52003XC0620(01)

Publication of a request under Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 to amend one or more parts of the specification of a name registered under Article 17 or Article 6 of that Regulation

(2003/C 144/02)

Publication confers the right to object within the meaning of Article 7 and Article 12d of the Regulation. Any objections to this request must be forwarded via the competent authority of a Member State, a WTO Member country or a third country recognised under Article 12(3) within six months of the publication date.

The amendment is not a minor one and it must therefore be published under Article 6(2) of the Regulation.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2081/92

APPLICATION TO AMEND A SPECIFICATION: ARTICLE 9

1. Registered name: "Nocciola del Piemonte"

2. Responsible department in the Member State Name: Ministero delle Politiche agricole e forestali

Address: Via XX Settembre n. 20 - I-00187 Roma

Tel. (39-06) 481 99 68

fax (39-06) 420 31 26.

3. Amendment(s) requested - specification heading(s):

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name

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description

[square ] geographical area

[square ] proof of origin

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method of production

[square ] link

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labelling

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national requirements

- amendments:

Name: It is proposed to amend the name registered as the PGI "Nocciola del Piemonte" to "Nocciola del Piemonte" or "Nocciola Piemonte".

Description - It is stipulated that the PGI "Nocciola del Piemonte" or "Nocciola Piemonte" is reserved for hazelnuts in the shell, shelled or partially processed. It is also stipulated that the name of the PGI may also be used in the description and presentation of and publicity for foodstuffs in which, among the ingredients determining the characteristics and quality of the product, "Nocciola del Piemonte" or "Nocciola Piemonte" is the sole product of its type.

- There is a formal change to the description of the production area, in that, although the perimeter of the area remains unchanged, following the recognition of the new Province of Biella, the lists of municipalities in the provinces affected have been rewritten.

Method of production - The density of planting is amended to 200 to 420 plants per hectare (from 250 to 400), with a maximum density of 500 plants per hectare only in the case of plantations dating from before the entry into force of the Decree granting recognition (2 December 1993).

- The requirement for the Region of Piedmont to provide annually an estimate of average production and the starting date for harvesting, taking into account the seasonal trend, is abolished.

- It is laid down that the hazelnut groves must be entered on a list held by the authorised inspection body rather than in the register held by the chambers of commerce responsible for the area concerned.

- It is permitted to market hazelnuts in the shell loose only at the stage of first marketing, i.e. sales by an agricultural producer to a first purchaser responsible for a processing and/or packaging plant.

- The packaging requirements for shelled, partially processed and finished products are more clearly specified (packing suitable for food use), including in the case of production systems deigned to bring out the quality of the product. In addition, the product may be marketed only where prepackaged or packaged at the time of sale.

Labelling - The information to be included on the labelling is more clearly stipulated as are a number of labelling requirements designed to guarantee the traceability of the product. In particular, the information to be included on the labelling of processed products having "Nocciola del Piemonte" or "Nocciola Piemonte" as the sole ingredient is specified.

- It is made compulsory to indicate the year of harvest on the label of both hazelnuts in shell and shelled.

- A number of labelling requirements considered to be already covered by the general rules for the labelling of foodstuffs are deleted.

National requirements - Reference to the national regulations laying down penalties for failure to comply with the specification is deleted, although those regulations continue to apply.

- Article 9 on the checks carried out by the inspection body is inserted.

4. Date of receipt of the full application: G/IT/00305/16.04.02.