HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 82/28
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
22.3.2013
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 264/2013
of 18 March 2013
approving a minor amendment to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected
designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria
(PGI))
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
(3)
The purpose of the application is to amend the specifi
cation in order to specify the presentation, packaging and
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
labelling of the onions.
Union,
(4) The Commission has examined the amendments in
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the
question and decided that they are justified. Since the
European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November
amendment is minor, the Commission may approve it
2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and food
without recourse to the procedure laid down in Articles
stuffs (
50 to 52 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012,

1 ), and in particular the second subparagraph of
Article 53(2) thereof,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Whereas:
Article 1
(1) Regulation
(EU)
No
1151/2012
entered
into
force
on The specification for the protected geographical indication
3 January 2013. It repealed and replaced Council Regu
‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’ is hereby amended in
lation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the
accordance with Annex I to this Regulation.
protection of geographical indications and designations
of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs ( 2 ).
Article 2
Annex II to this Regulation contains the Single Document
(2) In
accordance
with
the
first
subparagraph
of
Article
9(1) setting out the main points of the specification.
of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, the Commission has
examined Italy’s application for the approval of an
Article 3
amendment to the specification for the protected
geographical indication ‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day
Calabria’ registered under Commission Regulation (EC)
following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
No 284/2008 ( 3 ).
European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 18 March 2013.
For the Commission,
On behalf of the President,
Dacian CIOLO
Member of the Commission
( 1 ) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.
( 2 ) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.
( 3 ) OJ L 86, 28.3.2008, p. 21.

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EN
22.3.2013 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
82/29
ANNEX I
In the specification for the protected geographical indication ‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’, the following
amendments are approved:
— The wording of Article 5(6) and (7):
‘After harvesting, the bulbs of new young onions must have their earth-stained outer skins removed; their stalks are
then cut to a length of 40 cm before being assembled into small bunches ready to be loaded into crates.
When the onions are to be consumed fresh (“fresh onions”), the skins are removed from the bulbs and any stalks
longer than 60 cm are cut; the onions are then assembled in bunches weighing 5 to 8 kg and loaded into crates of
varying sizes.’
is replaced by the following text:
‘After harvesting, the bulbs of new young onions must have their earth-stained outer skins (envelopes) removed; their
stalks are then cut to a length of between 30 and 60 cm before being assembled into small bunches which are then
loaded into crates.
When the onions are to be consumed fresh (or “fresh onions”), the skins are removed from the bulbs and the stalks
are cut to a length ranging between 35 and 60 cm; the onions are then brought together in bunches weighing
between 1,5 and 6 kg and are loaded into crates of varying sizes.’
— The wording of Article 9(2):
‘Bulbs designated by the PGI “Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria” can only be released for consumption if the following
procedure is complied with:
— “cipollotti” (new young onions) are assembled in small bunches and packed into small crates made of cardboard,
plastic or wood, thus ready to be sold;
— “cipolle da consumo fresco” (fresh onions) are assembled in bunches weighing 5 to 8 kg, then packed into crates
of various sizes.’
is replaced by the following text:
‘Bulbs designated by the PGI “Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria” can only be released for consumption if the following
procedure is complied with:
— “cipollotti” (new young onions) are assembled in small bunches and packed into small crates made of cardboard,
plastic or wood, thus ready to be sold;
— “cipolle da consumo fresco” (fresh onions) are assembled in bunches weighing 1,5 to 6 kg, then packed into crates
of various sizes.’
The provisions concerning the preparation of the product for packaging have been amended to allow for greater flexibility
when selecting the size of the packages and to take account of new market requirements in terms of packaging.
— The wording of Article 9(4):
‘The minimum number of onions required to form a braid is six, regardless of their size. The number of onions and
their weight must be uniform for each type of packaging.’
is replaced by the following text:
‘The minimum number of onions required to form a braid is six, regardless of their size.’
A greater margin of manoeuvre is thus granted for producing traditional ‘braids’ so that local workers can determine the
number of bulbs and their size.

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L 82/30
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
22.3.2013
— The wording of Article 9(7):
‘When released for consumption, self-adhesive labels are placed on young onions and fresh onions assembled into
bunches, as well as on “storage” onions in braids, clearly displaying the product’s logo and brand.’
is replaced by the following text:
‘When released for consumption, adhesive (or any other type of) labels are placed on young onions and on storage
onions in braids, displaying the EU logo and the product’s brand. On the other hand, a detailed label must be placed
on each bunch of fresh onions packed in crates, whatever the size of the latter, displaying the company’s business
name, the EU logo, the brand and the type of product so as to guarantee its traceability and to make it perfectly
recognisable.’
For ‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’ fresh onions, packed in bunches, a label is to be attached to each bunch, indicating
the company’s business name, the illustrated EU logo and the brand and type of product. As such, each bunch has a label
indicating all of the information required by the consumer so that (s)he may correctly identify the product.
— The references to Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 featuring in the production specification have been updated.

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EN
22.3.2013 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
82/31
ANNEX II
SINGLE DOCUMENT
Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (*)
‘CIPOLLA ROSSA DI TROPEA CALABRIA’
EC No: IT-PGI-0105-0369-28.09.2011
PGI (X) PDO ( )
1. Name
‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’
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 protected geographical indication (PGI) ‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’ designates bulbs of the Allium Cepa
variety which belongs to the local ecotypes listed below, excluding all other types. They are characterised by their
shape and by their early bulbing, which is a result of the effect of the photoperiod.
— ‘Tondo Piatta’: an early crop;
— ‘Mezza campana’: a mid- to early crop;
— ‘Allungata’: a late crop.
Three types of products can be distinguished:
‘C i p o l l o t t o’ (n e w y o u n g o n i o n):
— colour: white to pink or purple;
— flavour: sweet and mild;
— size: see the standards applicable under EU rules.
‘C i p o l l a d a c o n s u m o f r e s c o’ (f r e s h o n i o n):
— colour: from white to red to purple;
— flavour: sweet and mild;
— size: see the standards applicable under EU rules.
‘C i p o l l a d a s e r b o’ (k n o w n a s ‘ s t o r a g e ’ o n i o n s):
— colour: mauvish red;
— flavour: sweet and crunchy;
— size: see the standards applicable under EU rules.
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 defined geographical area
All the production stages for the ‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’ indication, from sowing to harvesting, must take
place in the geographical area of production.
(*) Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes
for agricultural products and foodstuffs.

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L 82/32
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
22.3.2013
3.6. Specific rules on slicing, grating, packaging, etc.
After harvesting, the ‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’ bulbs are processed as follows:
— the bulbs of new young onions must have their earth-stained outer skins removed; their stalks are then cut to a
length of between 30 and 60 cm before being assembled into small bunches ready to be loaded into crates;
— when the onions are to be consumed fresh (‘fresh onions’), the skins are removed from the bulbs and the stalks
are cut to a length ranging between 35 and 60 cm; the onions are then assembled in bunches weighing between
1,5 and 6 kg and are loaded into crates of varying sizes;
— as regards onions for conservation (or ‘storage’ onions), the bulbs are laid on the ground in rows, covered with
leaves and then left to dry for 8 to 15 days so that they gain in density and resilience and become a bright red
colour. Once they have been dehydrated, the bulbs are either ‘topped’, in other words separated from the parts
visible above ground, or used to produce braids, in which case the above-ground part is left intact. The minimum
number of onions required to form a braid is six, regardless of their size. These onions are packaged in bags or
crates, whose weight can vary up to a maximum of 25 kg.
Packaging must take place in the production area and must comply with traditional methods, which are deep-rooted
in tradition and local historical folklore, so as to ensure that the product can be traced and checked and to maintain
product quality.
3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling
The packages must display, in printed characters twice as large as for other indications, the terms PGI ‘Cipolla Rossa
di Tropea Calabria’, whilst specifying the type of onion — ‘cipollotto’, ‘cipolla da consumo fresco’, ‘cipolla da serbo’
— and the brand.
When released for consumption, adhesive (or any other type of) labels are placed on young onions and on storage
onions, displaying the EU logo and the product’s brand. On the other hand, a detailed label must be placed on each
bunch of fresh onions packed in crates, whatever the size of the latter, displaying the company’s business name, the
EU logo, the brand and the type of product so as to guarantee its traceability and to make it perfectly recognisable.
4. Concise
definition
of
the
geographical
area
The production area of PGI ‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’ is made up of land which is well-suited to their
cultivation, covering part or all of the administrative territory of the following Calabrian municipalities:
(a) province of Cosenza:
part of the municipalities of Fiumefreddo, Longobardi, Serra d’Aiello, Belmonte, Amantea;
(b) province of Catanzaro:
part of the municipalities of Nocera Terinese, Falerna, Gizzeria, Lamezia Terme, Curinga;
(c) province of Vibo Valentia:
part of the municipalities of Pizzo, Vibo Valentia, Briatico, Parghelia, Zambrone, Zaccanopoli, Zungri, Drapia,
Tropea, Ricadi, Spilinga, Joppolo, Nicotera.
5. Link
with
the
geographical
area
5.1. Specificity of the geographical area
‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’ is cultivated on sandy or partly sandy land of average composition containing
open clay or silt-laden soils, located along the coastal line or running alongside rivers and streams. Despite their
gravelly texture, these soils of alluvial origin do not constrict the development and growth of the bulbs. Coastal land
is well-suited for growing early-maturing onions to be consumed fresh, whereas internal land, made of clay or open
clay soils, are well-suited for growing storage onions. Red onions have long been, and continue to be, grown both in
family vegetable gardens and across large-scale areas and are an integral part of the rural countryside, of people’s
diets, local dishes and traditional recipes.
The soil and climatic features of the territory combine to make a product which is quite unique, of high-level quality
and renowned throughout the world.
5.2. Specificity of the product
‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’ is known for its quality and organoleptic features such as the tenderness of its
bulbs, its sweetness and easy digestibility. These features also enable one to eat ‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’
raw, and undoubtedly in far greater quantities than for normal onions.

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EN
22.3.2013 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
82/33
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 request to have the PGI ‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’ recognised is justified by the product’s reputation and
renown which notably grew thanks to various promotion campaigns, as demonstrated by historical and biblio
graphical sources. Various historical and bibliographical sources suggest that the onion was first introduced into the
Mediterranean basin and in Calabria by the Phoenicians, then by the Greeks. The onion, very much appreciated
during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, was considered a key product in people’s diets and for the local
economy; onions were either bartered directly or sold and exported by sea to Tunisia, Algeria and Greece. Several
travellers who visited Calabria and the Tyrrhenian coast between 1700 and 1800 refer to common ‘Cipolle Rosse’
(red onions) in their writings. Onions have always been a part of farmers’ diets and of local production. Already in
1905, during a trip to Calabria during which he visited Tropea, Doctor Albert was struck by the poverty of the
peasants who only ate onions. At the turn of the twentieth century, the cultivation of the Tropea onion moved away
from small gardens and family vegetable gardens and started to be grown on a very large scale. In 1929, the
construction of the Valle Ruffa aqueduct enabled onion crops to be irrigated, which improved both the yield and the
quality of the product. It was during the Bourbon period that the greatest impulse was given to spreading onion
cultivation towards northern European markets. The onion soon became a sought-after and much appreciated
product, as demonstrated by the ‘Studi sulla Calabria’ (Studies on Calabria) of 1901, which also refer to the
shape of the bulb and to the red, oblong onions from Calabria. The first statistics compiled on onion cultivation
in Calabria can be found in the ‘Enciclopedia agraria Reda (1936-39)’ (Reda Agricultural Encyclopaedia). The unique
commercial features of this onion, which ensured its renown nationally, and also, above all, its historical and cultural
value in the geographical area in question (still very much present in current cultural practices such as cooking,
folkloric demonstrations and everyday idiomatic expressions) explain why this product has often been imitated and
why its name is subject to counterfeiting.
Reference to publication of the specification
The competent Ministry launched the national objection procedure by publishing a proposal for recognising the PGI
‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’ in Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 185 of 10 August 2011.
The full text of the product specification is available on the following website:
http://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/3335
or alternatively:
by going direct to the home page of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy (http://www.politicheagricole.it)
and clicking on ‘Qualità e sicurezza’ (‘Quality and security’, on the top right of the screen) and then on ‘Disciplinari di
Produzione all’esame dell’UE’ (Specifications subject to examination by the EU).

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Document Outline

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