Commission Regulation (EC) No 205/2009

of 16 March 2009

approving minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Riso Nano Vialone Veronese (PGI))

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs [1], and in particular the second sentence of Article 9(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 9(1) and Article 17(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, the Commission has examined Italy’s request for the approval of an amendment to the specification for the protected geographical indication "Riso Nano Vialone Veronese", registered by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 [2], as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1263/96 [3].

(2) The aim of the request is to amend the specification as regards the product description. The first amendment states that the seeds used must be of the Vialone Nano variety. The second amendment relates to the biometric characteristics of the rice grains and establishes minimum or maximum values instead of the average values provided to date. The third amendment concerns the physico-chemical parameters (amylase, gelatinisation, consistency, viscosity).

(3) The Commission has examined the amendments in question and concluded that they are justified. Since these are minor amendments within the meaning of Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, the Commission may approve them without using the procedure set out in Articles 5, 6 and 7 of that Regulation,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The specification for the protected geographical indication "Riso Nano Vialone Veronese" is hereby amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation.

Article 2

A consolidated version of the summary containing the main points of the specification is given in Annex II to this Regulation.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 16 March 2009.

For the Commission

Mariann Fischer Boel

Member of the Commission

[1] OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.

[2] OJ L 148, 21.6.1996, p. 1.

[3] OJ L 163, 2.7.1996, p. 19.

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ANNEX I

The following amendments to the specification for the protected geographical indication "Riso Nano Vialone Veronese" have been approved:

"Description of product":

(1) In Article 4(5),

"The Vialone Nano seeds used must not be infected with cryptogam parasites, such as pircularia oryz?, fusarium monoliforme and drechslera oryz?. The seeds must be certified by ENSE.",

should be replaced by :

"The seeds used must be of the Vialone Nano variety and certified by ENSE."

(2) In Article 6(1) concerning the biometric characteristics of the grain,

"length : 5,7 mm;

width : 3,5 mm;

thickness : 2,1 mm;

shape (length/width) : 1,6",

should be replaced by "length : 5,6-5,8 mm;

width : 3,4-3,6 mm;

thickness : 2,0-2,2 mm;

shape (length/width) : 1,5-1,7";

(3) In Article 6(4) concerning the physico-chemical parameters,

"amylose : more than 23 % dry matter;

gelatinisation time : 15,5 – 16,5 minutes;

consistency index : more than 0,90 kg/cm2;

viscosity index : less than 1,1 g/cm",

should be replaced by "amylose : no less than 21 % dry matter;

gelatinisation time : between 15 and 20 minutes;

consistency index : no less than 0,85 kg/cm2;

viscosity index : no more than 2,5 g/cm".

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ANNEX II

SUMMARY

Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

"RISO NANO VIALONE VERONESE"

EC No: IT-PGI-0117-1529- 16.2.2001

PDO ( ) PGI (X)

This summary sets out the main elements of the product specification for information purposes.

1. Responsible Department In The Member State:

Name : MINISTERO DELLE POLITICHE AGRICOLE, ALIMENTARI E FORESTALI

Address : Via XX Settembre n.20 — 00187 ROMA

Tel. : 06-4819968

Fax : 06-42013126

e-mail : qtc3@politicheagricole.it

2. Group:

Name : Consorzio Tutela Riso Vialone Nano Veronese IGP

Address : Via Mazzini, 2b — 37063 Isola della Scala (VR)

Tel. : 045 6630815

Fax : 045 7300397

e-mail : —

Composition : Producers/processors (X) Other ( )

3. Type of product:

Class 1.6 — Fruit, vegetables and cereals

4. Specification:

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

4.1. Name:

"Riso Nano Vialone Veronese"

4.2. Description:

Breed with a medium-early growing cycle, medium height, small, muticate, pearled grain. Genealogy: Nano x Vialone;

Varietal group: Japonica;

Year first cultivated: 1937;

Growing cycle: 155 days;

Stem length: 95,2 cm;

Node colour: violet;

Internode colour: striped violet;

Foliar limb: striped violet colour, pendant habit;

Sheath colour: violet;

Auricula colour: violet;

Joint colour: violet;

Ligule: length: 17,0 mm, bifid type, violet colour; leaf habit: descending;

Panicle: length: 17,8 cm, pendant habit open type, well exserted, muticate;

Stigma colour: pigmented;

Glume colour: violet-brown;

Glumella colour: violet-brown carina, violet-brown calotte, violet-brown apex;

Spikelet: no beard, average pilosity, length: 8,1 mm, width 4,1 mm, weight of 1000 = 37,9 g;

Caryopsis: white pericarp, length: 5,6-5,8 mm, width: 3,4-3,6 mm, thickness: 2,0-2,2 mm, shape (length/width ratio) 1.5-1.7, weight of 1000 grains = 31,1 g;

Tolerance to cold: plantule: high, flowering time: medium; tolerance to high water (40-50): high;

Speed of plantule development: high; level of fertiliser required: medium; yield at processing: 55 %.

In addition, in order to further differentiate Riso Vialone Nano Veronese:

a maximum allowable limit of 2 % for varietal impurities; the following physico-chemical parameters must also be met:

— amylose : no less than 21 % dry matter;

— gelatinisation time : between 15 and 20 minutes;

— consistency index : no less than 0,85 kg/cm2;

— viscosity index : no more than 2,5 g/cm.

4.3. Geographical area:

Southern area of the province of Verona: the municipalities of: Mozzecane, Nogarole Rocca, Vigasio, Trevenzuolo, Erbè, Sorgà, Nogara, Gazza Veronese, Salizzole, Isola della Scala, Buttapietra, Sanguinetto, Concamarise, Casaleone, Cerea, San Pietro di Morubio, Bovolone, Roverchiara, Isola Rizza, Oppeano, Ronco All’Adige, Palù, Zevio and Povegliano Veronese;

4.4. Proof of origin:

Each stage in the production process is monitored, with all incoming and outgoing products recorded at each production stage. This monitoring, in addition to the completion of records provided to this end and managed by the monitoring structure of producers and packaging establishments, and declarations on the system for monitoring the quantities produced, enable the traceability of the product to be ensured. All natural or legal persons recorded in these lists are subject to checks by the monitoring structure.

4.5. Method of production:

The seeds used must be of the Vialone Nano variety and certified by ENSE.

Compared with other more recent varieties, Riso Vialone Nano, which does not have a high yield, is susceptible to rice blast, is easily lodged and is a rice crop which requires particular care and attention.

The Veronese soils of the above-mentioned area, the spring water, the climate and the rotation of crops provide a balanced set of factors which make it possible for the growing cycle to be completed without difficulties, producing a complete, large caryopsis with an extended grain in the centre, which is not always found in other rice-growing areas.

It should be mentioned that Veronese soils, which are light and clear, have a pH value of 7,5 or higher, due to the presence of calcium, and that the water is also always alkaline.

This marked alkalinity characterises and clearly distinguishes the environment of the rice fields in the Verona area from that found in most Italian rice-growing areas, which tend to be acidic and often lacking in calcium.

Processing takes place in local rice-mills, the direct descendants of the numerous "rice huskers" in the region during the 16th century, some of which have survived and are still operating. In these, the hull of the rice was removed by water-powered pestles. Although the production process is now usually carried out by modern machinery, it is done using criteria and striving for results stemming from a centuries-old tradition. The rice grains are never completely hulled and bleached; the grain remains partially covered by the pericarp and as such is in the best condition to be used in preparing typical Veronese risottos.

4.6. Link:

Riso Vialone Nano Veronese can be produced in the defined area because it has a uniform climate. The freshness and purity of spring water, fairly typical of the area, help make this possible. In these areas, crop rotation is used in rice growing, considerably reducing the use of plant protection products and chemical fertilisers.

The characteristics of the soil found in the Verona area differ from those of other rice-growing areas due to:

- the soil pH, which is always alkaline;

- the spring water coming from calcareous rock and, therefore, also alkaline;

- the cultivation traditions which continue to maintain the rice-growing heritage.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name : Ente Nazionale Risi

Address : Piazza Pio XI, 1 — 20123 MILANO

Tel. : 02 8855111

Fax : 02 861372

e-mail : info@enterisi.it

4.8. Labelling:

The rice is packaged in paper sachets with the label of the associated rice-mill and the protection label.

The label must bear the wording "Riso Nano Vialone Veronese IGP".

The logo consists of a representation in white of Cangrande della Scala on a horse, a yellow rice panicle on a black background; the bottom of the logo features a picture of the arms of Verona, with a red ladder on a yellow background.

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