI in printed characters of equal size, with it being permitted for the wording to be displayed on a label. Besides the information required by law, the containers may also feature additional information, provided this is not of a laudatory nature and does not mislead the consumer as to the nature and characteristics of the product. Every container and/or sealable cover and/or label must also feature the identifying logo of the PGI, using the shapes, colours, sizes and proportions indicated. The logo, which is red on a white background, is a stylised composition of radicchios above which are the words ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’, the whole image being framed by a red border. Font type: Rockwell condensed. Logo colour: Red = Magenta 100 % – Yellow 80 % – Cyan 30 %. In addition, the logo may also be affixed to the seal by the party responsible. Any other wording used alongside ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ PGI must be significantly smaller in size.

4.7.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The production and packaging area of Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco comprises the entire territory of the following municipalities in the Provinces of Treviso, Padua and Venice:

Province of Treviso: Breda di Piave, Carbonera, Casale sul Sile, Casier, Castelfranco Veneto, Castello di Godego, Istrana, Loria, Maserada sul Piave, Mogliano Veneto, Morgano, Paese, Ponzano Veneto, Preganziol, Quinto di Treviso, Resana, Riese Pio X, San Biagio di Callalta, Silea, Spresiano, Trevignano, Treviso, Vedelago, Villorba, Zero Branco.

Province of Padua: Albignasego, Battaglia Terme, Borgoricco, Camposanpiero, Cartura, Casalserugo, Conselve, Due Carrare, Loreggia, Maserà di Padova, Massanzago, Monselice, Montagnana, Montegrotto Terme, Pernumia, Piombino Dese, Ponte San Nicolò, San Pietro Viminario, Trebaseleghe, Tribano.

Province of Venice: Marcon, Martellago, Mira, Mirano, Noale, Salzano, Santa Maria di Sala, Scorzè, Spinea.

5.   Link with the geographical area

The causal link with the geographical origin is based on:

☐	reputation

☑	a given quality

☐	other characteristics

Summary of the link

The planting conditions and crop-tending activities on the plots used for ‘Castelfranco’ PGI production must be those that are traditional in the area and in any event be such as to give the heads their specific characteristics.

Fresh, deep soils that are well drained, non-alkaline and not excessively rich in nutrients, particularly nitrogen, are to be considered suitable for ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ production. Particularly well suited are growing areas with clayey-sandy soils of alluvial origin undergoing decalcification, with a climate that has sufficiently rainy summers and moderate maximum temperatures, dry autumns and winters that turn cold early and have minimum temperatures of as low as – 10 °C. The required characteristics of ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ stem from the environmental conditions and natural and human factors in the production area. History, progress, the tradition of local farms and growers dating back more than a century, the characteristics of the land, the climate, the temperature of the ground water and its ability to produce springs simply as a result of drilling, i.e. at a cost that can be easily borne, amply prove the link between ‘Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco’ and the environment in which it is currently grown.

Electronic (url) reference to the publication of the product specification

https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeAttachment.php/L/IT/D/1%252F8%252F4%252FD.c5b14c8f12d1897af8b2/P/BLOB%3AID%3D3343/E/pdf?mode=download

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(1)  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/27 of 30 October 2024 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council with rules concerning the registration and the protection of geographical indications, traditional specialities guaranteed and optional quality terms and repealing Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 (OJ L, 2025/27, 15.1.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2025/27/oj).