The table olives premier quality standard

Since December 16th, the table olive has  quality standard approved by the Council of Ministers, together with that of flour, semolina and other products from the grinding of cereals and beer and malt beverages, at the proposal of the Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment, and Health, Social Services and Equality.

With these new rules, the national regulations on food quality in these sectors are updated, taking into account national and international legislation, the interests of the sector and the new regulations on food information provided to the consumer. Its objective is to contribute to the innovation and technological development of the sector.

The standard for table olives includes mechanized harvesting, new products and new forms of processing, as well as the voluntary indication of the variety in the labeling

In the standard of flour, meal and other products of cereal grinding, a framework is established that regulates the conditions that must meet the products intended for both the final consumer and those sold from company to company for the preparation of products.

The standard for flour includes the updating of definitions and the incorporation of new denominations, highlighting “wheat flour” and “brown wheat flour”

In the beer and malt drinks standard, beer is defined as a food made from natural raw materials.

In the case of beer, are included new concepts (brewer’s wort) and products consecrated by use but not defined until this moment (clear and malt drink)

The definitions of pre-existing products, the requirements of food information provided to the consumer and the analytical methods applicable to different types of beer and malt beverages are also updated. It emphasizes the incorporation of the concept of “craftsmanship” and the possibility of incorporating new ingredients, such as fruits or spices.

With the updating of the quality regulations, the competitiveness of the sector is improved, fair competition between operators is guaranteed, and all producers are granted the same conditions. At the same time the regulation is updated, adapting the definitions and denominations to the current consumer trends and extending the regulated products.

In this way, Spanish Government continues with its work on modernizing food standards, in order to create a suitable framework for improving the competitiveness of the Spanish food industry and diversifying the supply of food products in the market.

Source: MAPAMA