JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME CODEX COMMITTEE ON FATS AND OILS Twenty-first Session Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, February 2009

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1 Agenda Item 9 CX/FO 09/21/10 JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME CODEX COMMITTEE ON FATS AND OILS Twenty-first Session Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, February 2009 OTHER BUSINESS AND FUTURE WORK PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STANDARD FOR OLIVE OILS AND OLIVE POMACE OILS: CONTENT OF DELTA-7-STIGMASTENOL (PREPARED BY SYRIA) Background At the 20 th Session of the Committee on Fats and Oils, the Delegation of Syria explained that recent survey in Syria had indicated that olive oil from certain regions of Syria did not meet the upper limit of 0.5% of delta-7-stigmastenol in total sterol specified in the Standard. The Delegation further explained that the issue had also been raised at the IOC Council in The Observer from IOC informed the Committee that the issue had been noted by IOC and would be considered when the further data became available. The Delegation of Syria indicated that the data of the results of analysis attached to the Syrian proposal originated from the same source as the data provided to IOC to be included in the recent survey on the level of linolenic acid. The Committee noted that there was no strong support to initiate new work on the revision of the Standard proposed by Syria. The Delegation of Syria expressed its reservation on the decision not to request the Commission for approval of new work at the current session (ALINORM 07/30/17, paras ). Proposal from Syria The following proposal is presented by Syria for consideration by the Committee. The National Codex Committee of Syria (NCCS) would like to extend their thanks to Codex Alimentarius Commission and point out that a special meeting was held to study the Syrian request to raise the level of - 7- stigmastenol in extra virgin Olive oil. A copy of the final report of "The Technical Committee of Fat and Oil" which is a sub division of (NCCS) containing its recommendation, is attached for consideration by the 21 st Session of the Committee on Fats and Oils which will be held on in Malaysia.

2 The Final Report of The Technical Committee for Fat and Oil Formed Relying on The Memorandum of The Deputy of Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Number 3011/3/5 Dated 14/6/2007 Report subject: justifications to raise the level of -7- stigmastenol in Extra Virgin Olive Oil codex standard. - The committee held six meetings attended by representative of universities, private sector, ministry of agriculture (GCSAR) and all stakeholders interested in production and marketing of Syrian olive oil. - In the sixth meeting which was held on 12/2/2008 the participants reviewed the entire issue and agreed on the following points: First: justifications for the recommendation to raise the level of -7- stigmastenol. Analysis of data provided by the Olive Research Section in the Syrian General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), and other data and documents collected from other stakeholders indicate clearly the following: 1. There are five main varieties of olive in Syria (Zaity, Sorani, Doelbe, Khodeiri, Kaissy) occupied more than (89%) of olive cultivated area in Syria. 2. The annual Syrian production of olive oil is about (175) thousand tons in alternation with the next year which shall be approximately (100) thousand tons, that is a general annual average equivalent to (140) thousand tons. Therefore,the production of olives in Syria is characterized with an quiescent phenomenon. 3. Syria consumes (4) kg / capita / year, so the total consumption of Syria is approximately (90-100) thousand tons per year. 4. The surplus of domestic consumption is around (40-50) thousand tons annually. 5. Annual export of olive oil, through the past three years, were around (30-35) thousand tons as bulk. In addition to small packaged quantities.however, it seems that the Syrian export of olive oil depends on the global production. 6. As a result of what has been previously mentioned that Syria is capable of increasing the annual quantity of exported olive oil taking into consideration the satisfaction of domestic consumption.

3 7. The committee wishes to point out that the reason for this high level of -7- stigmastenol in Syrian olive oil is due to natural variations among the varieties of olives as they are due to genetic factors and to the group of environmental factors prevailing in the cultivated areas of olive trees. These variations are clear in the attached tables which contain, numbers of analyzed samples, averages and standard deviation of the whole randomized olive oil samples, which were collected over more than three years by senior oil-exporting companies, in addition to the results provided by GCSAR (Olive Research Section in cooperation with the Italian team that worked in Syria for three years ). It is worth mentioning that many of these chemical analysis, reported in tables, have been repeated in foreign certified laboratories, and all agreed on the results of elevated -7- stigmastenol in some samples of Syrian olive oil. 8. The committee wishes to emphasize that the increase of -7- stigmastenol percentage in syrian olive oil will not adversely affect the quality of oil. On the contrary, an increase of sterols ( -7-stigmastenol one of the sterols compound) has known benefits, one of them helps preventing absorption of cholesterol from the intestine wall. Now vegetable sterols are nutraceutical and desirable as a compound to enhance nutritional quality of juices and other foods, as well as using it as natural health supporter, and an antioxidant. 9. The committee emphasizes that other compounds found in olive oil are B-sitosterol (% 93 ) and Campestrol (%4.0 ), could be used also as additional evidence for detection of adulteration of olive oil.

4 Second - Conclusion: 1. The committee stresses the need to raise the percentage of -7- stigmastenol to (0.7%) in the International Olive Oil Standard issued by the International Olive Oil Council and Food Codex to enable Syria to apply the codex standard, and facilitate the export olive oil to other countries. 2. the committee considers that Syria should endeavor to implement the previous item through the International Olive Oil Council in Madrid (IOOC )and the Codex Committee on Fat and Oil of (FAO / WHO). Third- references used by the Committee: 1. GCSAR, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research /olive Research Section in Edleb. And the result of the Italian-Syrian cooperation to improve olive oil quality. "Technical Assistance for the Improvement of Olive Oil Quality in Syria", funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and jointly implemented by the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies- Mediterranean Agronomic Institute- Bari (CIHAM- IAMB), Italy, and by the Syrian General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR) which was submitted to the International Olive Council, This study was published in June, Ziad Watti, Ph.D. thesis, Damascus university/food science Departmant. 3. Near East company for olive's products (Syrian olive oil analysis results). 4. Syrian olive Oil Company (Aasaad Betenganeh and their partners) Syrian olive oil analysis results. Fourth: Attached: Tables of the analysis results of six olive oil varieties. Two illustrated figures

5 Table (1) Percentage of -7- stigmastenol compound in virgin olive oil according to Syrian production regions Regions Idleb Aleppo Dara'a Hama Latakia Tartous Homs Standard Deviation Number of Samples Table (2) Percentage of -7- stigmastenol compound in virgin olive oil in Sorani variety

6 Table (3) The percentage of -7- stigmastenol compound in virgin olive oil in Zaity variety Table (4) The percentage of -7- stigmastenol compound in virgin olive oil in Khodeiri variety

7 Table (5) The percentage of -7- stigmastenol compound in virgin olive oil in Doebli variety Table (6) percentage of -7- stigmastenol compound in Some commercial varieties and production areas Varieties or Areas Number of samples Doebli Khodeiri Zaity Sorani Idleb Aleppo Dara'a Hama Latakia Tartous Homs

8 Averqge -7-Stigmastenol Doebli Khodeiri Zaity Sorain Idleb Aleppo Dara'a Hama Latakia Tartous Homs Figure-1 precentage of -7- stigmastenol in some Syrian commercial varieties and production regions Averqge -7-Stigmastenol Figure-2 Precentage of -7- stigmastenol of Syrian virgin olive oil in production regions