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 designation of origin ‘Picodon’, registered under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96, as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1143/2009.

By letter of 11 March 2016, the French authorities notified the Commission that a transitional period under Article 15(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, ending on 31 December 2016, had been granted to two operators that are established on their territory and meet the conditions of that Article in accordance with the Order of 17 February 2016 on the protected designation of origin ‘Picodon’ published on 26 February 2016 in the Official Journal of the French Republic. During the national objection procedure, two operators lodged an objection concerning the obligation to use raw milk in the production of ‘Picodon’, indicating that they were unable to immediately comply with that provision and that a period of time was needed to adapt their production tools. These operators, which have also legally marketed ‘Picodon’ continuously for at least the five years prior to the lodging of the application, meet the conditions of Article 15(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012. A transitional period ending on 31 December 2016 has therefore been granted to them in this context. The operators in question are: Fromagerie du Vivarais, Les Pélissons, 07570 Désaignes; Eurial, rue Henri Barbusse, 26400 Crest.

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,