…In this context, the circular in question – in addition to being inapplicable, unconstitutional and contrary to EU law, for the reasons outlined in the previous paragraph – imposes restrictions on the operations of the Italian olive oil industry which, in the author’s view, have no reasonable justification.
Competitors from other Member States , in strict compliance with EU regulations, will be able to continue to correct the defects in certain virgin olive oils by blending them with extra virgin olive oils and marketing them as such — even in Italy (!) — as the final products do indeed meet the higher quality requirements.
Prohibiting the blending of the two categories of oil is undoubtedly an excellent idea , in the author’s view, for improving the guarantees of the superior quality of extra virgin olive oil. However, this idea must be supported by the European legislator , whose exclusive competence in this sector has been underestimated in both the ECA report and the circular under consideration…
