International News/Trends

Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and the Environment has teamed up with the organization Ibercaja y Zeytum Servicios Oleotécnicos to create an olive oil educational program aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of olive oil. The first course runs from January to May at the Centro Cultural de Ibercaja, and consists of five theoretical and practical sessions. Each session allows students to discover the different benefits, aromas and flavors of the main varieties of olive oil through a process of comprehensive sensory analysis.

For the second year in a row, Britain’s annual Taste of London gastronomical event will feature the European Olive Oil Program. The campaign organizers hope its presence at the festival will help spawn increased interest in the so-called ‘liquid gold’. Olive oil, particularly that of Spanish origin, has grown increasingly popular among the Brits in recent years, with sales increasing by 17% since 2009. More than 50,000 are expected to attend the month-long Taste of London event, providing country-wide promotion for European EVOO. Any olive oil producers taking part in the Australia Day promotional events in the UK this year – and if not, why aren’t we? – Ed.

A 20% hike in olive oil imports by Brazil, 11% by the EU, 7% by the USA and 5% by Canada offset falls in Japan (-12%) and Australia (-10%), according to the International Olive Council’s figures for the 2010/11 crop year. Released in the IOC’s December newsletter, the figures show that the year from October 2010 to September 2011 was also notable for significant drops in reported producer prices. By December 2011 the producer price for extra virgin olive oil in Italy had fallen to €2.43/kg, down 18% on December 2010 and 40% from last summer’s peak.

Registrations are now open for the 2012 8th China International Exhibition of Olive Oil & Edible Oil (Oil China 2012), being held in Beijing from 23-25 April 2012. Oil China 2011 attracted 100 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions, showcasing more than 200 brands of medium-to-high-end edible oils (including olive oil) to 7000 trade visitors from 30 countries. The China International Olive Oil Competition is also held during the exhibition. Olive oil consumption continues to grow dramatically in China, presenting positive export marketing opportunities for Australian and New Zealand producers. More information email [email protected]

The need for more transparency in the olive oil market and for uniformity on olive oil tariff codes were among key issues discussed at the 99th session of the International Olive Council’s Council of Members, held at the IOC’s Madrid headquarters from November 21-25. IOC Executive Director Jean-Louis Barjol said that actions in response to these issues would include a new data base of historical prices and a joint project with the World Customs Organization on the harmonization of tariff codes. As it stands, the WCO classifications vary from the IOC ones and do not differentiate between virgin extra and virgin olive oil. Are we perhaps starting to see the global industry marching to the same drum – Ed?

Five years ago the European Union nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) became law. Around the bloc, hopeful EU healthy foods and supplements stakeholders submitted more than 44,000 health claim applications.

How to demonstrate health benefits among healthy human beings? That is the challenge new European Union health claim laws have set contract research organisations (CROs) and others involved in trial design. A tough challenge yes, but not an insurmountable one, say two of Europe’s leading experts in the area.