G/SPS/GEN/121/Add.20  
 
9 May 2022 
(22-3602) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
 
APPLICANTS FOR OBSERVER STATUS  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
Addendum  
An application for observer status in the SPS Committee was received on  21 March 2022  from the 
International Olive Council  (OIC). Information provided by OIC is summarized below.  
1  MEMBERSHIP  
1.1.  Membership includes 18 members as listed below:  
1. Albania * 
2. Algeria**  
3. Argentina * 
4. Egypt*  
5. European Union * 
6. Georgia * 7. Iran** 
8. Israel* 
9. Jordan*  
10. Lebanon**  
11. Libya**  
12. Montenegro * 13. Morocco*  
14. Palestine***  
15. Tunisia*  
16. Turkey * 
17. Uruguay * 
18. Uzbekistan ** 
* WTO Member . 
** WTO Observer . 
*** Not a WTO Member or Observer.  
2  MANDATE, SCOPE AND AREA OF WORK  
2.1.  The IOC is an intergovernmental organi zation established in Madrid, Spain, in 1959 under the 
auspices of the United Nations to bring together stakeholders in the production and consumption of 
olive oil and table olives. It is a decisive stakeholder contributing to the sustainable and responsible 
development of olive growing and a global forum in w hich members debate policy issues and address 
current and future challenges.  
2.2.  The IOC operates at both national and international levels, assisting member countries to 
improve and develop the olive oil and table olive sector, but also facilitating coordinat ion between 
member countries to encourage the expansion of international trade in olive oil and table olives, to 
develop and update product trade standards in order to improve quality, and to promote global 
consumption. IOC producer member countries contri bute approximately 94% of world olive oil 
production.  
2.3.  Among the main objectives of the IOC, as defined in the International Agreement on Olive Oil 
and Table Olives, 2015, are:  
− To achieve uniformity in national and international legislation relating to the physico -
chemical and organoleptic characteristics of olive oils, olive pomace, and table olives in order 
to prevent any obstacle to trade;  
− To conduct activities in the area of physico -chemical and organoleptic testing in order to 
consolidate international standards, thereby enabling product quality control, developing 
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the position of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  G/SPS/GEN/121/Add.20  
 
- 2 - 
 
  international trade, protecting consumer rights and preventing of fraudulent practices and 
adulteration ; 
− To coordinate studies and research on the nutritional qualities and other intrinsic properties 
of olive oils and table olives ; 
− To facilitate the exchange of information on international trade flows ; 
− To promote technical cooperation and research and development in the olive sector by 
encouraging the cooperation of public or priva te bodies and/or entities, whether national or 
international.  
3  CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORK OF THE SPS COMMITTEE  
3.1.  Given that Article 1 of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015 provides 
that one of the objectives of the International Oli ve Council is to expand international trade in olive 
oil and table olives and to facilitate the exchange of information on international trade, the IOC has 
a direct interest in trade policy issues. Additionally, given that one of the objectives of the IOC is to 
achieve uniformity of 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, discussions on sanitary and ph ytosanitary measures are of great importance.  
3.2.  According to article 20 of the above -mentioned  Agreement , the members of the International 
Olive Council undertake to apply the designations prescribed in annexes B and C, on olive oils and 
olives pomaces as we ll as on types of table olives, in their international trade and shall encourage 
their application. The Council of Members determine s quality and purity criteria standards applicable 
to the international trade of the members.  
3.3.  Overall, IOC's interventions i n the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures focus on the 
following:  
− Coordinate studies and research on the nutritional qualities, in particular with 
Codex  Alimentarius as the reference organisation ; 
− Coordinates with the World Customs Organization ; 
− Development of recommended joint guides for the quality control ; 
− Organise expert working groups to develop methods of analysis, submit proposals to modify 
or create methods, establish approaches to quality and authenticity, validate methods and 
collect data ; 
− Certification for physico -chemical and sensory laboratories.  
4  RECIPROCITY  
4.1.  The International Olive Council respects the principle of reciprocity by recogni zing the 
possibility, in the 2015 International Agreement, of granting observer status to other inter national 
organi zations through Article 8.6) of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives 2015.  
 
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