The International Olive Council (IOC) (formerly the International Olive Oil Council (IOOC)) is an intergovernmental organization of states that produce olives or products derived from olives, such as olive oil.
The IOOC had its genesis in the International Agreement on Olive Oil, which was concluded in Geneva on 17 October 1955. After this treaty was amended and the amended version came into force, the IOOC was established under this treaty in 1959, with headquarters in Madrid. This first agreement remained in force until 1963, when a second agreement was negotiated. The organisation was governed by the following agreements during the time spans indicated:
1956 International Olive Oil Agreement (amended 1955 Agreement) (1956–1963)
1963 International Olive Oil Agreement (1963–1979)
1979 International Olive Oil Agreement (1979–1986)
1986 International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives (1986–2005)
2005 International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives (2005–2015)
2015 International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives (2015–)
In 2006, the International Olive Oil Council changed its name to the International Olive Council to recognise that the Council also deals with table olives. (The name of its governing Agreement had recognised this since 1986.)
A new agreement was negotiated and concluded in October 2015 and was open for signature throughout 2016.
2016 Decision No Dec-18/S.Ex. 27-V/2016 Revising the Trade Standard applying To Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils
Member states
The IOC currently has 21 state members including the European Union. These states account for over 94 per cent of the world's olive production. The following states of the IOC are below (the year of the state's first ratification of one of the Agreements is included; an asterisk indicates that the state was a founding member of the IOOC):
Because the IOC is an international, intergovernmental organisation, membership is only open to the governments of states and to international organisations with responsibilities in the negotiation, conclusion and application of international agreements, especially commodity agreements. Private companies or individuals cannot join the IOC.
If a country is interested in joining, its government submits an application to the Council of Members, usually through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another ministry, or through its embassy in Spain. The Council of Members examines the application and determines the conditions of accession of the applicant country. This includes fixing the number of participation shares in the IOC budget and setting a time limit for the country to file its instrument of accession with the depository of the Agreement. As soon as the applicant deposits its instrument it becomes a Member.
Observers
Three categories of observer are allowed to attend all or part of IOC sessions, provided they have the prior consent of the Council of Members.
Intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental organisations that could provide funding for IOC activities.
The government of any member or observer State of the United Nations or of one of the organisations mentioned in the first bullet that envisages joining the Agreement.
Headquarters
The IOC has been headquartered in Madrid since it was founded in 1959. The rights, immunities and privileges of the IOC headquarters, staff and representatives are stipulated in a Headquarters Agreement signed with the Kingdom of Spain, which is the host country of the Organisation.
The IOC is funded through compulsory contributions paid by its Member States. Contributions are calculated each year according to the number of participation shares awarded to each Member in the IOC budget.
Structure
The structure of the IOC revolves around the key figures of the Council of Members and its committees, the IOC chair, and the Executive Secretariat.
Council of Members
The Council of Members is the principal decision-making body of the IOC. It is made up of one delegate per Member, who is assisted by alternates and advisers. It meets at least once a year to review IOC work and to approve the action programme and budget for the next year. The Council of Members takes decisions by consensus. If consensus is not reached, decision making is done by a qualified majority.
Committees
The committees discuss and lay the groundwork for proposals and three-year action plans which are then submitted to the Council of Members. The IOC has five committees:
Promotion and Economic Affairs Committee: Ongoing and future promotional activities and campaigns to promote olive oil and table olive consumption are examined by this committee, which marks out the direction of IOC promotional policy. This committee discusses and approves also the statistics compiled by the Executive Secretariat on production, consumption, imports, exports and stocks of olive oils and table olives. It keeps track of market developments and national policymaking in the olive sector and makes proposals to achieve balanced supply and demand.
Technical Committee: The brief of this committee is to review and discuss the programmes and activities proposed by the Executive Secretariat in the areas of olive oil chemistry and standardisation, research and development, technology transfer, training and customised technical assistance for the member countries.
Standardisation and Chemistry Committee: This Committee seeks the uniformity between national and international legislation relating to the physico-chemical and organoleptic characteristics of olive oils, olive pomace oils and table olives and updates and validates new methods of analysis.
Administrative and Financial Affairs Committee: This committee supervises all administrative affairs, human resources issues and makes the financial control of the IOC. It examines the IOC financial statements and yearly audit and analyses the draft budgets proposed by the Executive Secretariat. It is also responsible for developing and updating all IOC financial procedures.
Advisory Committee on Olive Oil and Table Olives: This committee is a fundamental talking partner for the Council of Members. Its representatives are drawn from all the branches of the olive sector in the member countries: producers, processors, marketers and consumers. It was established to voice the opinions of business circles and to help the Executive Secretariat to find effective solutions to any issues.
IOC Chair
The Council of Members elects a chairperson who serves a one-year term of office, which is rotated among the IOC Members. The chairperson plays a vital part in the life of the Organisation and carries out many duties, most importantly presiding over meetings and sessions and representing the IOC legally. A vice-chair is also elected each year and succeeds to the chair the following year. Jordan presides the IOC in 2023.
Executive Secretariat
The IOC is served by a Secretariat headed by an Executive Director, who is assisted by senior officials and other staff. The Executive Secretariat is the operative arm of the IOC, implementing its decisions and strategy and serving the needs of its Members. It is made up of five Units: Promotion and Economic Affairs Unit, Technical Unit, Chemistry & Standardisation Unit, Administrative Affairs & HR Unit and Financial Management Unit.
Administrative Management and Human Resources Unit: attends to administrative, logistic and staff affairs.
Standardisation and Research Unit: develops and harmonises standards and methods of physico–chemical and sensory analysis for olive oils and table olives in addition to industry management guides; collaborates with the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other standards-related bodies; oversees an annual proficiency programme for chemical and sensory testing laboratories wishing to obtain IOC recognition; organises the annual IOC Mario Solinas Quality Award[4] aimed at showcasing excellence in extra virgin olive oils and other institutional IOC-supported national competitions; coordinates an olive oil quality control programme in import markets;[5] recognises and coordinates training activities for chemical laboratories and sensory panels working on olive oils and table olives; coordinates research activities in relevant areas of study.
Economy and Promotion Unit: compiles and releases economic data and world statistics on olive oils and table olives, coordinates Economic and Advisory Committee meetings and working groups and conducts international surveys and economic research. It also coordinates promotional campaigns, runs a grant-funding programme for promotional activities, prepares information material, participates in promotional events and produces OLIVAE, the official scientific journal of the IOC.
Financial Management Unit: responsible for budgetary and financial aspects.
Olive growing, Olive Oil Technology and Environment Unit: encourages research and development and promotes the dissemination of technology and training to modernise olive growing and the olive products industry, improve product quality, protect the environment and reduce costs; carries out R&D projects; organises courses and seminars; publishes practical guides and manuals; holds training initiatives and runs a grant-funding scheme for extension and technical assistance activities.
IOC trade standards
Some very important aspects of the IOC work is to promote consumer confidence, stimulate international trade and to prevent fraud. The IOC has two trade standards:
for edible fruit (called table olives) and derivative products.
International cooperation
Part of the remit of the IOC is to ensure compliance with the latest food technology standards by working very closely with leading chemists from its member countries who contribute their knowledge and expertise.
It also cooperates with other international organisations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or the Codex Alimentarius Commission in order to ensure their testing methods and standards remain updated and compatible or comparable with the standards of other relevant agencies.
Standard naming practice for oils and table olives
To avoid confusion IOC Members are committed to prohibiting the use of any product names other than those explicitly specified in the IOC standard.
The olive oil standard fixes the names and definitions of the different categories of olive oils and olive pomace oils as well the quality and purity criteria for each grade of product.
The table olive standard fixes the names, definitions and requirements for all the common varieties, the pickling or preservative methods as well as trade preparations of table olives such as pastes and decorative presentations.
Classification of olive oils and olive pomace oils
The different categories of olive oils and olive pomace oils are named and defined in the International Agreement and the IOC trade standard.[7]
Olive oil
Olive oil is oil obtained solely from the fruit of the olive tree (Olea europaea L.) which has been extracted mechanically. Oils obtained using solvents or re-esterification processes are excluded as are any mixture with oils of other kinds.[8] Olive oil may be either edible or industrial and is marketed in accordance with the following designations and definitions:[8]
Virgin olive oil is obtained from the fruit of the olive tree solely by mechanical or other physical means under conditions – particularly thermal conditions – that do not lead to alterations in the oil, and which have not undergone any treatment other than washing, decantation, centrifugation and filtration.
Virgin olive oils fit for consumption as they are include:
Extra virgin olive oil: virgin olive oil which has a free acidity (expressed in oleic acid equivalents), of not more than 0.8 grams per 100 grams, and the other characteristics of which correspond to those fixed for this category in the IOC standard.
Virgin olive oil: virgin olive oil which has a free acidity of not more than 2 grams per 100 grams and the other characteristics of which correspond to those fixed for this category in the IOC standard
Ordinary virgin olive oil: virgin olive oil which has a free acidity of not more than 3.3 grams per 100 grams and the other characteristics of which correspond to those fixed for this category in the IOC standard.[note 1]
Lampante virgin olive oil has a free acidity of more than 3.3 grams per 100 grams and/or the organoleptic characteristics and other characteristics of which correspond to those fixed for this category in the IOC standard. They are not suitable for human consumption and are therefore usually refined.
Refined olive oil is obtained from virgin olive oils by refining methods which do not lead to alterations in the initial glyceridic structure. It has a free acidity of not more than 0.3 grams per 100 grams and its other characteristics correspond to those fixed for this category in the IOC standard.[note 2]
Olive oil consists of a blend of refined olive oil and virgin olive oils fit for consumption as they are. It has a free acidity of not more than 1 gram per 100 grams and its other characteristics correspond to those fixed for this category in the IOC standard.[note 3]
Olive pomace oil
Olive pomace oil is obtained by treating olive pomace with solvents or other physical treatments, to the exclusion of oils obtained by re-esterification processes and of any mixture with oils of other kinds. It is marketed in accordance with the following designations and definitions:
Crude olive pomace oil is olive pomace oil whose characteristics correspond to those fixed for this category in the IOC standard. It is intended for refining for use for human consumption, or for technical use.
Refined olive pomace oil is obtained from crude olive pomace oil by refining methods which do not lead to alterations in the initial glyceridic structure. It has a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 0.3 grams per 100 grams and its other characteristics correspond to those fixed for this category in the IOC standard[note 4]
Olive pomace oil is a blend of refined olive pomace oil and virgin olive oils fit for consumption as they are. It has a free acidity of not more than 1 gram per 100 grams and its other characteristics correspond to those fixed for this category in the IOC standard.[note 5] In no case shall this blend be called olive oil.
Notes
↑ This designation may only be sold direct to the consumer if permitted in the country of retail sale. If not permitted, the designation of this product shall comply with the legal provisions of the country concerned.
↑ This designation may only be sold direct to the consumer if permitted in the country of retail sale.
↑ The country of retail sale may require a more specific designation.
↑ This product may only be sold direct to the consumer if permitted in the country of retail sale.
↑ The country of retail sale may require a more specific designation
IOC Mario Solinas Quality Award
The IOC Mario Solinas Quality Award was launched in the year 2000 to reward producers, producer associations and packers for excellence and craftsmanship in the production of extra virgin olive oils. A twin aim is to increase consumer awareness and visibility of the wide range of sensory attributes of the superior extra virgin olive oils found on the marketplace.
Entries are classified in different categories according to their fruitiness and evaluated by IOC-recognised panels which use a 100-point profile sheet to rate their smell, taste, retronasal sensations, harmony, complexity and persistence.
The highest scorers are then assessed by an international panel of judges who pick the first, second and third prize winners in each section of the competition. Winners receive a medal and a diploma. They are also allowed to mention their Award on bottles of extra virgin olive oil belonging to the same batch as the prize winner.
Controversies
The IOC has for long been seen as an independent organism to regulate and promote the sector of olive products, particularly olive oil. However in the early 2000s some controversies became public. In 2002, the European Commission raised issues with Fausto Luchetti, an Italian who held the position of Executive Director of the IOC between 1987 and 2002, in relation to allegations of irregularities in the management of the organization's funds. This quickly forced Luchetti's resignation; he was prosecuted under Spanish national law, rather than at an international tribunal as per Spanish regulations[clarification needed] related to international organisations. The issue was only resolved 13 years later, with Luchetti's complete acquittal; he claimed that the case was made against him to attack the olive oil sector in favor of other vegetable fat products; he claimed that the lobbies of the oilseeds industries were unhappy about the IOC's good results.[9]
During recent years, it has become more and more evident that the major olive oil producing country, Spain, is opposing the second largest world's producer, Italy, to weaken some of the quality parameters in order to foster marketing of lower grades olive oils worldwide. Italy's focus on quality constantly raised conflict in political and technical debates within the IOC and EU. In 2018 and 2019, the efforts of the Spanish industry to attack and belittle the organoleptic method (so-called "panel test") raised Italy's attention. In a meeting hold at the IOC in May 2019, Italy's protests avoided a change that would have diminished the legal value of the organoleptic assessment for public control in the import/export.[10]
In 2016, public protests against the election of a Spanish deputy director were raised by Italy, as it was in contrast with the political agreement made to balance the direction of the agricultural sector within the European Union. These protests became even stronger in summer 2019, when the vote to re-elect for other 4 years the Tunisian Executive Director Abdelladif Ghedira and deputy directors, including the Spanish Jaime Lillo, took place in June 2019 in Mararkesh. Italy protested at the European Union level and the Italian industry protested on the media about the re-election of the Tunisian and Spanish directors who had already led the IOC for 4 years. This caused the abstention of the EU as an IOC member.[11] Shortly after his re-election, Ghedira also dismissed an Italian technician who had a pivotal position in the organization. This move also upset Italian officials and sparked controversy among operators in the sector. According to Italian media reports, several others also criticized some of the issues that emerged during and after the session.[12] The re-election of the same executive of the so-called "Tunisia-Spain axis" raised public protests within the Italian sector, as it was seen as the "death of olive oil quality" ,[13] and that Italy was "expelled" from the IOC in favor of the Tunisian-Spanish management, defined as the "lords of olive oil".[14] An international case was raised by Israel - an IOC member - who claimed that his representative was not allowed to enter in the room for the discussion and therefore they did not recognize the election of the directors. This was the first case in the IOC history in which a member was not allowed to vote. Italian and American newspapers also released the information that a few days after their re-election, the Tunisian and Spanish directors dismissed an Italian technician who had a pivotal position in the organization. This move also upset Italian officials and sparked controversy among operators in the sector, worried that the plan of the newly elected directors was to avoid improvement of the olive oil quality but only fostering their efforts for Spain and Tunisia[15][16][17]
Olive oil is a liquid fat obtained by pressing whole olives, the fruit of Olea europaea, a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin, and extracting the oil.
The olive, botanical name Olea europaea, meaning 'European olive', is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as Olea europaea'Montra', dwarf olive, or little olive. The species is cultivated in all the countries of the Mediterranean, as well as in Australia, New Zealand, North and South America and South Africa. It is the type species for its genus, Olea. The tree and its fruit give their name to the Oleaceae plant family, which also includes species such as lilac, jasmine, forsythia, and the true ash tree.
Three European Union schemes of geographical indications and traditional specialties, known as protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI), and traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG), promote and protect names of agricultural products and foodstuffs, wines and spirits. Products registered under one of the three schemes may be marked with the logo for that scheme to help identify those products. The schemes are based on the legal framework provided by the EU Regulation No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs. This regulation applies within the EU as well as in Northern Ireland. Protection of the registered products is gradually expanded internationally via bilateral agreements between the EU and non-EU countries. It ensures that only products genuinely originating in that region are allowed to be identified as such in commerce. The legislation first came into force in 1992. The purpose of the law is to protect the reputation of the regional foods, promote rural and agricultural activity, help producers obtain a premium price for their authentic products, and eliminate the unfair competition and misleading of consumers by non-genuine products, which may be of inferior quality or of different flavour. Critics argue that many of the names, sought for protection by the EU, have become commonplace in trade and should not be protected.
In Spain, the denominación de origen is part of a regulatory geographical indication system used primarily for foodstuffs such as cheeses, condiments, honey, and meats, among others. In wines, it parallels the hierarchical systems of France (1935) and Italy (1963), although Rioja (1925) and Jerez (1933) preceded the full system. In foods, it performs a similar role, regulation of quality and geographical origin of products from Spain. There are five other designated categories solely for wine and a further three specifically covering food and condiments, all recognised by the European Union (EU). In Catalonia, two further categories – labelled A and Q – cover traditional Catalan artisan food products, but were not recognised by the EU as of 2007. In recent decades, the concept of the denominación de origen has been adopted by other countries, primarily in Latin America. In 2016, the use of the Denominación de Origen (DO) for wines was registered as a European Union Protected Designations of Origin/Denominación de Origen Protegida (PDO/DOP), but the traditional Portuguese term of DO can still be used legally on labels.
Saponification value or saponification number represents the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) required to saponify one gram of fat under the conditions specified. It is a measure of the average molecular weight of all the fatty acids present in the sample in form of triglycerides. The higher the saponification value, the lower the fatty acids average length, the lighter the mean molecular weight of triglycerides and vice versa. Practically, fats or oils with high saponification value are more suitable for soap making.
In chemistry, acid value is a number used to quantify the acidity of a given chemical substance. It is the quantity of base, expressed as milligrams of KOH required to neutralize the acidic constituents in 1 gram of a sample. The acid value measures the acidity of water-insoluble substances like oils, fats, waxes and resins, which do not have a pH value.
Olive oil extraction is the process of extracting the olive oil present in olive drupes. Olive oil is produced in the mesocarp cells, and stored in a particular type of vacuole called a lipo vacuole, i.e., every cell contains a tiny olive oil droplet. Olive oil extraction is the process of separating the oil from the other fruit contents. It is possible to attain this separation by physical means alone, i.e., oil and water do not mix, so they are relatively easy to separate. This contrasts with other oils that are extracted with chemical solvents, generally hexane. The first operation when extracting olive oil is washing the olives, to reduce the presence of contaminants, especially soil which can create a particular flavor effect called "soil taste".
The smoke point, also referred to as the burning point, is the temperature at which an oil or fat begins to produce a continuous bluish smoke that becomes clearly visible, dependent upon specific and defined conditions. Smoke point values can vary greatly, depending on factors such as the volume of oil utilized, the size of the container, the presence of air currents, the type and source of light as well as the quality of the oil and its acidity content, otherwise known as free fatty acid (FFA) content. The more FFA an oil contains, the quicker it will break down and start smoking. The lower the value of FFA, the higher the smoke point. However, the FFA content typically represents less than 1% of the total oil and consequently renders smoke point a poor indicator of the capacity of a fat or oil to withstand heat.
Carapelli is an Italian food company, currently owned by Deoleo, S.A, based in Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, which is a small town in the Metropolitan City of Florence, most famous for its extra virgin olive oil. The company was started as a home business in 1893 by Cesira and Costantino Carapelli. Other members of the Carapelli family joined the business and the company rapidly grew in size and popularity, to become the most modernised food company in Italy by the 1940s. Today, Carapelli Firenze SpA is the leading Italian extra virgin olive oil company where 30% of its production is exported to Europe and the Americas.
Bertolli is a brand of Italian food products produced by multiple companies around the world with the trademark owned by Mizkan Holdings. Originating as a brand of extra-virgin olive oil, in which it was the global market leader, pasta sauces and ready meals are now sold under the brand name as well.
Quality wines produced in specified regions is a quality indicator used within European Union wine regulations. The QWpsr category identifies wines with protected geographical indications and protected designations of origin. The European Union regulates and defines the status of "quality wines" according to production method, management, and geographical location. Its original, fundamental role is in differentiating quality wines from table wines, broadly in line with the system traditionally employed by the French government, amended to account for the preferences and methodology of Italian, German, and other growers in the EU.
Olive oil regulation and adulteration are complex issues overseen and studied by various governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, and private researchers across the world. The most frequent type of adulteration is that oil of lower quality is mixed into olive oil.
Olive pomace oil is olive oil that is extracted from olive pulp after the first press. Once the mechanical oil extraction of olive oil is complete, approximately 5–8% of the oil remains in the pulp, which then needs to be extracted with the help of solvents, an industrial technique used in the production of most other edible oils including canola, peanut, and sunflower. Although the oil extracted in this manner is still olive oil, at retail it may not simply be called "olive oil". This is because the International Olive Council defines olive oil as "the oil obtained solely from the fruit of the olive tree, to the exclusion of oils obtained using solvents or re-esterification processes".
Aprutino pescarese PDO is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) olive oil, produced in the province of Pescara, in the regions of Abruzzo. It is among the first group of Italian extra virgin olive oils to gain the PDO.
Sabina is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) that applies to the extra virgin olive oil produced in the Sabina region. This area approximately covers the territory originally occupied by the ancient Sabines tribe in the Province of Rome and the Province of Rieti. It is considered to be the first Italian PDO to gain the status, later being followed by Aprutino Pescarese, Brisighella, Collina di Brindisi and Canino.
COCERAL is a European association, representing the trade in cereals, rice, feedstuffs, oilseeds, olive oil, oils and fats and agrosupply.
The North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA) is a trade association of producers, packagers and importers of olive oil. The organization was established in 1989.
Masía el Altet is a family-owned estate that dates back to the 18th century. The building is catalogued by the Valencian Community as "Cultural Patrimony-Building".
Olive oil contains small amounts of free fatty acids. Free acidity is an important parameter that defines the quality of olive oil. It is usually expressed as a percentage of oleic acid in the oil. As defined by the European Commission regulation No. 2568/91 and subsequent amendments, the highest quality olive oil must feature a free acidity lower than 0.8%. Virgin olive oil is characterized by acidity between 0.8% and 2%, while lampante olive oil features a free acidity higher than 2%. The increase of free acidity in olive oil is due to free fatty acids that are released from triglycerides.
The Olive oil raids of 2023 in Europe refers to a coordinated law enforcement effort named Operation OPSON by Spanish, Italian police and Europol to combat a significant food fraud operation involving the production and sale of counterfeit extra virgin olive oil. This operation, uncovered by officials, involved the production of over 260,000 liters of olive oil falsely labeled as high-quality and extra virgin but deemed "unfit for consumption" by the experts.
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