Pursuant to the first subparagraph of Article 53(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, the Commission has examined France's application for the approval of amendments to the specification for the protected geographical indication ‘Emmental de Savoie’ registered under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96.

By letter of 23 November 2015, the French authorities notified the Commission that a transitional period under Article 15(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, ending on 31 December 2017, had been granted to one operator that is established on their territory and meets the conditions of that Article in accordance with the Order of 29 October 2015 on the protected geographical indication ‘Emmental de Savoie’ published on 7 November 2015 in the Official Journal of the French Republic. During the national objection procedure, this operator that legally marketed ‘Emmental de Savoie’ continuously for at least the five years prior to lodging the application, lodged an objection concerning the 50 % minimum share of coarse green fodder in the dairy cows' basic ration for at least 150 days per year. The reason given was that time was needed for the operator's holding to be adapted. The operator in question is Le Seysselan GAEC, Vallod, 74910 SEYSSEL.

Since the amendments in question are not minor within the meaning of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, the Commission published the amendment application in the Official Journal of the European Union as required by Article 50(2)(a) of that Regulation.

As no statement of opposition under Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 has been received by the Commission, the amendments to the specification should be approved,