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The annual sesÂsion of the International Olive Council’s Council of Members in Madrid this week will address the future of the orgaÂniÂzaÂtion, with repÂreÂsenÂtaÂtives from 18 memÂber counÂtries and a U.S. observer. Topics include disÂcusÂsions on testÂing methÂods, proÂmoÂtion schemes, proÂducÂtion staÂtisÂtics, and other comÂmitÂtee meetÂings.

The future of the International Olive Council is among key topÂics to be disÂcussed at the annual sesÂsion of its deciÂsion-makÂing organ, the Council of Members, in Madrid this week.
Representatives of the IOC’s 18 memÂbers counÂtries are attendÂing the sesÂsion and for the first time are joined by a repÂreÂsenÂtaÂtive of the United States — believed to be a Madrid-based employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture — attendÂing as an observer.
Running from November 25 to 29, the 101st regÂuÂlar sesÂsion of the counÂcil includes a range of meetÂings of speÂcialÂist comÂmitÂtees.
On Monday and Tuesday the Working Group on the Future of the IOC was to conÂtinue debatÂing the future of the IOC in the lead-up to the expiry of the 2005 International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives at the end of next year.
Outcome of work on new testÂing methÂods and new proÂmoÂtion schemes also on the agenda
Among other topÂics to be disÂcussed at the counÂcil are:
- the proÂducÂtion, conÂsumpÂtion and trade staÂtisÂtics for olive oil and table olives for 2011/12 (final), 2012/13 (proÂviÂsional) and 2013/14 (estiÂmated) are to be reported to the IOC’s Economic Committee by the Executive Secretariat
- proÂducer prices and how curÂrency aspects affect interÂnaÂtional trade in olive oil will be analysed by the same comÂmitÂtee
- the conÂcluÂsions reached at meetÂings of the workÂing groups on IOC staÂtisÂtics and the harÂmonised tarÂiff codes sysÂtem will be preÂsented
- proÂmoÂtion activÂiÂties schedÂuled for 2014 and those carÂried out since the last, extraÂorÂdiÂnary sesÂsion of the IOC will be reviewed by the Promotion Committee
- the proÂposed approval of a grant for generic proÂmoÂtional activÂiÂties to boost conÂsumpÂtion in IOC memÂber counÂtries will be put to Committee memÂbers
- the outÂcome of work on new testÂing methÂods and of the olive oil authenÂtifiÂcaÂtion semÂiÂnar, the Mario Solinas Quality Award, the conÂcluÂsions of the workÂing group on qualÂity stratÂegy, the harÂmonÂiÂsaÂtion of the Codex and IOC table olive stanÂdards and the IOC labÂoÂraÂtory and panel recogÂniÂtion scheme will be among matÂters reported by the Executive Secretariat to the Technical Committee
- results from sevÂeral ongoÂing projects (irriÂgaÂtion manÂageÂment (IRRIGAOLIVO), genetic resources (RESGEN), pilot demonÂstraÂtion olive nursÂeries, world olive germplasm colÂlecÂtions, carÂbon footÂprint) will be shared with the same comÂmitÂtee
- the IOC budÂget, the conÂtriÂbuÂtions of the memÂber counÂtries, and proÂposed amendÂments to adminÂisÂtraÂtive proÂceÂdures are among items to be disÂcussed by the Financial Committee
Welcome to new IOC memÂber Uruguay
On Thursday evening the IOC is hostÂing a World Olive Day recepÂtion for delÂeÂgaÂtions, the press and the diploÂmatic corps.
The pleÂnary sesÂsion on Friday will include an offiÂcial welÂcome to Uruguay, the IOC’s newest Member, after which IOC Executive Director Jean-Louis Barjol will present his activÂity report and the chairs of each IOC comÂmitÂtee, includÂing the IOC Advisory Committee, will report on the outÂcome of their delibÂerÂaÂtions.
The IOC’s 18 memÂbers are Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Croatia, Egypt, the European Union, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay.
Members of the press are not allowed to observe IOC meetÂings.