Tunisia's Deglet Nour Date Variety Integrated into New International Standard
The iconic Deglet Nour date variety has been included in the new international standard of the Codex Alimentarius for fresh dates, adopted during the 48th session of the Codex Commission held recently at the FAO headquarters in Rome. This participation was ensured by the Technical Center for Food Industries, operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy.
Years of Effort Recognized
This recognition crowns years of work: since 2017, Tunisian experts have taken part in the process of developing the standard, defending the characteristics specific to Tunisian dates, particularly the Deglet Nour, which stands out for its texture, moisture content, and organoleptic qualities.
A New Standard for Fresh Dates
Until now, no international standard described fresh dates. They were assimilated to dried fruits in existing standards, a classification that did not reflect the reality of conservation, marketing, and valorization processes for fresh varieties like the Deglet Nour. The adoption of this new standard corrects this gap and establishes specific criteria for the category of fresh dates, paving the way for better recognition of Tunisian quality.
Economic Impact
According to sectoral analyses, the Deglet Nour represents more than 80% of Tunisia's date exports, confirming its strategic role in the national economy and the country's international reputation in this sector. The integration of its characteristics into the Codex standard should thus strengthen its access to markets, facilitate its positioning in high-potential destinations, and diversify its valorization modes, particularly through transformation and new marketing segments.
A Global Strategy
The Ministry of Industry emphasizes that this progress is part of a global strategy aimed at promoting Tunisian origin, supporting quality, modernizing certification and analysis tools, and accompanying exporters in their upgrading process.
