IOC Supports Third QvExtra! Conference on Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The International Olive Council (IOC) was pleased to support the Third Conference on Excellence in Nutritional Labelling and Health Claims for extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs), held on 25 September at the Organisation’s headquarters in Madrid. The event was organised by QvExtra! Internacional – a beneficiary of one the IOC’s 2025 grants for promotional programmes – and brought together leading experts, institutions and private stakeholders to exchange knowledge and strategies to promote accurate labelling and strengthen scientifically based health claims for olive oil.

The conference received strong institutional backing from the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), with sponsorship from laboratories and industry partners.

A Shared Commitment to Quality and Transparency

In his opening remarks, IOC Executive Director Jaime Lillo underlined the importance of transparent labelling practices and scientifically substantiated health claims, which are essential tools for empowering consumers and building trust in the sector. He praised QvExtra!’s ongoing efforts to elevate the quality and identity of extra virgin olive oils and reaffirmed the IOC’s commitment to fostering collaboration across the olive oil value chain.

Ana Mª López-Santacruz Serraller, AESAN Executive Director, and Ana Rodríguez, General Secretary for Agricultural Resources and Food Security at MAPA ,echoed these sentiments, highlighting the pivotal role that accurate communication of nutritional and health benefits plays in strengthening consumer confidence and market development.

International Dialogue on Regulation and Innovation

The programme featured a series of expert panels and keynote addresses exploring current and emerging frameworks for health claims in different regions. A session moderated by Rafael Alonso Barrau examined regulatory challenges and opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic, with insights from Dr Joy Dubost, a US-based specialist in food science policy, and Irene Gadea of AESAN.

Later discussions turned to consumer trends, branding and the value of effective labelling. Eusebio García de la Cruz led a dynamic roundtable with professionals from leading market research firms, including Worldpanel by Numerator, Nielsen and Singular One, who analysed consumer perceptions and the strategic communication of EVOO’s health attributes.

Focus on Scientific Validation

A highlight of the day was the roundtable on QvExtra!’s 2024 health claim proposal and the clinical trial project now in development. Moderated by Herminia Millán, QvExtra! General Manager, the panel included leading researchers from prominent institutions such as the CSIC, IMIM, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Hospital Reina Sofía, the University of Navarra and the University of Jaén. Their input reaffirmed the importance of rigorous scientific backing for claims regarding the health benefits of EVOO.

Strengthening Sector-Wide Collaboration

As noted by Soledad Serrano, President of QvExtra!, discussions are underway to formalise a collaboration agreement with the International Association of Olive Oil Entities (IAOE) to further develop the health claims project launched by QvExtra! in 2022.

The event concluded with an inspiring address by motivational speaker Luis Galindo and a closing address from Jaime Lillo, followed by a networking cocktail that encouraged further dialogue among attendees.

The IOC’s Role

The IOC strongly believes that a unified, science-based approach to labelling and health claims is fundamental to the credibility and growth of the olive oil sector. Events like this reinforce the importance of multi-stakeholder dialogue and underscore the IOC’s strategic objectives, as set out in the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015. These include promoting standardisation, supporting scientific research, and ensuring that consumers worldwide are provided with reliable, evidence-based information.

The IOC remains committed to advancing quality, transparency, and sustainability across the olive oil value chain.