Shortcomings in EU olive oil controls

Controls on olive oil within the European Union show shortcomings. This is evident from a new special report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA). Although olive oil is a heavily regulated product, auditors say the rules are not applied equally thoroughly everywhere. This can affect quality, safety, and traceability across the European supply chain.

Quality checks not always fully carried out

The EU has an extensive legal framework for olive oil, with requirements for labeling, category classification, and food safety. Member States are responsible for carrying out these controls. The ECA finds, however, that some countries do not meet the minimum number of mandatory checks or perform laboratory analyses incompletely. Parts of the market are also sometimes excluded from risk-based inspections.

Most identified cases of non-compliance relate to quality deterioration of olive oil. These are mainly detected through organoleptic assessments by tasting panels. Factors such as long best-before dates and certain production practices play a role. In addition, the Court points to a lack of clarity in EU rules, including those on blending oils from different harvest years or categories. Member States apply differing interpretations in this area.

“Consumers must be able to trust the quality and authenticity of the olive oil they buy,” says ECA Member Joëlle Elvinger. “The EU does have strict rules, but they are not always fully applied.”

Limited checks on imports and traceability

The EU imports around nine percent of its annual olive oil production. According to the auditors, checks for pesticide residues and other contaminants in imported olive oil are either not carried out or only sporadic. For contaminants other than pesticides, EU requirements are also less clearly defined.

Traceability of olive oil is also not always watertight. This is particularly the case for products originating from multiple Member States or with a mixed EU and non-EU origin, where it can be difficult to fully establish provenance. While the EU has set traceability requirements, it has not specified how and when Member States must verify them.

Relevance for trade and processing

Although the Netherlands does not produce olive oil, it does play a role in import, storage, bottling, and distribution. The ECA examined Belgium as a non-producing Member State and identified differences in control practices there. The report shows that, even outside producing countries, continued attention is needed for oversight, reporting, and compliance within the olive oil supply chain.

Ec.europa.eu