Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 of 11 July 1991 on the characteristics of olive oil and olive-residue oil and on the relevant methods of analysis2 defines the chemical and organoleptic characteristics of olive and olive-residue oil and stipulates methods of assessing these characteristics. Those methods should be updated on the basis of the opinion of chemical experts and in line with the work carried out within the International Olive Council (hereinafter ‘IOC’).

Pursuant to Article 113(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, Member States are to check whether olive oils and olive-residue oils conform to the marketing standards laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 and are to apply penalties as appropriate. Articles 2 and 2a of Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 provide detailed rules for those conformity checks. Those rules should ensure that olive oil for which a quality standard has been laid down effectively complies with that standard. The rules should be further detailed, including a risk analysis. For the purpose of those conformity checks, the term ‘marketed olive oil’ should be defined.

Experience has shown certain risks of fraud impeding the full effect of the consumer protection offered by Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91. Holders of olive oil should therefore keep entry and withdrawal for each category of oils in a register. In order to avoid excessive administrative burdens without undermining the objectives of the olive oil register, the gathering of information should be limited until the stage of bottling of olive oil.

In order to ensure the follow-up and evaluate the measures of Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91, Member States should notify the Commission not only of the national implementing measures, but also report results of the conformity checks.

In order to continue the process of harmonisation with the international standards laid down by the IOC certain methods of analysis laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 should be updated. Consequently, the method of analysis provided for in Annex XVIII to that Regulation should be replaced by a more efficient method. It is also appropriate to remedy some inconsistencies and imperfections of the methods of analysis provided for in Annex IX thereto.

A transitional period is needed for Member States in order to apply the new rules laid down by this Regulation.

The Commission has developed an information system that allows managing documents and procedures electronically in its own internal working procedures and in its relations with the authorities involved in the common agricultural policy. It is considered that the notification obligations provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 can be fulfilled via that system in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 792/2009 of 31 August 2009 laying down detailed rules for the Member States’ notification to the Commission of information and documents in implementation of the common organisation of the markets, the direct payments’ regime, the promotion of agricultural products and the regimes applicable to the outermost regions and the smaller Aegean islands3.

Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,