Considerations on COM(2025)168 - EU position in the Council of Members of the International Olive Council (IOC) as regards the trade standard for olive oil and olive pomace oil

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dossier COM(2025)168 - EU position in the Council of Members of the International Olive Council (IOC) as regards the trade standard for olive oil ...
document COM(2025)168 EN
date June 12, 2025
 
table>(1)The International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015 (‘the Agreement’) was signed on behalf of the Union in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2016/1892 (1) on 18 November 2016, subject to its conclusion at a later date. The Agreement entered into force provisionally on 1 January 2017 in accordance with Article 31(2) thereof and was concluded by the Union by way of Council Decision (EU) 2019/848 (2).
(2)Pursuant to Article 7(1) of the Agreement, the Council of Members of the International Olive Council (‘the Council of Members’) may take decisions and adopt recommendations for the application of the provisions of the Agreement.

(3)During its 121st session, to be held in July 2025, the Council of Members is to adopt a decision amending the trade standard for olive oils and olive pomace oils.

(4)The decision to be adopted during the 121st session of the Council of Members has been extensively discussed between scientific and technical experts on olive oil of the Commission and of the Member States. That decision will contribute to the international harmonisation of standards for olive oils and will establish a framework which will ensure fair competition in the trading of products of the olive oil sector. The Union should therefore support the adoption of that decision.

(5)It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on behalf of the Union within the Council of Members, as the amending decision to be adopted will have legal effects on the Union as regards international trade with the other members of the International Olive Council (IOC) and will be capable of decisively influencing the content of Union law, namely on marketing standards for olive oil adopted by the Commission pursuant to Article 75 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3).

(6)If the adoption of the decision at the 121st session of the Council of Members is postponed, as a result of some Members not being in a position to give their approval, the position set out in the Annex to this Decision should be taken on behalf of the Union 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, provided that such a procedure is initiated before the next regular session of the Council of Members in November 2025.

(7)It should, however, be possible for the representatives of the Union in the Council of Members to agree to technical adaptations to other methods or documents of the IOC without further decision of the Council if those technical adaptations result from amendments related to the revision of the trade standard.

(8)In order to preserve the interest of the Union, the representatives of the Union in the Council of Members should, however, be allowed to request to postpone the adoption of the decision amending the trade standard, if the position to be taken on behalf of the Union is likely to be affected by new scientific or technical information presented before or during the 121st session,