Australian olive oil growers must look further afield for official Extra Virgin certification if they require it this year. The only tasting panel in Australasia trained in International Olive Council (IOC) procedures which has been used to certify olive oils as extra virgin has not been recognised by the international body in 2019.
The NSW Oil Testing Service conducted by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries in Wagga Wagga has been advised by the IOC that while the laboratory has been accredited for 2019,their tasting panel will not be accredited to determine extra virgin status or other grades in 2019. The accreditation for the Sensory Panel is reviewed once every year and the panel cannot reapply for accreditation until 2020.
The Wagga Wagga NSW Oil Testing Service had been accredited by IOC for laboratory olive oil testing services in Australia since 2000, and for sensory evaluation since 2004.
No other laboratories in Australia offer sensory analysis or are accredited by the IOC.
We contacted a past leader of an IOC panel who wished to remain anonymous and we asked how this process might have worked. “Like all inter-laboratory tests, they send you samples and ask for your panels’ classification. Is it Extra virgin, Virgin, or Lampante? It’s a ring test. If your panel doesn’t agree with the deliberations of the majority of other panels, and particularly those of a designated group of very mature and very experienced panels out of Spain and Italy then you’re out”.
What happens for 2019 sensory analysis testing?
No other laboratories in Australia offer sensory analysis that are recognised by the IOC.
While the NSW DPI panel has the experience to offer an expert opinion as to the classification of an olive oil both analytically and sensorially, if producers are to comply with a legally-enforceable International standard in 2019 they will need to seek the results from a taste panel recognised by the IOC located outside of Australia.
The nearest IOC Accredited Sensory Panels are located in Argentina, Chile, Japan, Uruguay or USA. See the list below.
Olive levy relief fund to subsidise taste testing?
Significant levy monies have been obtained from olive growers for over five years. Maybe Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) can step forward and offer everyday Australian olive growers and particularly exporters a short-term official taste testing subsidy so that they can legally certify their oils as extra virgin.
Olive growers and producers are encouraged to contact HIA or their olive association to find out how this significant industry matter might be addressed using their money.
The names and contact details for AOA directors representing each state are available on the Australian Olive Association’s website (scroll to the bottom of the page).
And here is a list of the IOC accredited panels:
Argentine – Argentina
- María Sol Molina Laboratorio de aceites y grasas EEA Catamarca – INTA Ruta 33 – Km 4,5. Sumalao, Valle Viejo CATAMARCA Tel/fax 54-3833441323/441192 e.mail: molina.maria@inta.gob.ar
- Susana Mattar Adriana Turcato UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DE CUYO Avda. José Ignacio de la Roza 15165400 RIBADAVIA – SAN JUAN Tel: 54-2644292392 Fax: 54-2644292310 E.mail: susanamattar@yahoo.com.ar – aturcato1@yahoo.es
- Elena Verónica Araniti Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias – Universidad Nacional de Cuyo Almirante Brown 500-Chacras de Coria-Luján de Cuyo M5528AHB MENDOZA Tel: 54- 2614135010 int. 1304 e-mail: earaniti@fca.uncu.edu.ar
Brésil – Brasil
- Guajara Oliveira Associación Rio-Grandenses de Olivicultures – ARGOS Rua Siqueira Couto, 93 – sala 302– LJUÍ – RS Brasil CEP: 998.700-00 Tel: 55 3332-9472Email: guajara.iju@terra.com.br; argos.oliva@gmail.com
Chili – Chile
- Sara Dicenta Panel de Cata de Aceite de Oliva Virgen de la UTEM Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Matemática y del Medio Ambiente Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, UTEM Dieciocho, nº 161 8340422 Santiago de Chile Tel: 56 227877500 Email: saradicenta@opalum.es
États-Unis – Estados Unidos – USA
- Patricia Darragh California Olive Oil Council 801 Camelia St D, BERKELEY, CA 94710 Tel: +1 888-718-9830 Email. oliveoil@cooc.com
- Sue Langstaff Applied Sensory, LLC PMB 126 5055 Business Center Dr. STE 108 FAIRFIELD, CA 94534 Tel: +1 707-344-0254 Email: sue@appliedsensory.com
Japon – Japón – Japan
- Hideaki SHIBATA Shozu Olive Research Institute Agricultural Experiment Station Kagawa Prefectural Government 2519-2, Ikeda, Shodoshima-cho Shozu-gun, KAGAWA, 761-4301 Tel: 81879-75-0033 email: vj4555@pref.kagawa.lg.jp; jolive1908@gmail.com
Uruguay
- Adriana Gámbaro Ana Claudia Ellis Laboratorio de Evaluación Sensorial Facultad de Química – UdelaR Avda. Gral. Flores 2124 11800 MONTEVIDEO Tel : 598 29245735Fac : 598 29249381 Email: adri.gambaro@gmail.com – acellis@fq.edu.uy
The full list can be viewed at: http://www.
Horticulture Innovation Australia – Bradley Mills – Bradley.mills@horticulture.