# Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 686/2013 of 16 July 2013 approving minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Oignon doux des Cévennes (PDO)), Division 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)

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Cultivated on the southern slopes of the Massif Central, ‘Oignon doux des Cévennes’ is an original and specific onion, in terms of both its cultivation method and its physical and gustatory qualities.
In this particular environment man has known how to manage the land in order to take advantage of it, select a well-adapted variety and develop cultivation techniques that highlight a special product.
The natural constraints of the geographical area — the scarcity of level surfaces and the damage caused by erosion — have obliged farmers to organise the available space so that it can be used efficiently. The terracing of land, which is gravity-irrigated by the Béal, a canal bringing water from upstream rivers, rapidly became widespread starting in the 18th century and made it possible to increase the meagre farmable land areas. This helped feed a sizeable population and also protected the soil against erosion.
Fruits and vegetables were cultivated on the terraces that had the most favourable orientation and were half-way down the slope, irrigable and close to the hamlets. Soils formed from the decomposition of granites and schists are acid, sandy, filtering and poor in clay. Often they are fertilised with manure from neighbouring sheep and goat farms. Sweet onions started being cultivated in the area, first as a food crop before becoming a genuine form of agricultural production. The parcels where the onion had traditionally been grown, sometimes for more than 50 years, were called ‘Cébières’.
The traditional variety, improved and maintained by producers for many generations on the basis of appearance, sweetness and keeping properties, is well adapted to the local climate: it is a long-day plant, which is sowed in January in the most favourably oriented parcels so that it can benefit from the spring warmth. It is then transplanted manually and irrigated regularly; the bulbs are harvested at the end of summer, before the equinox rains of September. In this way they can dry in the field and be preserved in good, healthy conditions.
The cultural practices and the natural environment affect the characteristics of the onion throughout its growth cycle. Vigorous seedlings are obtained rapidly by sowing on the best parcels. With precise manual transplanting it is possible to optimise plant densities in order to be able to harvest bulbs having a sufficient size and a harmonious appearance, without any flat sides. The soil’s poor clay content contributes to the sweetness of the onion but its sandy texture keeps the water reserves low. Therefore irrigation is necessary during the summer, and water is provided regularly in small amounts. This prevents waste and, above all, limits the hydric stress of the plant and the appearance of bitter and sharp tastes but keeps the scales juicy. Finally, parcels oriented towards the northeast to southwest are selected while moist valley bottoms are avoided so that the onions can be cultivated only on parcels with favourable microclimates. This results in earlier ripeness, with a smaller risk of plant-health problems. Consequently inputs can be reduced and the product keeps better.
The combination of natural factors in the geographical area, used effectively by farmers who have known how to employ the potential of the environment to the best advantage, have enabled all the original characteristics of ‘Oignon doux des Cévennes’ to be brought out.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2013/686/annex/II/division/CONSOLIDATED/division/5/division/5.3 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2013-686/annex-II/division-CONSOLIDATED/division-5/division-5.3
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.