Date: 2019-11-29Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2019/1987 of 25 November 2019 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Council of Members of the International Olive Council as regards trade standards applying to olive oils and olive pomace oils
Executive Summary:
This Council Decision establishes the European Union's position within the Council of Members of the International Olive Council (IOC) regarding decisions modifying trade standards for olive oils and olive pomace oils. The decision supports revisions to correct editing errors, insert a decision tree for lampante virgin olive oils, and promote international harmonization of standards. The Union is authorized to request postponement of the decision if new scientific or technical information arises.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Objective:** To define the EU's stance on modifying trade standards for olive oils and olive pomace oils within the IOC.
* **Legal Basis:** Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, specifically Article 207(4) and Article 218(9).
* **International Agreement:** The decision relates to the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015.
**Trade Standard Modifications:**
* The EU supports revisions to trade standard COIT.15/NC No 3/Rev. 13.
* Modifications include corrections to editing errors in purity and quality criteria sections.
* Insertion of a new decision tree for lampante virgin olive oils is included.
* Technical adaptations to other IOC methods or documents may be agreed upon by Union representatives without further Council decision if resulting from the main revision.
**Decision-Making Process:**
* The EU's position applies to the IOC's 110th session (November 25-29, 2019).
* It also applies to potential adoption of decisions via exchange of correspondence before the next regular session in June 2020.
**Contingency Measures:**
* If new scientific or technical information emerges, the EU can request postponement of the decision.
Impact Analysis:
**European Union:**
* Impact: The decision ensures the EU's interests are represented in international trade standards for olive oil, potentially affecting Union law and marketing standards.
* Action Required: Representatives must support the standard revision at the IOC session, but may request a postponement if new information arises. Amendments to Commission Regulation EEC No 2568/91 may be required.
**Commission and Member States' Experts:**
* Impact: The decision reflects prior extensive discussions between scientific and technical experts of the Commission and Member States.
* Action Required: Continue to provide scientific and technical expertise as needed.
**International Olive Council Members:**
* Impact: The decision will impact international trade with other members of the IOC.
* Action Required: No action specified in the document.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe. The decision concerns the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the International Olive Council.
International Olive Council: An intergovernmental organization of olive producing and consuming countries. The document concerns trade standards applying to olive oils and olive pomace oils within the Council.
International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015: An agreement signed on behalf of the European Union concerning olive oil and table olives.
Council of Members: A body within the International Olive Council responsible for adopting decisions that modify trade standards applying to olive oils and olive pomace oils.
Regulation EU No 1308/2013: A regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common organization of the markets in agricultural products.
Commission Regulation EEC No 2568/91: A regulation of the European Economic Community concerning the characteristics of olive oil and olive-residue oil and the relevant methods of analysis.
Brussels: The location where the decision was adopted.
F. MOGHERINI: The President of the Council at the time of the decision.
29.11.2019 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 308/95
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2019/1987
of 25 November 2019
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Council of Members of the
International Olive Council as regards trade standards applying to olive oils and olive pomace oils
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article
207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015 (the ‘Agreement’) was signed on behalf of the
Union in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2016/1892 (1) on 18 November 2016 at the United Nations
Headquarters in New York, subject to its conclusion at a later date. The Agreement entered into force provisionally
on 1 January 2017 in accordance with Article 31(2) thereof.
(2) The Agreement was concluded on 17 May 2019 by Council Decision (EU) 2019/848 (2).
(3) Pursuant to Article 7(1) of the Agreement, the Council of Members of the International Olive Council (the ‘Council
of Members’) is to adopt decisions that modify trade standards applying to olive oils and olive pomace oils.
(4) The Council of Members, during its 110th session from 25 November to 29 November 2019, is to adopt a decision
modifying trade standards applying to olive oils and olive pomace oils (the ‘modifying decision’).
(5) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Council of Members, as the
modifying decision to be adopted will have legal effects on the Union as regards international trade with the other
members of the International Olive Council (IOC) and will be capable of decisively influencing the content of Union
law, namely on marketing standards concerning olive oil adopted by the Commission pursuant to Article 75 of
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3).
(6) The modifying decision to be adopted by the Council of Members concerns corrections of editing errors in sections
related to purity criteria and quality criteria and the insertion of a new decision tree for lampante virgin olive oils.
The modifying decision has been extensively discussed between scientific and technical experts of the Commission
and of the Member States on olive oil. It will contribute to the international harmonisation of the olive oil standards
and establish a framework which will ensure fair competition in the trading of products of the olive oil sector. The
modifying decision should therefore be supported, and consequently amendments to Commission Regulation (EEC)
No 2568/91 (4) will be required.
(7) If the adoption of the modifying decision during the 110th session of the Council of Members is postponed as a
result of some Members not being in a position to give their approval, the position set out in the Annex to this
Decision should be taken on behalf of the Union within the framework of a possible procedure for adoption by the
Council of Members by exchange of correspondence, pursuant to Article 10(6) of the Agreement. The procedure
for adoption by exchange of correspondence should be initiated before the next regular session of the Council of
Members in June 2020.
(8) In order to preserve the interests of the Union, the representatives of the Union in the Council of Members should be
allowed to request to postpone the adoption of the modifying decision in the 110th session of the Council of
Members if the relevance of the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf is likely to be affected by new scientific
or technical information presented before or during that session,
(1) Council Decision (EU) 2016/1892 of 10 October 2016 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application
of the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015 (OJ L 293, 28.10.2016, p. 2).
(2) Council Decision (EU) 2019/848 of 17 May 2019 on the conclusion on behalf of the European Union of the International Agreement
on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015 (OJ L 139, 27.5.2019, p. 1).
(3) 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 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671).
(4) 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).L 308/96 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e an Union 29.11.2019
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Council of Members during its 110th session from 25 November
to 29 November 2019, or within the framework of a procedure for adoption of decisions by the Council of Members by an
exchange of correspondence to be initiated before its next regular session in June 2020, as regards trade standards applying
to olive oils and olive pomace oils, is set out in the Annex.
Article 2
If the position referred to in Article 1 is likely to be affected by new scientific or technical information presented before or
during the 110th session of the Council of Members, the Union shall request that the adoption by the Council of Members
of a decision modifying trade standards applying to olive oils and olive pomace oils be postponed until the position of the
Union is established on the basis of that new information.
Article 3
The Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 25 November 2019.
For the Council
The President
F. MOGHERINI29.11.2019 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 308/97
ANNEX
The Union shall support the revision of trade standard COI/T.15/NC No 3/Rev. 13 applying to olive oils and olive pomace
oils at the 110th session of the Council of Members from 25 November to 29 November 2019, or within the framework of
a procedure for adoption of decisions by the Council of Members by an exchange of correspondence to be initiated before
its next regular session in June 2020. That revision will correct editing errors in sections related to purity criteria and
quality criteria and will insert a new decision tree for lampante virgin olive oils.
Technical adaptations to other methods or documents of the IOC may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in
the Council of Members without further decision of the Council if those technical adaptations result from the revision
referred to in the first paragraph.