International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives (2015)

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives 2015.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2019/848 on the conclusion on behalf of the European Union of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015.

CONTENT: the Council decided to approve, on behalf of the Union, the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives 2015.

The agreement was adopted on 9 October 2015 by representatives of 24 Member States of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and two intergovernmental organisations, within the framework of the United Nations Conference for the Negotiation of a Successor Agreement to the 2005 International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives.

The Agreement was signed on behalf of the Union on 28 November 2016 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, subject to its conclusion at a later date. It entered into force provisionally on 1 January 2017.

The International Agreement has several objectives, namely to:

- promote the standardisation of national and international legislation on the physico-chemical and organoleptic characteristics of olive oils, olive-pomace oils and table olives in order to avoid any barriers to trade;

- improve knowledge of the composition and quality characteristics of olive products, with a view to consolidating international standards for product quality control, international trade, consumer rights protection and the prevention of fraudulent practices;

- coordinate studies and research on the nutritional values and other intrinsic properties of olive oil and table olives;

- facilitate the exchange of information on international trade;

- encourage research and development;

- study the interaction between olive growing and the environment, in particular with a view to promoting environmental conservation and sustainable production;

- promote technology transfer and training activities in the olive products sector;

- promote the protection of geographical indications for olive products;

- promote the consumption of olive products and support activities at levels that promote the dissemination of scientific information on the nutritional, health and other properties of olive oil and table olives.

The Agreement establishes a decision-making body, called the ‘Council of Members’, which exercises all the powers and performs all the functions necessary to achieve the objectives of the Agreement. The Commission should be authorised to represent the Union in the Council of Members.

In order to facilitate the adoption of such amendments to the Agreement by the Council of Members and to avoid the risk of not having a Union position, the Commission should be authorised to approve such proposed amendments on behalf of the Union, under specific substantive and procedural conditions.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 3.6.2019.