CCFO29 Agrees to Establish an Electronic Working Group on Olive Oil Data Collection (CXS 33-1981, Section 3.2.3 Footnote (c))

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At the 29th Session of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO29), Members agreed to establish an Electronic Working Group (EWG) to develop a framework for data collection concerning Section 3.2.3 footnote (c) of CXS 33-1981.

The EWG will be chaired by the Syrian Arab Republic and co-chaired by Australia, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the International Olive Council (IOC), reflecting broad international engagement and commitment.

This important outcome builds on the extensive discussions held at Codex Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CCNE12) and reflects the structured regional coordination led through the Arab Codex Initiative, implemented by the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS) in collaboration with the Arab Industrial Development, Standardization and Mining Organization (AIDSMO) and the Regional Coordinator of CCNE, the Sultanate of Oman.

Through organized technical exchanges, coordinated preparatory meetings, and aligned regional contributions, including multiple CRDs, Near East and Arab Members were able to articulate a coherent, science-based and inclusive position, demonstrating how effective regional collaboration can translate into concrete outcomes within the Codex system.

The work ahead will focus on defining data requirements (including sterol composition and complementary quality parameters), identifying analytical approaches, and developing a transparent template for global data submission, recognizing that meaningful data collection will require a multi-season effort.

A strong example of regional collaboration translating into tangible progress within the Codex system.