Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)^f1, and in particular Articles 113(1)(a) and 121(h) in conjunction with Article 4 thereof,

Whereas:

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^f2 defines the chemical and organoleptic characteristics of olive and olive-residue oil and stipulates methods of assessing these characteristics.

Under the 10th indent of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91, evaluation of the organoleptic characteristics of virgin olive oil is to be carried out in accordance with the method set out in Annex XII to that Regulation.

A revised method for the organoleptic assessment of virgin olive oil was adopted by the International Olive Council (IOC) in November 2007. This revision updated the descriptions of the positive and negative attributes of virgin olive oil and the description of the method. It also amended the maximum limit for the perception of defects in virgin olive oil.

The IOC’s revised method for the organoleptic assessment of virgin olive oil also specifies the conditions for the optional use, on labels, of certain terms and expressions relating to the organoleptic characteristics of virgin olive oil. Panel heads should be given the possibility of certifying that oil conforms to the definitions given for the use of those terms and expressions.

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

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: