EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 22.8.2022

SWD(2022) 217 final

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT

Accompanying the document

Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Council of Members of the International Olive Council (IOC), concerning the elimination of the category ordinary virgin olive oil from Annex B of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015

{COM(2022) 411 final}

Draft Decision No. DEC-III. 3/115-VI/2022 concerning the elimination of the category ordinary virgin olive oil from Annex B of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015

DECISION No. DEC-III. 3/115-VI/2022

CONCERNING THE ELIMINATION OF THE CATEGORY ORDINARY VIRGIN OLIVE OIL FROM ANNEX B OF THE INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT ON OLIVE OIL AND TABLE OLIVES

THE COUNCIL OF MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLIVE COUNCIL,

Having regard to the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives 2015, in particular article 1 ‘Objectives of the Agreement’ concerning standardisation and research, with regard to the standardisation of national and international legislation and the harmonisation of physico-chemical and organoleptic analyses, the improvement of knowledge of the compositional and quality characteristics of olive products with a view to consolidating international standards that allow for the control of product quality, international trade and its development, the protection of consumer rights and the prevention of fraudulent and misleading practices and adulteration, and Chapter VI ‘Provisions concerning standardisation’;

Having regard to article 32.1 of the International Agreement, the International Olive Council may, through the Council of Members, amend the Agreement by consensus;

Having regard to article 32.2 of the International Agreement, the Council of Members shall set the deadline for Members to notify the depositary of their acceptance of the amendment in question;

Having regard to article 32.3 of the International Agreement, the amendment shall enter into force 90 days after the depositary has received notification of its acceptance by all Members;

Having regard to the ongoing revision of the Codex Alimentarius standard CODEX STAN 33/81;

Having regard to the need for harmonisation between international standards to facilitate international trade and prevent confusion;

Considering the unanimous proposal made by the Quality Strategy Expert Group at its meetings in April 2021 and in May 2022;

Considering the recommendations made at the 10th meeting of the Committee on Chemistry and Standardisation during the 115th session of the Council of Members;

DECIDES

1.    To remove the category of ordinary virgin olive oil from Annex B under Designations and definitions of olive oils and olive pomace oils of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives 2015, allowing a transitional period of four years for countries that produce this category on 1 January 2026.

The removal of this category will result in its removal from the Trade Standard and the parameters for the rest of the categories will be revised following its removal.

2.    Members shall notify the depositary of their acceptance of the amendment in question before negotiations begin for the new International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives.

Mr. Kaled Musa Al Henefat

Chair of the International Olive Council