THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
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), and in particular Articles 113(1)(a) and 121(h) in conjunction with Article 4 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 defines the physical and chemical characteristics of olive oils and olive-residue oils and the methods of analysis of those characteristics. Those methods and the limit values for the characteristics of oils need to be updated on the basis of the opinion of chemical experts and in line with the work carried out within the International Olive Council.
(2)
In particular, since the chemical experts have concluded that the content of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) is a useful parameter of quality for the extra virgin olive oils, it is appropriate to include limit values for those esters as well as a method for the determination of their content.
(3)
In order to allow a period of adjustment to the new standards, to give time for introducing the means of applying them and to avoid disturbance to commercial transactions, the amendments made by this Regulation should apply as from 1 April 2011. For the same reasons, provision should be made for olive oil and olive-residue oils that are legally manufactured and labelled in the Union or legally imported into the Union and released for free circulation before that date to be marketed until all stocks are used up.
(4)
Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(5)
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: