GI for extra virgin olive oil 

By Estudio Chaloupka

Argentina's Minister of Economy and Energy, Enrique Vaquié, led a meeting with representatives from the olive industry of the Mendoza province, in a new step towards the recognition of the Geographical Indication (GI) Olive Oil from Mendoza.

The application looks to protect a certain type of extra virgin olive oil produced in the Northern region of Mendoza, a province located in the western central part of Argentina with a world famous olive oil production that has been trending upward for the past decade.

As the highest grade of virgin oil, extra virgin olive oil is derived by cold mechanical extraction without use of solvents or refining methods. It contains no more than 0.8% free acidity, and is judged to have a superior taste, having some fruitiness and no defined sensory defects.

Mendoza's GI application is promoted since 2018 by the Mendoza Olive Association (Asolmen) in a joint effort with the Ministry of Economy and Energy. "It is a fundamental and very important step for Mendoza producers," said Armando Manzur, President of Asolmen, during the meeting with Minister Vaquié.

After three years of analysis and research that support the unique typicality of the oils produced in the north of Mendoza, the province could become the first one in Argentina to obtain a GI for olive oil.

The GI recognition is based on Law No. 25380 of 30/11/2000, which sets the legal framework for indications of source and denominations of origin for agricultural and food products, as modified by Law No. 25966 of 17/11/2004. It establishes a system of recognition for geographical indication, which identifies a product as originated from a country, a region or a locality when a defined quality or other characteristics of the product are essentially attributable to that geographical origin.