25.6.2011

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 185/10

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Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

2011/C 185/05

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months of the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘SUSINA DI DRO’

EC No: IT-PDO-0005-0779-30.06.2009

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Name:

‘Susina di Dro’

2.   Member State or Third Country:

Italy

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff:

3.1.   Type of product:

Class 1.6.

Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed

3.2.   Description of product to which the name in (1) applies:

The ‘Susina di Dro’ protected designation of origin protects the fresh fruit of the local Prugna di Dro (‘Dro plum’) cultivar, commonly known as ‘Susina di Dro’.

When released for consumption, the fresh fruit must be whole, fresh and healthy looking, clean, free of foreign substances and odours, oval-shaped and slightly elongated; it must have firm flesh and be covered in the characteristic whitish wax bloom.

The coloration of the fresh fruit is typically as follows:

—	skin ranging from purplish red to dark blue/purple, with the presence of a wax bloom and sometimes small greenish areas,

—	yellow or green/yellow flesh.

Chemical properties:

Sugars — minimum value when harvested: 9,0 °Brix

Polyphenols — minimum value: 900 mg/kg

In terms of its organoleptic characteristics, ‘Susina di Dro’ PDO is distinguished by its delicate and aromatic sweet and sour flavour and its pleasant soft texture.

3.3.   Raw materials (for processed products only):

—

3.4.   Feed (for products of animal origin only):

—

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

The fruit must be grown, cleaned and packaged in the geographical area identified in point 4 in order to prevent spoiling and mould and because a short production chain helps to maintain the characteristic wax bloom layer that covers the fruit.

3.6.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc.:

‘Susina di Dro’ PDO is to be packaged in accordance with the legislation in force. All types of packaging will be closed by means of a net, film or cover.

3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling:

Packages in which the product is sold must feature the words ‘DOP Susina di Dro’ (‘Susina di Dro PDO’) and the logo as described below. The logo is a stylised purple plum with green leaves. The words ‘SUSINA DI DRO DOP’ appear in white in the centre of the plum, with the words ‘DENOMINAZIONE DI ORIGINE PROTETTA’ (‘protected designation of origin’) on its outer edge.

Logo:

No indication of origin not expressly provided for or additional wordings likely to mislead consumers may be added to the designation.

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area:

The production area of ‘Susina di Dro’ PDO comprises the following municipalities in the Autonomous Province of Trento: Arco, Bleggio Inferiore, Bleggio Superiore, Calavino, Cavedine, Fiavè, Dorsino, Drena, Dro, Lasino, Lomaso, Nago-Torbole, Padergnone, Riva del Garda, San Lorenzo in Banale, Stenico, Tenno, Terlago, Vezzano and Trento (limited, for the municipality of Trento, to the districts of Cadine, Sopramonte, Sant'Anna, Vigolo Baselga and Baselga del Bondone).

5.   Link with the geographical area:

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area:

The production area of ‘Susina di Dro’ PDO is marked by distinctive climate characteristics resulting mainly from the proximity to Lake Garda. Indeed, even though it is located in the heart of the Alpine region, the area enjoys particularly mild temperatures, with an annual average of 12,4 °C. The area also enjoys long periods of brightness owing to the almost constantly clear skies: on average it experiences 10 hours of light per day, or 36 000 seconds of total accumulated sunshine (average figure as of 21 June each year). Even in the winter months — which, in the Alpine foothills of Italy as in central and western Europe, are very foggy — the area enjoys 100-120 hours of sun each month, an average of 3-4 hours a day. This phenomenon is primarily due to the periodic wind system, i.e. the alternation of currents descending from the valleys and ascending (the ‘Òra del Garda’) from the lake. The latter is particularly important: a sort of warm wind that keeps the skies clear, in winter it counterbalances the cold northern winds while in summer it has a beneficial mitigating effect on the maximum afternoon temperatures, which would otherwise have a detrimental effect on the phenol content of the fruit and on the accumulation of sugar. Accordingly, the production area of ‘Susina di Dro’ PDO has particularly mild winters, while its summers are only occasionally marked by periods of drought and excessive temperatures. In addition to these characteristics, the area's soils, the geological origins of which are marine sediments, are of high quality. The soils in practically the entire area are moderately alkaline, which helps ensure that minerals are available and effective, particular in terms of the absorption of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium.

5.2.   Specificity of the product:

‘Susina di Dro’ is a native cultivar with a long tradition, which has been grown over time in the valleys of the River Sarca, becoming genetically stable.

The particular merit of ‘Susina di Dro’ PDO is linked to its polyphenol content; indeed, its polyphenols have a decisive influence on its organoleptic characteristics, colour and flavour and are very interesting from a pharmacological viewpoint.

Another distinguishing characteristic of the fruit is its minimal sugar content, which is a decisive factor in the typical sweet and sour flavour of this local ecotype.

The interest in this fruit's distinctive polyphenol and sugar content is reflected in studies published since 1975. This bibliography, together with some more recent characterisation studies, demonstrate that the properties of ‘Susina di Dro’ have long been tangibly recognised and have since been further confirmed.

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

The ‘Prugna di Dro’ local cultivar has been bred over the centuries thanks to the agricultural expertise of farmers in the production area, who derived their seedlings mainly from seeds or root suckers and subjected the plum trees to ongoing monitoring and pressure for mass genetic improvement based on observation of its phenotypic characteristics linked in particular to the productive characteristics of the trees and the organoleptic characteristics of the fruit.

The development and accumulation of the polyphenols and sugars found in ‘Susina di Dro’ PDO correlate strongly with the climate of the production area and, in particular, the quantity of sunlight to which the trees are exposed and the ambient temperatures. These factors play a key role in the level and pace of activity of the enzymes involved in the phenolic metabolism and photosynthesis mechanisms that are crucial for the accumulation of carbohydrates and thus of sugars.

These biological phenomena are correlated with the particularly favourable environmental conditions of the production area as they are linked to the mitigating effects of Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, and its winds. Particularly important is the area's distinctive ‘Òra del Garda’ wind that blows in the afternoon, thereby keeping the skies clear and attenuating the maximum summer temperatures.

The accumulation in the fruit's skin of the anthocyanin pigments responsible for its purplish blue colour is dependant largely on the incident radiation hitting the fruit, while the sugar content is linked to the ambient temperatures, which are mitigated by the winds and thus do not subject the crops to stress.

In the ‘Susina di Dro’ PDO production area, this crop also has fundamental socio-economic importance, comparable to that of vines and apple trees.

Indeed, over the centuries plum growing has become strongly anchored in the culture of the area, as attested to by references to it in the 42 sections of the Carte di Regola (‘Charters’) for the Sarca Plain dating back to 1284.

In more recent times, the entire community of the Valle del Sarca, which has always been sensitive to making best use of the specific quality profile of ‘Susina di Dro’ PDO, has been active on the cultural level, pursuing synergy between tourism, the land, and the agrifood sector. Important initiatives are the ‘Settimana del Prugno Fiorito di Dro’ (‘Dro Plum Trees in Bloom Week’), a recurrent event since the beginning of the 1970s and its more modern successor, the August event known as ‘Dro: il tempo delle prugne’ (‘Dro: Prune Season’).

Reference to publication of the specification:

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

The Ministry launched the national objection procedure with the publication of the proposal for recognising ‘Susina di Dro’ as a protected designation of origin in Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 100 of 2 May 2009.

The full text of the product specification is available on the following web site:

http://www.politicheagricole.it/DocumentiPubblicazioni/Search_Documenti_Elenco.htm?txtTipoDocumento=Disciplinare%20in%20esame%20UE&txtDocArgomento=Prodotti%20di%20Qualit%E0>Prodotti%20Dop,%20Igp%20e%20Stg

or

by going directly to the home page of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy (http://www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Prodotti di Qualità’ (on the left of the screen) and finally on ‘Disciplinari di Produzione all'esame dell'UE [regolamento (CE) n. 510/2006]’.

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(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.

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