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The Standardisation and Research Unit of the IOC Executive Secretariat met on 26 and 27 September 2023 by videoconference with some fifty experts and advisers officially designated by IOC member countries, the majority of them heads of panels from IOC-recognised sensory analysis laboratories for virgin olive oils.
The experts examined the latest revisions to the organoleptic assessment method, as well as new proposals. They analysed new projects and reviewed the state of the progress of the ongoing studies devoted to sensory analysis carried out by the 9 electronic working groups. Participants discussed a wide range of subjects, including recognition, taster training, reference materials, statistics and samples giving results at the borderline between two categories. They examined the results of studies devoted to oils from the Picual (blackberry) and Chemlali varieties and the volatile profile of these oils.
The IOC Executive Secretariat presented to the experts the rules of the Mario Solinas Quality Award in the northern and southern hemispheres and the work of the electronic working group for the revision of the rules of the national competitions that count on the IOC’s patronage. The Head of the Standardisation and Research Unit also presented the conclusions of the fourth edition of the workshop on the harmonisation of IOC-recognised virgin olive oil tasting panels, which took place from 19 to 21 September 2023 by videoconference. The results of the IOC recognition trials for the period 2023-2024 were also discussed.
The conclusions of this meeting will be presented to representatives of IOC member countries on the occasion of the 118th Council of Members meeting in November.
