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6th harmonisation workshop for virgin olive oil tasting panels
The International Olive Council (IOC) has successfully concluded the sixth edition of its annual harmonisation workshop for IOC-recognised virgin olive oil tasting panels, held online from 16 to 18 September 2025. This flagship initiative aims to ensure that sensory analysis results are consistent and credible across borders, reinforcing the integrity of international trade and consumer trust in olive oil quality.
More than 120 panel leaders from 33 countries – both IOC Member and non-Member Countries– took part in this year’s workshop. Each panel assessed over 28 virgin olive oil samples, using the IOC Panel platform for real-time statistical analysis. This essential tool, developed by the Fundación del Olivar, enables data harmonisation and performance tracking across all recognised panels.
The workshop, organised by the IOC Standardisation and Research Unit, was led by six of its experts in olive oil organoleptic assessment: Karolina Brkić Bubola, Milena Bučar Miklavčič, Ana Carrilho, Susana Mattar Sabio, Angels Calvo Fandos and Placido Pascual Morales. It featured a technical presentation on panel reliability from Luis Guerreo Asorey, Senior Researcher on Food Quality and Technology at the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), and a training on best practices for platform use from Miguel Ángel Romera Ortega, Fundación del Olivar representative.
In his opening remarks, Abderraouf Laajimi, IOC Deputy Executive Director for Operational Affairs, underlined the crucial role of these workshops in aligning sensory evaluation practices worldwide and strengthening the competence and credibility of tasting panels.
These harmonisation efforts support the IOC’s broader mandate to maintain international standards for olive oils, as outlined in the 2015 International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives. The outcomes of this workshop will inform the agenda for the 2026 edition, scheduled to take place online from 22 to 24 September.
