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The International Olive Council, estabÂlished in 1959 in Madrid, Spain, under the United Nations, is the only interÂnaÂtional interÂgovÂernÂmenÂtal orgaÂniÂzaÂtion focusÂing on olive oil and table olives. Jean-Louis Barjol was appointed as the direcÂtor in January 2011, sucÂceedÂing Mohammed Ouhmad Sbitri, and will lead the orgaÂniÂzaÂtion until December 2014, workÂing towards susÂtainÂable develÂopÂment and addressÂing polÂicy chalÂlenges in the olive indusÂtry.
The International Olive Council is the world’s only interÂnaÂtional interÂgovÂernÂmenÂtal organÂiÂsaÂtion in the field of olive oil and table olives. It was set up in Madrid, Spain, in 1959, under the ausÂpices of the United Nations. It used to be known as the International Olive Oil Council or IOOC until 2006, when its name was changed.
In January, 2011 Jean-Louis Barjol was selected as the direcÂtor of the IOC. Barjol took the place of Mohammed Ouhmad Sbitri, who headed the orgaÂniÂzaÂtion from November 2007 to December 2010. Directorship of the IOC lasts for three years, and Barjol will lead the orgaÂniÂzaÂtion from through December, 2014.
For the past two years, Barjol served as the deputy direcÂtor of the orgaÂniÂzaÂtion, overÂseeÂing the Administrative & Financial and Survey & Assessment diviÂsions. Barjol has been workÂing on geoÂgraphic indiÂcaÂtion quesÂtions, and espeÂcially explorÂing ways to develop areas outÂside of the European Union.
The Council is a deciÂsive player in conÂtributÂing to the susÂtainÂable and responÂsiÂble develÂopÂment of olive growÂing and it serves as a world forum for disÂcussing polÂiÂcyÂmakÂing issues and tackÂling present and future chalÂlenges.
Its curÂrent memÂberÂship includes the leadÂing interÂnaÂtional proÂducÂers and exporters of olive oil and table olives. IOC proÂducer Members account for 98% of world olive proÂducÂtion, located priÂmarÂily in the Mediterranean region.
The IOC is comÂmitÂted to the inteÂgrated, susÂtainÂable develÂopÂment of world olive growÂing. It attempts to transÂlate this comÂmitÂment into tanÂgiÂble advanceÂment for its memÂber counÂtries and, most imporÂtantly, for the ordiÂnary peoÂple who earn their liveliÂhood from the proÂduce of the olive tree.