Olive Oil

The European Union is the leading producer, consumer and exporter of olive oil. Since 2013, on average the EU produced 68.4%, consumed 54.2% and exported 66.9% of the world’s olive oil.
The EU is a member of the international olive council, which was set up in 1959 to administer the succession of international commodity agreements concluded over the past 50 years to defend and promote olive growing, olive oil and table olives. The international olive council members account for almost 98% of the world production of olive oil. Nearly all the Mediterranean countries and, in addition, Argentina, Uruguay, Iran and Jordan participate in the agreement.

EU Marketing standards

EU regulation 1308/2013 – establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products
EU implementing Regulation 29/2012 – marketing standards for olive oil. This Regulation foresees in particular rules on olive oil packaging and labelling (mandatory and optional requirements)
EEC Commission regulation 2568/91 – the characteristics of olive oil and olive-pomace oil and on the relevant methods of analysis. This regulation establishes the limits for quality and purity parameters for each of olive oil and olive-pomace oil categories. It also defines the methods of analysis that have to be used when assessing the conformity of the oil with its declared category.
EU implementing regulation 1333/2013 – Private storage: the notification obligations within the common organisation of agricultural markets.
EU delegated regulation 2016/1238 – Private storage: laying down common rules for the granting of private storage aid for certain agricultural products.