Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2016)373 - EU position with regard to certain decisions to be adopted in the framework of the International Olive Council (IOC)

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dossier COM(2016)373 - EU position with regard to certain decisions to be adopted in the framework of the International Olive Council (IOC).
source COM(2016)373 EN
date 07-06-2016


1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

The International Olive Council (IOC) is an intergovernmental scientific and technical organisation active in the sector of olive oil and table olive. The objectives of the IOC are (i) to seek to achieve uniformity in national and international legislation relating to the physico-chemical and organoleptic characteristics of olive oils, olive pomace oils and table olives in order to prevent any obstacle to trade (ii) to conduct activities in the area of physico-chemical and organoleptic testing in order to add to the knowledge of the composition and quality characteristics of olive products, with a view to consolidating international standards, and (iii) to strengthen the role of the International Olive Council as a forum of excellence for the international scientific community in the area of olives and olive oil.

Currently the IOC is composed of 16 members, among which the European Union.

At EU level, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products (CMO Regulation, OJ L 347, p. 671), certain decisions adopted and published by the IOC affect EU law.

2. LEGAL ELEMENTS

– On the basis of discussions held within the groups of experts meeting to prepare the meeting of the Council of the IOC, it can be expected that the following five Decisions, producing legal effect within the EU acquis, will be on the agenda of the next IOC Council meeting scheduled on 15 July 2016 for adoption:

– The draft Decision modifying the trade standard applying to olive oils and olive pomace oils (COI/T.15/Rev…): modification of the limit of ethyl esters.

– The draft Decision modifying the trade standard applying to olive oils and olive pomace oils (COI/T.15/Rev…): modification of the limits of heptadecanoic, heptadecenoic and ecoseinoic acids.

– The draft Decision modifying the trade standard applying to olive oils and olive pomace oils (COI/T.15/Rev…): modification of the limit of the specific extinction coefficient at wavelength 270 (k270).

– The draft Decision modifying the trade standard applying to olive oils and olive pomace oils (COI/T.15/Rev…): official notification of the ISO methods adopted with a view to achieving full harmonisation and inclusion of a reference to the new peroxide value method.

– The draft Decision adopting the new method of analysis for the determination of the peroxide value (COI/T.20/Doc. No…).

The above mentioned decisions have been extensively discussed between scientific and technical experts of the olive oil sector. They contribute to the international harmonisation of the olive oil standard and they will set a framework which will ensure fair competition in the trading of olive oil sector. They should therefore be supported.

As in the past, it can be expected that the agenda of the meeting of the Council of the IOC will still evolve and that further Decisions affecting the acquis will be added to the agenda. In order to ensure efficiency of the work of the Council of the IOC while respecting the rules of the Treaties, the Commission will in due time supplement and/or amend the present proposal to enable the Council to adopt the position to be taken also for these Decisions.