Last season, the olive oil sector had a record harvest of 1.8 million tons, which led to a drop in prices. Therefore, and given the eventuality of similar crops in the future, it is essential to be able to expand markets, inside and outside the European Union.
Within the framework of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Minister Planas has informed that the consolidated text that is being negotiated in Brussels, at the request of Spain, already reflects the possibility of applying regulatory measures through the Interprofessional, in the same way as the wine sector (article 167).
Likewise, the minister explained to the sector that, within the framework of the Strategic Plan of the CAP that the Ministry is developing with autonomous communities and the sector, it will propose the creation of a specific sectoral program for olive oil and table olives. In this way, the three major productive sectors in Spain such as wine, oil and fruits and vegetables will have a sector program in which special emphasis will be placed on promotion.
It is also necessary to establish self-regulation measures, according to the minister. In this regard, the European Commission activated the private storage of olive oil, at the proposal of the Spanish Government. After three tenders, the result is positive, since 171,000 tons have been withdrawn, which will favor a change in market dynamics.
Minister Planas has pointed out that the positive effects of this third tender are already beginning to be noticed by stopping the price drop that has been occurring in recent weeks and months.
In this area, the Ministry works with Agrifood Cooperatives to promote the voluntary self-regulation measure that is permanent, to avoid price volatility, in order to be in force in the next campaign.
It has also been discussed about the future standard of quality and traceability of olive oil, which is constituted as a factor of guarantee and tranquility for the sector, since the quality allows to increase the added value and the competitiveness of the product.
Within the framework of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Minister Planas has informed that the consolidated text that is being negotiated in Brussels, at the request of Spain, already reflects the possibility of applying regulatory measures through the Interprofessional, in the same way as the wine sector (article 167).
Likewise, the minister explained to the sector that, within the framework of the Strategic Plan of the CAP that the Ministry is developing with autonomous communities and the sector, it will propose the creation of a specific sectoral program for olive oil and table olives. In this way, the three major productive sectors in Spain, wine, oil, as well as fruits and vegetables, will have a sectoral program in which special emphasis will be placed on promotion.
In relation to the situation created after the imposition of tariffs by the United States for the Airbus case, the flat minister has pointed out that the Government insists on defending that agri-food products remain outside the disputes related to other sectors.
The minister has specified that the European Commission will continue to insist to make a greater effort to compensate the losses that are occurring in the affected sectors, for totally unjustifiable causes.
In the case of the black olive, the Government has repeatedly expressed its absolute disagreement with the decisions of the US Government. Given the need for specific support to the sector, the EU has allocated 2.5 million euros for promotion in 2019 and another 2.5 million euros in 2020.
