COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

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

‘Fagiolo Cuneo’

EU reference number: PGI-IT-0775-AM01 – 12.1.2026

1.   Product name

‘Fagiolo Cuneo’

2.   Geographical indication type

☐

PDO

☑

PGI

☐

GI

3.   Sector

☑	Agricultural products

☐

Wine

☐	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 – Promotion of Agri Food Quality (PQA) 1

6.   Qualification as a 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 2 of the product specification and point 3.2 of the single document. Correction of the unit of measurement used

Description

In Article 2 of the product specification and point 4.2 of the single document, the unit of measurement used for the length of the pod at the waxy stage has been changed from millimetres to centimetres.

☑	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 2 of the product specification and point 4.2 of the single document.

Description

In Article 2 of the product specification and point 4.2 of the single document, the maximum moisture content of the grain has been changed from 15 % to 16 %.

☑	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 2 of the product specification and point 4.2 of the single document.

Description

The following line has been added to Article 2 of the product specification and point 4.2 of the single document: It is permissible for a maximum of 1,5 % of the dried beans not to comply with the size criteria.

☑	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 2 of the product specification and point 4.2 of the single document.

Description

In Article 2 of the product specification and point 4.2 of the single document, the part relating to the iron and protein content has been amended as follows: iron content at least 65 ppm; protein content at least 23 % (as a percentage of the dry matter).

☑	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 3 of the product specification. Editorial correction of the name of a municipality

Description

In article 3 of the product specification, the name of a municipality has been corrected, from Benevagienna to Bene Vagienna.

☐	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 4. Inclusion of processing centres

Description

In Article 4, the elements of the production chain have been specified more precisely by means of the following amendment: ‘In this way, by entering the cadastral parcels on which the products are grown, along with details of producers, processing centres and packagers, on lists kept for this purpose and managed by the control body (...)’

☐	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 5 of the product specification. Inclusion of single-seed sowing

Description

The option of using single-seed sowing has been included in Article 5 of the product specification.

☐	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 5 of the product specification. Bean poles

Description

The specific reference to the number of bean poles used has been removed from Article 5.

☐	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 5 of the product specification. Fertilisation methods

Description

In Article 5 of the product specification, the part relating to fertilisation has been rewritten. A further option has been added of using slurry, and the maximum limit laid down for manure has been removed.

☐	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 5 of the product specification and point 4.4 of the single document. Production stage

Description

The part concerning the production stages has been rewritten for greater clarity.

☑	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 6 of the product specification and point 5 of the single document.

Description

For consistency with the amendment made to Article 2 of the product specification, the part concerning minimum iron and protein content has been rewritten.

☑	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 7 of the product specification.

Description

Reference to the Regulation in force has been added and the name of the control body has been removed.

☐	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

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

Description

The provisions regarding packaging have been simplified, and the individual capacities of containers removed.

☑	The amendment affects the single document.

Title

Article 8 of the product specification and point 4.6 of the single document.

Description

The following paragraph has been added to Article 8 of the product specification and point 4.6 of the single document: Wordings and/or symbols that refer to names, company names, collective marks or individual trademarks may be used together with the ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ PGI provided that these elements do not have laudatory purport and are not such as to mislead the purchaser.

☑	The amendment affects the single document.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

Designations of origin and geographical indications of agricultural products

‘Fagiolo Cuneo’

EU reference number: PGI-IT-0775-AM01 – 12.1.2026

1.   Name(s)

‘Fagiolo Cuneo’

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

07- EDIBLE VEGETABLES AND CERTAIN ROOTS AND TUBERS

0713 33 - Kidney beans, including white pea beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

0708 - Leguminous vegetables, shelled or unshelled, fresh or chilled

0713 - Dried leguminous vegetables, shelled, whether or not skinned or split

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

The ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ protected geographical indication (PGI) covers the pods at the waxy stage for shelling and the dried seeds of the Bianco di Bagnasco and Vedetta ecotypes and the Billò, Corona, Stregonta, Bingo, Rossano, Barbarossa, Solista and Millenium varieties of the climbing bean species Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Phaseolus coccineus.

(a)

The pods at the waxy stage for shelling must have the following characteristics: — they must of the Vedetta ecotype or the Stregonta, Bingo, Rossano, Solista, Millenium or Barbarossa varieties; — the length of the pod at the waxy stage of the Vedetta ecotype and the Stregonta, Bingo, Rossano, Solista and Millenium varieties must be between 15 and 28 cm; and that of the Barbossa variety between 12 and 22 cm; — they must be intensely streaked with red. The seed within the pods at the waxy stage must: — be a creamy colour with pinky-red streaks; — have minimum vertical and horizontal diameters of 9 and 15 mm respectively; — show no signs of attacks by parasites or disease, although a maximum of 1 % of seeds may show visible signs of deterioration.

(b)

The dried seed must have the following characteristics: — it must be of the Bianco di Bagnasco ecotype of the Billò or Corona varieties; — a maximum moisture content of 16 %; — minimum vertical and horizontal diameters of 9 and 14 mm respectively for the Billò variety, 13 and 20 mm for the Corona variety and 8 and 14 mm for the Bianco di Bagnasco ecotype; it is permissible for a maximum of 1,5 % of the dried beans not to comply with the size criteria. — the seeds of the Billò variety must be cream in colour with brown/purplish veining and those of the Corona variety and the Bianco di Bagnasco ecotype must be white; — the dried seeds must not show any deterioration in colour or appearance that compromises those characteristics, with a permitted maximum tolerance of 1,5 % of impurities (split, stained, affected by weevils or with defective colouring). — iron content at least 65 ppm; — protein content at least 23 % (as a percentage of the dry matter).

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 stages in the production of ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’, with the exception of packaging, must take place in the geographical area specified in point 4.7.

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

At the waxy stage for shelling and in the dried state, Fagiolo Cuneo PGI are released for consumption in suitable food-quality packaging bearing a guarantee seal permitted under the legislation in force.

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

The label on the packaging must bear in clear and legible type, in addition to the Community logo and the information required under current legislation, the words ‘IGP Fagiolo Cuneo’ together with the logo described below. The circular logo shows a sketch of a bean of a creamy-white colour with red streaks against a background of the Maritime Alps. All the colours in the logo are obtained using the four-colour process to produce a range of shades. The words ‘Fagiolo Cuneo I.G.P.’ are prominent in the logo, while the words ‘Indicazione Geografica Protetta’ lie along its circumference.

Wordings and/or symbols that refer to names, company names, collective marks or individual trademarks may be used together with the ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ PGI provided that these elements do not have laudatory purport and are not such as to mislead the purchaser.

4.7.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The production area of ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ protected geographical indication comprises all 183 municipalities of the Province of Cuneo. The area is exclusively in foothills, lying at between 200 and 800 metres above sea-level and is surrounded by the Maritime Alps.

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

Specificity of the geographical area

The production area is the only area of any size in Italy and, indeed, in Europe (around 4 000 hectares) where climbing beans are grown.

This is because the area has ideal soil and climate conditions for growing the crop and because of historical and socio-economic factors that for more than a century have promoted the widespread cultivation of ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’.

The extensive areas planted with ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ benefit from the cool climate, the high number of days of sunshine, light breezes, an absence of sultry weather and haze in summer and a marked difference between day-time and night-time temperatures, producing beans of excellent quality. The changes in temperature during the day together with the high levels of light give the pods more pronounced colour and firmness. In addition, the low temperatures at the end of winter significantly delay sowing and flowering, thus extending the ripening and marketing periods when compared with other Italian production areas.

Specificity of the product

The characteristics of ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ differ from those of other beans. Both the dried seed and the pod at the waxy stage show excellent firmness. The dried seed has a high iron and protein content, of at least 65 ppm for iron, and at least 23 % for protein, (as a percentage of the dry matter) for all types.

The pods at the waxy stage and the seeds inside have a pronounced colouring.

Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for a PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for a PGI):

The application for registration of ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ as a PGI is justified by the product’s widely-known reputation. The reputation of ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ is attested to by abundant documentary references, which show that the production of this bean is famous.

Market reports found in the municipality of Centallo prove that these beans were being marketed as early as 1823. According to a regulation on the use of public land adopted by the Cuneo Municipal Council in 1894, there was a specific market for these beans, which, trade reports from 1901 show, commanded higher prices than ordinary beans because of their particular characteristics.

Over the past 50 years, bean production for consumption both fresh and dried has grown consistently because of the excellent yields, in terms of quality and quantity, of the genotypes used in the area. All this demonstrates the importance of the Cuneo area’s soil and climate characteristics, which are ideal for the cultivation of this unique product. ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ is distinguished by the colour of the pod at the waxy stage and of the seed inside caused by the wide temperate range during the day and the strong light levels, which promote the synthesis of anthocyanins, and by the organoleptic characteristics of the dried seed. As they have increased their yields and production, growers have sold more and more of their beans through specially established markets.

The cultivation of ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ has been and continues to be sustained by these large growers’ markets held in Caraglio (CN), Boves (CN), Centallo (CN), Castelletto Stura (CN), Valgrana (CN) and Roccavione (CN), some of which started up in the 1960s and 1970s, as municipal records show. The attachment of the local population to ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ is also shown by one particular event: at the 1982 Cuneo Carnival, the float of the municipality of Castelletto Stura was dedicated entirely to ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’.

Human factors, deeply rooted in the area, also play an important role. Traditional cultivation methods, handed down from father to son, are one example. This being a climbing bean, its cultivation is labour-intensive and labour in the production area is essentially provided by members of the family, which has meant that there has always been a certain link between local people and the product. One example of this today are the ‘raduni famiglia’ (family gatherings), when relatives and friends join the family of the farmer to help harvest the ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ when they have dried on the plant before they are threshed, to sow and to put up bean poles. This is done using a traditional method seen only in the Cuneo area and to which growers are particularly attached: four poles are fastened together at the top to form a sort of tepee, which makes a more solid frame that can cope with the weather and the weight of the plants.

RAI (Italian Radio and Television) carried a long report on the particular organoleptic and nutritional properties of ‘Fagiolo Cuneo’ in its programme ‘Occhio alla spesa’ on 15 October 2003.

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

https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeAttachment.php/L/IT/D/1%252F1%252Ff%252FD.9dd31e6dadf07f48ecad/P/BLOB%3AID%3D3343/E/docx?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).