Spain has approved regulation to improve transparency in the olive oil industry. Image source: Adobe Stock
The Spanish government has approved a Royal Decree to modernise regulations and improve transparency in the olive oil industry, Olive Oil Times wrote.
Proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), the decree would introduce significant changes to reporting obligations, data collection practices and compliance structures affecting producers, processors and operators throughout the olive oil supply chain, the 25 August report said.
A central part of the decree would involve the reform of the Olive Oil Market Information System (SIMO), jointly administered by the ministry and Spain’s autonomous communities, Olive Oil Times wrote.
The revised SIMO framework would require olive mills to submit annual declarations on production volumes by category – extra virgin, virgin and lampante.
As these declarations would need to be submitted before the olive oil went on sale, officials believed it would improve traceability, the report said.
The MAPA was also introducing stricter oversight mechanisms, enhanced traceability requirements and new quality control standards to ensure that olive oil labelled as “extra virgin” or “pure” met the criteria, Olive Oil Times wrote.
Dining and Cooking