International News/Trends

Sweden may follow countries such as Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and Austria, and implement legislation to limit the use of trans fats in foods, according to local media.
Let’s hope the movement continues across the globe, and reflects in increased sales of healthful olive oil to replace all the banned trans fats – Ed.

Moroccan olive oil producers say Spain should not be so scared of a wider EU-Morocco free trade deal – at least for now – because the United States market is their main target. Spain’s olive oil sector is in furore over the plan, which would eliminate an EU customs duty (currently about €1.25 per kilo) on Moroccan olive oil and restrict to 2000 tons the amount of EU oil allowed to enter Morocco tariff-free. The European Parliament ratified the proposal earlier this month by 369 votes to 225, with most of its Spanish members voting no. There is now talk of a Spanish appeal to Europe’s Court of Justice.

Food control authorities, police forces and regulatory bodies have gathered in Brussels this week, in the hope of boosting their efforts against food crime in the European Union (EU). The EC Conference on Combatting Food Crime comes after last year’s Europol-led operation, which saw tonnes of illegal foods seized.

The Indian domestic olive oil segment is growing by about 50% per annum and the growth rate is expected to increase further. The main reasons for its growth are health awareness and acceptance of olive oil as a cooking medium among people. India’s olive oil space, which was estimated at 2,800 tonnes in 2010, grew to 4,000 tonnes in 2011 and in 2012 is pegged to touch 6,000 tonnes — valued at roughly Rs 350 crore. This includes both massage and edible olive oil segments.
So if you’re thinking about exporting … Ed

California’s ripe olive growers have a significant impact on the state’s economy, yielding nearly $493.6 million in annual economic activity – or nearly $1.4 million each day of the year – as a result of grower spending, according to a newly released report commissioned by the California Olive Committee (COC) and conducted by Tootelian & Associates.

Olive oil has been getting a lot of bad press lately. Thanks to the release of Tom Mueller’s book, Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil, recent allegations of fraud in Italy and Spain, and of substandard oil in Australia, its quality has been called into question globally. Olive Oil Times recently asked the International Olive Council what it is doing to prevent fraud and protect olive oil’s image.

The Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered an alleged maker of fake Goya Olive oil. The discovery of the shop in Oja-tutu in the the Kwara State capital followed a two-day enforcement by the agency. The agency said its regulatory officers met the suspects illegally removing and relabelling different brands as well as unbranded vegetable oil products with fake Goya Olive oil labels.

Almost sacred in Mediterranean countries like France, Spain, Greece, and Italy, olive oil is not native to India. Used as a baby massage oil until a few years ago, it has slowly acquired a reputation as the heart-healthy oil, making its way into Indian kitchens with rising imports, varieties and brand availability.
New export destination anyone?-Ed