Study on the implementation of conformity checks in the olive oil sector throughout the European Union

This report has been prepared by Areté s.r.l. – Research & Consulting in Economics in cooperation with Arcadia Int., Agra CEAS Consulting Ltd and Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (EuropeanOlive oil is considered as a food category at high risk of non-compliances and frauds, due to its high economic value compared to other food products. Conformity checks performed by national competent authorities aim at ensuring that marketing standards for olive oils are complied with on the EU market. This study investigates how conformity checks in the olive oil sector are conducted at Member State level across the EU, to identify the related problems and bottlenecks and to propose solutions to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. Member States generally consider that the EU conformity checks system for olive oils is globally fit for purpose. However, the study identifies some challenges and difficulties in implementing conformity checks on olive oils at Member State level: these derive from national specificities (e.g. multiple competent authorities involved in the system; insufficient funding; lack of skilled staff; etc.), or concern the overall timing to perform the checks and in particular the organoleptic assessment of olive oils through tasting panels. The proposed solutions aim at improving the training of staff, the performance of organoleptic assessment and the labelling of olive oils. Potential solutions to ensure traceability in the olive oil sector are also discussed.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of Marketing Standards contained in the CMO Regulation, the “Breakfast Directives” and CMO secondary legislation. Final report

This report has been prepared by Areté s.r.l. – Research & Consulting in Economics, Agra CEAS Consulting Ltd | IEG Agribusiness intelligence | Informa and Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (European Commission)Marketing standards have been a feature of the CAP since its early days, with a view to taking into account the expectations of consumers and to contributing to the improvement of the economic conditions for the production and marketing of agricultural products, as well as to the improvement of their quality. The evaluation aims at assessing the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value of marketing standards established by Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, by secondary CMO legislation and by the “Breakfast Directives”. Recommendations aimed at addressing the most significant issues emerged from the assessment focus on: i) the need to investigate on the implications of improper use of protected dairy terms (e.g. milk, butter) for marketing plant-based substitutes for dairy products; ii) possible updates to specific provisions concerning poultry meat and olive oil; iii) improving consumer awareness about marketing standards; iv) clarifying to national competent authorities the hierarchical relationship between EU marketing standards and EU legislation on food safety and provision of food information to consumers; v) promoting empirical research on the potential implications of EU marketing standards in terms of increased/reduced food losses and waste; vi) investigating the possible benefits of establishing a harmonised EU definition for cider.Peer reviewe