{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2010-611/annex-II/division-SINGLE/division-5/division-5.1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2010-611/annex-II/division-SINGLE/division-5/division-5.1.json",
  "legislation": "eur/2010/611",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Regulation (EU) No 611/2010 of 12 July 2010 approving minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Basilico Genovese (PDO))",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2010-611",
  "path": "annex/II/division/SINGLE/division/5/division/5.1",
  "kind": "division",
  "number": "5.1",
  "heading": "Specificity of the geographical area",
  "text": "The soil and climate of the Ligurian hinterland are marked by a microclimate suitable for the cultivation of basil, generated by an unusual combination of inter-related factors, both non-living (soil, temperature, water, light, wind) and living (animal and vegetable organisms), found only there. The characteristics of the soil impose a limit on the crops which can be grown and the limited changes to the physical nature of the land allowed for the growing of basil are motivated solely by the special technique of harvesting the plants, which must be done without damaging them. Any soil improvement is an important factor in crop management because it may solve limited and well defined drainage problems even if it appears not to contribute to the typical nature of the finished product. The daily changes in temperature have a direct influence on the choice of crops, as do the availability and quality of water, light and wind. The configuration of the territory of Liguria favours the cultivation of basil since its long axis lies along parallels, with crops enjoying sunlight for many hours, even in winter, on south-facing slopes which also provide protection from cold north, easterly and westerly winds through its unique curvature while also benefiting from the regulatory effect of the sea.\nIt is the climatic conditions of Liguria themselves, with their high levels of light even in winter, temperatures which rarely drop below 10 °C and a steady stream of air tempered by the sea, which combine with the chemical and physical characteristics of the land and the technical knowledge and traditions of the farmers to create a final product whose aromas cannot be found in the same combination and degree in basil grown elsewhere.\nAlthough the climate of the Ligurian hinterland is similar to that of lower Lazio and Campania and the origin of the soil where basil is grown is the same as that of lower Piedmont, Piedmont has a typically continental climate while the soils of central Italy are different from those of Liguria. This makes the combination of climate and soil for the grower in Liguria inimitable and special.\nAttesting to the importance of these crops for the economy of the region, we have the yearbooks of Italian agriculture and other documents, which described this situation vividly and in detail. Even today basil still accounts for a large part of agriculture and cultivation in Liguria. ‘Basilico Genovese’ is a unique and inimitable blend of territory, surroundings and cultivation.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2010/611/annex/II/division/SINGLE/division/5/division/5.1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:50:43.366858+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}