Olive oil and its fractions; whether or not refined, but not chemically modified (heading 1509): importing markets

Fact sheet

Code

1509

Chapter

15 · Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes

Subheadings

5

What to know before exporting olive oil under HS 1509

Heading 1509 is the code for olive oil obtained from the fruit of the olive tree, whether or not refined, and its fractions, provided they are not chemically modified. It sits in Chapter 15 and has five subheadings. The subheading you declare depends on the product, so classify each reference before quoting a price.

The importing table shows two kinds of buyers. Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Portugal are European Union members, so for a company exporting from Spain these sales are intra-EU shipments. The United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, China, Switzerland and Morocco are non-EU destinations, with customs clearance and import rules of their own.

Some of the largest importers are also major producers or re-exporters. Italy and Spain appear among the top three. Imports declared by a country are not the same as final consumption, so a high figure does not always mean an open market for a new supplier. Check who supplies each destination before choosing it.

For a company exporting from Spain, the duty for each non-EU destination depends on the subheading, the destination and the agreement in force between the EU and that country. It is checked in the Access2Markets database by entering the code, the origin and the destination. Proof of origin may be needed to benefit from a preferential rate.

Rules on labelling, quality grades and import documents also vary by country. Check them in Access2Markets for each destination and confirm them with the importer before the first shipment. Intra-EU shipments follow the EU's common rules, including its marketing standards for olive oil.

Frequently asked questions