European farmers' rights organisation warns of fraud risks in the olive oil sector

“It is imperative to act quickly to preserve the integrity and quality of this iconic product, guaranteeing its future in an increasingly competitive global market”, are the words of Fernando do Rosário, president of the working group dedicated to the olive oil sector at COPA- COGECA, organization that represents the interests of European cooperatives and agricultural producers. The statement was made in light of the increase in olive oil prices that has been recorded at European level and which has generated alarm due to the risks of fraud in the market. The EU is the world's largest producer of olive oil, with around 65% of production. However, COPA-COGECA highlights that “due to adverse weather conditions, recent harvests have been poor”. In 2022/2023, olive oil production in Europe decreased by around 40% compared to previous years and, in this period, fell by 25% compared to the average of the last five years: this trend is reflected globally, with a decline in the production ...