Which certificates per lot and per market: COA, EUR.1

Q: Which certificates accompany a lot of olive oil for export?

Each lot of olive oil shipped travels with a set of documents and certificates distinct from company certifications (organic, IFS, ISO). Two families can be distinguished: quality certificates per lot — first and foremost the COA (certificate of analysis) issued by an IOC-approved laboratory via the National Oil Office (ONH) — and certifi

Q: Which certificates accompany a lot of olive oil for export?

The COA (analysis per lot, IOC-approved laboratory) systematically follows the lot; added to it, depending on the market, are a certificate of origin (EUR.1 for the EU, Arab origin for the Gulf), a sanitary certificate , the TRACES if the product is organic and destined for the EU, and possibly halal or kosher .

Q: What is the COA and who can issue it?

The COA (certificate of analysis) documents acidity, peroxide, K232/K270/ΔK and the lot's sensory panel. For export, it is only valid if it comes from an IOC-approved laboratory ; in Tunisia, this runs through the ONH . It is issued per lot , never globally.

Q: Which thresholds must the COA respect for an extra virgin?

Acidity ≤ 0.80% , peroxide ≤ 20 mEq O₂/kg , K232 ≤ 2.50 , K270 ≤ 0.22 , ΔK ≤ 0.01 , with a sensory panel of zero defect median and positive fruitiness. Beyond these thresholds, the lot is no longer classified extra virgin.

Q: EUR.1 or Arab certificate of origin: which to choose?

It depends on the market. The EUR.1 opens the tariff preference within the Tunisian quota to the EU ; the Arab certificate of origin grants 0% in the GAFTA/Gulf zone (versus 5% for a non-member). These are two distinct documents, each tied to a specific trade agreement.

Q: Why is the EU quota important for the EUR.1?

The EUR.1 only grants the 0% rate within the limit of the Tunisian tariff quota (TRQ 09.4032, ~56,700 t/year), managed via SICAD and exhausted every year . Outside the quota, the EU duty becomes high. You must therefore secure the quota certificates early in the campaign.

Q: Is the organic certificate enough to enter the EU?

No. The company's organic certificate (EU 2018/848) authorises the "organic" claim, but EU entry additionally requires a TRACES inspection certificate created before every shipment . Its absence blocks the lot at port , even with a valid organic certificate.

Q: Do you need a halal certificate to sell to the Gulf?

Not necessarily. A pure olive oil is halal by nature and the certificate is often avoidable . In the Emirates, a foreign halal logo can even make the label non-compliant . Only pursue it if your channel explicitly requires it.

Q: What is the sealed reference sample for?

It is a sample of the lot sealed and kept on both sides. In the event of a quality dispute on arrival, it serves as neutral proof: it is compared to the COA and the goods delivered. It is a simple protection against challenges.

Available certifications

EcocertUSDA OrganicUE BioHalalKosherIFS / BRC

Which certificates accompany a lot of olive oil for export?

Each lot of olive oil shipped travels with a set of documents and certificates distinct from company certifications (organic, IFS, ISO). Two families can be distinguished: quality certificates per lot — first and foremost the COA (certificate of analysis) issued by an IOC-approved laboratory via the National Oil Office (ONH) — and certificates linked to the destination market: EUR.1 or Arab certificate of origin depending on the customs agreement, sanitary certificate, TRACES inspection certificate for organic entering the EU, and where applicable halal or kosher.

The rule is simple: the COA follows the lot, customs and sanitary certificates follow the market. The same container of Chemlali extra virgin oil does not carry the same papers depending on whether it goes to Germany (EUR.1 + possible organic TRACES) or to Saudi Arabia (Arab certificate of origin + Arabic SFDA label). Costs and thresholds below at the low end "from", *July 2026 — to be verified *.

The two families of certificates

Certificates per lot (quality / traceability) — attached to a specific production lot, they travel with the goods whatever the market: COA from the IOC-approved laboratory, sealed reference sample, possible organic certificate and its number.
Certificates per market (customs / sanitary / religious) — depend on the destination country and the trade agreement: EUR.1 (EU), Arab certificate of origin (GAFTA/Gulf), sanitary certificate, TRACES (organic → EU), halal / kosher depending on the channel.

Safeguard: a lot without a COA from an IOC-approved laboratory is not exportable by the rules, and a wrong certificate of origin cancels the customs benefit. The right set of papers avoids port blocking and disputes on arrival.

The COA: the quality certificate per lot

The COA (Certificate of Analysis) is the central document. It is only valid for export if it comes from an IOC-approved laboratory — in Tunisia, an obligation running through the ONH. It is issued per lot and documents at minimum:

Parameter	Extra virgin threshold (IOC/EU)	What it indicates
Free acidity	≤ 0.80%	Degradation of the fruits
Peroxide value	≤ 20 mEq O₂/kg	Primary oxidation, freshness
K232	≤ 2.50	Oxidation (required EU)
K270	≤ 0.22	Oxidation / refining
ΔK (Delta-K)	≤ 0.01	Detection of refined oil
Polyphenols (EFSA option)	≥ 250 mg/kg	Eligibility for EU health claim 432/2012
IOC sensory panel	Md = 0, Mf > 0	Official classification

The COA is completed by a sealed reference sample kept on both sides, which settles any quality dispute on arrival. Details of the control journey on quality process.

Customs certificates of origin

The certificate of origin determines the customs duty applied. The wrong document, or its absence, forfeits the tariff preference.

Certificate	Target market	Effect	Issued by
EUR.1 (movement certificate)	European Union	Tariff preference within the TN quota (TRQ 09.4032, ~56,700 t/year, at 0%)	Tunisian customs
Arab certificate of origin	Gulf / GAFTA	0% (vs 5% GCC for non-members)	Chamber of commerce / CEPEX
Certificate of origin (generic)	Other markets (US, Canada…)	Attests "Tunisia" origin	Chamber of commerce

The EU quota (SICAD) is exhausted every year: the EUR.1 certificate only grants the 0% rate within the limit of the contingent. Submit quota certificates early in the campaign — outside the quota, the EU duty becomes high.

The sanitary certificate and the organic TRACES

Sanitary certificate — attests that the lot is fit for human consumption; required by several markets (Gulf, some non-EU countries). Issued by the competent Tunisian authorities.
TRACES inspection certificate — mandatory for any organic product entering the EU, to be created before every shipment. Its absence blocks the lot at port even with a valid organic certificate. It is the most frequent oversight of first-time organic exporters. See organic & Ecocert.
Phytosanitary / fumigation certificate — depending on the country's requirement and the mode of transport.

The organic thread plays out here: the company's organic certificate (EU 2018/848) is not enough for EU entry; you need TRACES per shipment.

Religious certificates: halal & kosher depending on the market

These certificates follow the market and the channel, not the product by default:

Halal — a pure olive oil is halal by nature; the certificate is often avoidable. In the Emirates, a foreign halal logo can even make the label non-compliant. Only pursue it if the channel explicitly requires it.
Kosher — optional, it opens the North American segment and Israel. From $5,000/year.

Details on kosher & halal.

Summary table: which certificate for which market

Market	Customs origin	Sanitary	TRACES (if organic)	Religious
EU	EUR.1	as required	if organic	—
Gulf	Arab origin		—	halal if requested
US	Generic origin	(importer FSVP)	—	kosher if targeted
Canada	Generic origin	as required	—	—

This table is a guide, not an exhaustive list. The exact set of documents depends on the incoterm, the buyer and the campaign. Verify with your freight forwarder and via the certifications assistant.

Buyer side / seller side

Buyer side (importer, brand)	Seller side (exporter)
Require the lot's COA (IOC-approved lab), the right certificate of origin for your customs (EUR.1 or Arab origin), the sanitary certificate and, for organic, the TRACES before arrival. Ask for the sealed reference sample.	Issue a COA per lot, choose the certificate of origin suited to the market, prepare the TRACES before every organic EU shipment, and only attach halal/kosher if the channel requires it.
CTA: request a quote	CTA: train in export

FAQ — Certificates per lot and per market

Which certificates accompany a lot of olive oil for export?

The COA (analysis per lot, IOC-approved laboratory) systematically follows the lot; added to it, depending on the market, are a certificate of origin (EUR.1 for the EU, Arab origin for the Gulf), a sanitary certificate, the TRACES if the product is organic and destined for the EU, and possibly halal or kosher.

What is the COA and who can issue it?

The COA (certificate of analysis) documents acidity, peroxide, K232/K270/ΔK and the lot's sensory panel. For export, it is only valid if it comes from an IOC-approved laboratory; in Tunisia, this runs through the ONH. It is issued per lot, never globally.

Which thresholds must the COA respect for an extra virgin?

Acidity ≤ 0.80%, peroxide ≤ 20 mEq O₂/kg, K232 ≤ 2.50, K270 ≤ 0.22, ΔK ≤ 0.01, with a sensory panel of zero defect median and positive fruitiness. Beyond these thresholds, the lot is no longer classified extra virgin.

EUR.1 or Arab certificate of origin: which to choose?

It depends on the market. The EUR.1 opens the tariff preference within the Tunisian quota to the EU; the Arab certificate of origin grants 0% in the GAFTA/Gulf zone (versus 5% for a non-member). These are two distinct documents, each tied to a specific trade agreement.

Why is the EU quota important for the EUR.1?

The EUR.1 only grants the 0% rate within the limit of the Tunisian tariff quota (TRQ 09.4032, ~56,700 t/year), managed via SICAD and exhausted every year. Outside the quota, the EU duty becomes high. You must therefore secure the quota certificates early in the campaign.

Is the organic certificate enough to enter the EU?

No. The company's organic certificate (EU 2018/848) authorises the "organic" claim, but EU entry additionally requires a TRACES inspection certificate created before every shipment. Its absence blocks the lot at port, even with a valid organic certificate.

What is a sanitary certificate and when is it required?

It is a document attesting that the lot is fit for human consumption. It is required by several non-EU markets, notably the Gulf. Depending on the country and transport, a phytosanitary or fumigation certificate may also be requested.

Do you need a halal certificate to sell to the Gulf?

Not necessarily. A pure olive oil is halal by nature and the certificate is often avoidable. In the Emirates, a foreign halal logo can even make the label non-compliant. Only pursue it if your channel explicitly requires it.

What is the sealed reference sample for?

It is a sample of the lot sealed and kept on both sides. In the event of a quality dispute on arrival, it serves as neutral proof: it is compared to the COA and the goods delivered. It is a simple protection against challenges.

Is a kosher certificate useful for the United States?

It is optional but opens a customer segment in North America and Israel. From around $5,000/year. To be assessed according to your commercial positioning, not by default.

Must the COA mention polyphenols?

It is not mandatory to classify the oil, but if polyphenols exceed 250 mg/kg (frequent with Chetoui), the COA documents eligibility for the EFSA health claim (EU 432/2012). It is a premium argument to explicitly request from the laboratory.

Who delivers each of these certificates in Tunisia?

The COA by an IOC-approved laboratory attached to the ONH; the EUR.1 by customs; the Arab certificate of origin via the chamber of commerce / CEPEX; the TRACES by your organic certification body; the sanitary certificate by the competent authorities. The right contact depends on the document.

Secure the right set of certificates

Depending on your market (EU, Gulf, US), your incoterm and whether the product is organic or not, the required certificates differ. Determine your need precisely before shipping.

Certifications assistant — choose market and channel → list of certificates per lot and per market to attach, with the order of obtainment.

Request a quote — we supply each lot with its COA (IOC-approved lab), the suited certificate of origin and the sealed reference sample.

Lead magnet: download our checklist of export documents & certificates (COA, EUR.1, Arab origin, sanitary, TRACES).