The programme of the Standardisation and Research Unit for 2021 provides for the continuation of activities aimed at detecting fraud and guaranteeing the quality of olive oil and olive pomace oil. The priorities and specific activities cover the following:
– Work on the revision of the Codex standard that involves closer collaboration with the Codex Secretariat, organisation of WG meetings and establishment of an ad hoc working group within the IOC, participation in the Codex Commission meeting, etc. – International standardisation work – Strengthening the work of the eWGs – Panel harmonisation, provision of more reference samples and organisation of a meeting with the approved panels – Study on analytical methods to support the work of the expert groups – Presentation of the conclusions of the Oleum project – Study of non-standard parameters – Quality Strategy – Etc.
In February 2021, the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO) will consider the proposals of the eWG for the revision of the Codex Standard for olive oil, formulated by the eWG chaired by Spain and vice-chaired by Argentina and Canada, in which the IOC has observer status but actively participates.
A meeting of the ad hoc working group will be organised in January 2021 to prepare for the CCFO meeting, intensify the work and raise awareness among members.
The year 2021 will be crucial for the future of the agreement on the self-regulation of the quality of olive oils sold on importer markets, which will depend on the decisions made in 2020 by the Council of Members and the signatories to this agreement.
For further information, please see the link below