Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1604Show full title

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1604

of 27 September 2019

amending Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 on the characteristics of olive oil and olive-residue oil and on the relevant methods of analysis

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007(1), and in particular point (d) of the first paragraph of Article 91 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91(2) defines the physico-chemical and organoleptic characteristics of olive oil and olive-pomace oil and lays down methods for assessing those characteristics.

(2) The methods and the limit values for the characteristics of oils are regularly updated on the basis of the opinion of chemical experts and in line with the work carried out within the International Olive Council (IOC).

(3) In order to ensure the implementation at Union level of the most recent international standards established by the IOC, certain methods of analysis set out in Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 should be updated.

(4) The IOC Trade Standard was amended as regards the expression of the limit of the free acidity, peroxide value, organoleptic evaluation (median of the defect and median of the fruity attribute) and the difference between ECN42 (HPLC) and ECN42 (theoretical calculation) for consistency with the precision values of the analytical method.

(5) In accordance with Article 2a(5) of Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 Member States are to verify whether an olive oil sample is consistent with the category declared by checking the characteristics set out in Annex I to that Regulation either in any order or following the order set out in a decision tree set out in Annex Ib thereto.

(6) In view of recent developments, it is appropriate to update the tables in Annex Ib to Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 and its appendix as appropriate. It also appears that the term ‘flowchart’ is more appropriate than the term ‘decision tree’ in view of the content of that Annex Ib.

(7) Point 9.4 of Annex XII to Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 defines the median of the defects as the median of the defect perceived with the greatest intensity. In the context of counter-assessments and given that different panels have to assess the conformity of the oil, it should be clarified that the decision relating to the conformity of the characteristics of an oil with the declared category is solely related to the value of the median of the main defect, irrespective of its nature.

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

(9) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

(1)

OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671.

(2)

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 analysis (OJ L 248, 5.9.1991, p. 1).