WRITTEN QUESTION P-1763/00

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Crisis in the olive oil market proposal to amend Regulation (EEC) No. 2568/91 and establishment of a Community database

The statement by the Commission, made in its answer to my question of 25 January 2000, that the quantities of olive oil imported are not sufficient to disrupt the Community market overlooks completely the true cause of the problem, which lies in the restrictions introduced by Regulation (EEC) 2568/91, which does not allow for an analysis to determine whether hazelnut oil is present in olive oil imported into Italy where the proportions of the two oils are duly calculated.

Even more baffling is the Commission's assertion that the blending of olive oils of different origins is not forbidden and may even be essential for oils from certain regions in order to provide consumers with the quality of oil they require. It is the responsibility of European law Council Directives 89/395/EEC(1) and 89/396/EEC(2) of 14 June 1989 and Regulation (EEC) No 2815/98(3) to ensure the integrity of a food product in terms of its labelling and health aspects and it is also vital to provide consumers with correct information on the product they are purchasing, enabling them to choose freely the type of oil they want (PDO, PGI, registered designation of origin, normal extravirgin, corn oil, other seed oils, etc.).

This is confirmed by the fact that the EU itself, by recognising some 20 PDO oils and one PGI oil in Italy, has established the principle that not only is the identification of a geographical region of origin not a limit that can be exceeded by blending, but also represents an advantage. It should also be added that it is now possible to identify scientifically the origin of an oil and all its characteristics by means of gas-chromatographic analysis of methylic esters and components of the unsaponifiable fraction and combined pyrolysis mass spectrometry analysis.

In the light of the above considerations, what are the Commissions intentions as regards the amendment of Commission Regulation (EEC) 2568/91 of 11 July 1991 or the adoption of a new regulation and the setting up of a Community olive oil database as a single analytical instrument capable of determining with scientific accuracy the geographical origin of an oil?

(1) OJ L 186, 30.6.1989, p. 17.

(2) OJ L 186, 30.6.1989, p. 21.

(3) OJ L 349, 24.12.1998, p. 56.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2000)

In the opinion of chemical experts, there is as yet no analytical method for detecting hazelnut oil in olive oil. The Commission is encouraging research on this, and the signs are that a (perhaps partial) solution is imminent. As soon as a reliable method is available, the Commission will adopt the necessary changes to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 of 11 July 1991 on the characteristics of olive oil and olive-residue oil and on the relevant methods of analysis(1).

Current statistical methods for determining olive oils' geographical origin via a database contain inherent inaccuracies which may cause oils to be wrongly classified, but the Commission is following with great interest the research being undertaken into improving those methods.

(1) OJ L 248, 5.9.1991.