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

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.Subject matter of the proposal

This proposal concerns the decision establishing the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the Council of Members of the International Olive Council ("IOC") in connection with the elimination of the category Ordinary Virgin Olive Oil from Annex B of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives.

2.Context of the proposal

2.1.The International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015

The International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015 (‘the Agreement’) aims (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.

The renewed version of the Agreement entered into force on 1 January 2017.

The European Union is a party to the Agreement.

2.2.The Council of Members

The Council of Members of the International Olive Council ("the Council of Members") is the highest authority and decision-making organ of the IOC and shall exercise all such powers and functions as are necessary to achieve the objectives of this Agreement. As a party to the Agreement, the European Union is a member of the IOC and is represented in the Council of Members. Pursuant to Article 19(2) of the IOC Agreement, the Council of Members can take decisions amending the Annexes of the IOC Agreement. In conformity with article 10(3) of the IOC Agreement, the decisions of the Council of Members concerning any amendments of the Agreement shall be taken by consensus.

2.3.The envisaged act of the Council of Members

On 29 April 2022, the Executive Secretariat of the IOC transmitted to its Members the text of a decision regarding chemistry and standardisation to be adopted by the Council of Members. The purpose of the envisaged act is to eliminate the category Ordinary Virgin Olive Oil from Annex B of the IOC Agreement, starting with 1 January 2026. Pursuant to Article 20(1) of the Agreement, the designations in Annexes B and C of the IOC Agreement are applicable to the international trade of the Members. The envisaged act will thereby amend Annex B to the IOC Agreement.

The Commission Staff Working Document accompanying this proposal includes the text of the decision.

During the 115th session of the IOC (June 2022), the EU asked for postponing the adoption of the decision, as it was not in a position to give its approval (time needed to adopt the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf). Therefore, the position detailed in the present Decision will be taken on behalf of the Union either at the 116th session of the IOC in November 2022, or within the framework of a possible procedure for adoption by the Council of Members by exchange of correspondence, pursuant to Article 10(6) of the Agreement, before its next regular session in November 2022.

3.Position to be taken on the Union's behalf

The decision to be adopted by the Council of Members will modify Annex B of the IOC Agreement by eliminating the category Ordinary Virgin Olive Oil, with a date of entering into force on 1 January 2026. An additional decision by the Council of Members will be needed at that time, to remove this category and the related parameters from the IOC Trade Standard for Olive Oil and Olive-Pomace Oil.

No such olive oil category exists in Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Therefore, the above-mentioned decision fits the Union policy as regards standards for the marketing of agricultural products as provided for in Title II of part II of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Taking into account the decision-making process within the Council of Members of the IOC, the Union position is needed for the adoption of the decision provided for in the Annex.

4.Legal basis