WRITTEN QUESTION E-2864/01

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Safeguarding olive oil production

The judgment of the Court of Justice of 14 December 200 in Case C-99/99 Italian Republic v. Commission of the European Communities Action for annulment Regulation (EC) No 2815/98(1) marketing standards for olive oil, threatens to destroy the principle of theterritoriality' of production.

The loss of territoriality in olive production is leading to an increase in the influx into Italian territory of olive oil from countries in Northern Africa, the Iberian peninsula and Greece, wrongfully passed off as Italian oil.

1. Does the Commission not consider that for olive oil, as for other products, the principle of traceability of the whole production cycle must apply and it is unacceptable for the blending stage to determine the origin of the oil?

2. Does it not consider that the only appropriate criterion for the origin of oil is where the olives were produced, rather than where they were pressed?

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

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2001)

The Commission does not share the Honourable Member's fears that there will be an increase in imports of olive oil from third countries.

There are at present no plans to adjust the annual customs duties or to increase the single only existing import quota, which is for Tunisia.

As for blending of oils from various sources, it should be stressed that this practice is not only allowed but is very necessary in many cases. Because national olive oil production cannot meet consumption demand, the Italian oil industry buys significant volumes of oil from third countries and the other Member States (about 400 000 tonnes a year), with a view to selling it on the world market (over 270 000 tonnes exported in 2000/01). The Italian industry has adapted to market realities and has managed to profit from them to the extent that it is now one of the major players in the global olive oil trade.

Turning to the Honourable Member's claim regarding the marketing of oils labelled as Italian, it must be done in accordance with the rules laid down in the Community legislation on labelling, trading standards and protected designation of origins/protected geographical indications (PDOs/PGIs) (Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs(1), Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs(2) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 2815/98 of 22 December 1998 concerning marketing standards for olive oil(3)). The labelling of blends of oils from different sources must also comply with the above.

As regards labelling for the origin of oils and their traceability, on 19 June 2001 the Council of agriculture ministers mandated the Commission to find a clear and immediate solution to the issue of the origin of oils. The Commission has accordingly been able to introduce a legal provision linking an oil's origin to the place where the olives are harvested. In the relatively rare cases where an oil's origin differs from the place where the oil was extracted, both origins must be marked on the label. A provision to this effect entered into force on 1 November 2001.

On the issue of traceability, the Commission is certainly not opposed to operators introducing it. The measures adopted by the Council on 19 June of this year allow the Member States to finance quality improvement programmes in which traceability can play a leading role. Furthermore, traceability is already required in the case of olive oils qualifying for PDO and PGI status under Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

(1) OJ L 109, 6.5.2000.

(2) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992.

(3) OJ L 349, 24.12.1998.