Importing Tunisian olive oil into Brazil

Q: What customs duty does Tunisian olive oil pay in Brazil?

Extra virgin (NCM 1509.20.00) enters at 0% since March 2025 (Resolução Gecex 709/2025), while all other categories (virgin, lampante, refined) pay 9% . The state ICMS (17–20%), PIS/COFINS and the AFRMM are added.

Q: Why is the extra virgin → virgin downgrade so serious in Brazil?

Because the arrival analysis is decisive : a lot declared extra virgin but downgraded to virgin suffers a triple penalty — commercial loss, a shift from 0% to 9% duty , and risk of sanction for false declaration. Type disparity is the no. 1 non-compliance recorded by MAPA.

Q: How long does the importer's MAPA registration take?

Around 120 days (the deadline announced by MAPA). The CGC/MAPA registration via SIPEAGRO ("Importador de Azeite de Oliva" licence) is free, valid for 5 years , and an indispensable prerequisite for any importation — without it, total blockage.

Q: What is SISCOLE and why is it central?

SISCOLE is the register of laboratories accredited by MAPA for olive oil analysis. The analysis report per lot must come from a lab listed with SISCOLE . A lab from another country already listed is accepted. A non-SISCOLE report triggers sampling and immobilisation.

Q: Is the arrival analysis mandatory for each lot?

Yes. An original physico-chemical analysis report is required for each lot , in 2 original copies (copies refused), fields in Portuguese. Compliant report + SISCOLE lab + complete parameters = no sampling. Otherwise: sampling and costs at the importer's expense.

Q: Is the front nutrition magnifier mandatory in Brazil?

No — it is BANNED on olive oil (Anexo XVI of IN 75/2020). This is not an exemption but a prohibition: applying it constitutes a non-compliance. Plan a Brazil-specific artwork if you also export to Chile or Mexico.

Q: Must the label be in Portuguese?

Yes. Labelling stacks the requirements of MAPA (Portuguese, type on the main face in characters of the same size as the net content) and ANVISA (prohibition on delivering a product labelled in a foreign language to the consumer).

Q: Is there a preferential agreement between Tunisia and Brazil?

No. The Mercosur-Tunisia FTA is only a framework agreement (2014), never entered into force. No preferential certificate of origin can be invoked. Egypt, for its part, benefits from a Mercosur FTA since 2017 — hence the importance of the extra virgin advantage at 0%.

Q: What is the real fiscal cost at import in Brazil?

It is not the customs duty, but the ICMS (state tax, 17–20%, calculated "from within"). The choice of the state of customs clearance changes the economics of the file more than the duty. PIS/COFINS-Importação and the AFRMM (8% of freight) are added.

Logistics corridor

Sfax · departureBresil

Usual entry requirements

Certificate of analysis (COA) per lot
Market-compliant labelling
Certificate of origin
Organic certification if claimed

How to import Tunisian olive oil into Brazil?

To import Tunisian olive oil into Brazil, your oil enters under the NCM 1509 nomenclature, via a port such as Santos. The decisive fact: extra virgin (1509.20.00) enters at 0% duty since March 2025, whereas all other categories pay 9%. The importer must be registered with MAPA ("Importador de Azeite de Oliva" licence, ~120 days), each lot is subject to a mandatory arrival analysis at a laboratory listed with SISCOLE, and the label must be in Portuguese.

Absolute point of vigilance: the arrival analysis is decisive. A lot declared "extra virgin" but downgraded to virgin at analysis suffers a triple penalty — commercial loss, tariff reclassification from 0% to 9%, and risk of sanction. Zitouna Export delivers in bulk or packaged, with a rigorous COA per lot to secure the category.

Import data — Brazil (olive oil)

Values dated July 2026, to be re-verified before any firm quotation.

Item	Data	Note
Typical port of entry	Santos (also Rio, Paranaguá)	Sea route from Radès
NCM 1509.20.00 — Extra virgin	0% duty (II)	Since 14/03/2025 (Resolução Gecex 709/2025)
NCM 1509.30.00 — Virgin	9%	9-point gap with extra virgin
NCM 1509.40 /.90 — Other	9%	Lampante, refined, blends
Preferential agreement	None	Mercosur-Tunisia FTA never entered into force
IPI	0%	Tax on industrialised products
PIS-Importação	~2.10% (to be confirmed)	Federal contribution
COFINS-Importação	~9.65% (+0.6 pt in 2026 (to be confirmed))	Federal contribution
ICMS	17–20% depending on the state	State tax — the real fiscal weight
AFRMM	8% of freight	Merchant marine levy
Importer registration	MAPA / SIPEAGRO — ~120 days, free, valid 5 years	"Importador de Azeite de Oliva" licence
Arrival analysis	Mandatory per lot, SISCOLE lab, original report ×2	The analysis is decisive

Extra virgin at 0% is an advantage… conditional. The gap between 0% (extra virgin) and 9% (others) only applies if the lot holds its category at the arrival analysis. "Type disparity versus the label" is the no. 1 non-compliance recorded by MAPA. Hence the strongest economic argument in favour of a rigorous pre-shipment analysis.

The real Brazilian cost is the ICMS, not the customs duty. The ICMS (17–20%, calculated "from within") weighs far more than the duty. The choice of the state of customs clearance changes the economics of the file more than the duty itself.

Calculate your total landed cost (ICMS, PIS/COFINS, AFRMM) with our customs duty checker and secure the category with the COA quality classifier.

Local demand & market size

Brazil is a large net importer of olive oil (marginal domestic production), with an urban middle class sensitive to healthy eating and Mediterranean cuisine. Demand is real, but access is technically demanding: it is a market where regulatory compliance, more than price, separates those who deliver from those who stay stuck at the port.

The Tunisian advantage is twofold: extra virgin at 0% duty (whereas Egypt, a direct competitor, benefits from a Mercosur FTA in force since 2017) and a bulk origin price of 3.8–4.0 €/kg versus 4.1–4.5 €/kg in Jaén and 6.5–7.0 €/kg in Bari, with 26 awards at the NYIOOC 2024. Provided you master the MAPA/SISCOLE critical path.

Required documents & certificates

Importing olive oil into Brazil falls under MAPA (Ministry of Agriculture) and ANVISA. The file and the critical path:

Importer registration with CGC/MAPA via SIPEAGRO ("Importador de Azeite de Oliva" licence) — ~120 days, an indispensable prerequisite. Total blockage without it.
Upstream SISCOLE verification: the laboratory that will issue the report must be listed with SISCOLE (a lab from another country already listed is accepted by MAPA).
Original physico-chemical analysis report per lot, in 2 original copies (copies refused), fields translated into Portuguese, issued by a SISCOLE lab.
Commercial invoice + packing list + bill of lading (B/L).
Certificate of origin under common law (no preferential agreement to invoke).
COA per lot, IOC-accredited laboratory (mandatory for Tunisian exports) — consistent with the declared category.
ISPM-15 marked pallets (Portaria MAPA 514/2022) — failing which, the entire cargo is turned back at the importer's expense.
LPCO I00004 (Portal Único Siscomex, consenting body = MAPA) + paid GRU → Certificado de Classificação de Produto Importado → commercialisation.

Generate your complete file, customised for Brazil (MAPA/SISCOLE critical path), with our export documents checklist.

Arrival analysis: it is decisive

An original analysis report is required for each lot, in 2 copies. The decisive rule:

Compliant report + SISCOLE laboratory + complete parameters → no sampling.
Incomplete report, copy, or unlisted laboratory → systematic sampling, immobilisation and costs at the importer's expense.

Two often-forgotten mentions trigger rejection on form: the measurement uncertainty for each parameter, and the pagination (1/4, 2/4…). The parameters cover acidity, peroxides, UV extinction, fatty acids and the refractive index/moisture.

This is where the file is won or lost. A rigorous COA and a pre-shipment analysis avoid downgrading and formal rejection. Check the compliance of your values with our COA quality classifier and our quality process.

Labelling & regulation (Portuguese — two layers)

Brazilian labelling stacks two regulations:

MAPA (IN 1/2012):

Portuguese mandatory; group designation + compliant type ("Azeite de Oliva Extra Virgem" + brand).
The type must appear on the main face, in characters of the same size as the net content.
Mention of acidity permitted only if accompanied by the peroxide value and UV extinction.
Lot, packaging date, validity, company name, CNPJ, address, country of origin, importer.

ANVISA (RDC 727/2022):

Identification of the importer, lot, durability (prescribed wording).
Prohibition on delivering to the consumer a product labelled in a foreign language.

Counter-intuitive trap: the front nutrition magnifier is BANNED on olive oil (Anexo XVI of IN 75/2020). This is not an optional exemption but a prohibition: applying a front magnifier constitutes a non-compliance. A producer who also exports to Chile or Mexico (where it is mandatory) must therefore plan a Brazil-specific artwork.

Check a compliant mock-up with our label checker.

Buying culture & Brazilian buyers' expectations

Brazil is a market where technical compliance drives the relationship: a Brazilian importer only commits with a supplier able to secure the MAPA/SISCOLE critical path. Impeccable quality is not a marketing argument, it is a condition of entry. What sets this market apart:

The arrival analysis is decisive — quality must be impeccable. The Brazilian buyer knows that a downgraded lot costs them dearly (commercial loss + 9% duty + immobilisation). They therefore expect a solid COA and a guaranteed category. A supplier who documents and secures their quality inspires immediate trust.
Patience is structural. The importer's MAPA registration takes ~120 days: the first orders are prepared months in advance. An exporter who understands and supports this schedule (rather than rushing it) stands out.
The documentary file is an aptitude test. Original report in 2 copies, complete mentions (uncertainty, pagination), compliant Portuguese label, ISPM-15 pallets: every detail counts. A clean file passes; a negligence blocks the entire cargo at the port.
Price is reasoned as "total landed cost". With the ICMS (17–20%), federal contributions and the AFRMM, the Brazilian buyer thinks in final landed cost, not FOB price. Extra virgin at 0% duty is a real argument, provided it is placed within this overall calculation.
Trust is built on reliability. Facing Egyptian competition (which benefits from a Mercosur FTA), the Tunisian exporter compensates through quality, consistency and mastery of the file. A first lot delivered without a hitch opens a lasting relationship.

Buyer side (BR importer/distributor): launch your MAPA registration (~120 days) early, require a COA guaranteeing the extra virgin category (0% vs 9%), and have each lot analysed at a SISCOLE lab before customs clearance. Seller/exporter side: secure the category (pre-shipment analysis), provide an impeccable report/COA, plan a Brazil-specific artwork (Portuguese, no front magnifier) and ISPM-15 pallets. Train yourself in exporting.

Your tools for importing into Brazil

Customs duty checker — extra virgin 0% vs others 9%, ICMS by state, PIS/COFINS, AFRMM.
COA quality classifier — secure the extra virgin category before shipment.
Export documents checklist — MAPA/SISCOLE critical path, report, ISPM-15, customised for Brazil.

FAQ — Importing Tunisian olive oil into Brazil

What customs duty does Tunisian olive oil pay in Brazil?

Extra virgin (NCM 1509.20.00) enters at 0% since March 2025 (Resolução Gecex 709/2025), while all other categories (virgin, lampante, refined) pay 9%. The state ICMS (17–20%), PIS/COFINS and the AFRMM are added.

Why is the extra virgin → virgin downgrade so serious in Brazil?

Because the arrival analysis is decisive: a lot declared extra virgin but downgraded to virgin suffers a triple penalty — commercial loss, a shift from 0% to 9% duty, and risk of sanction for false declaration. Type disparity is the no. 1 non-compliance recorded by MAPA.

How long does the importer's MAPA registration take?

Around 120 days (the deadline announced by MAPA). The CGC/MAPA registration via SIPEAGRO ("Importador de Azeite de Oliva" licence) is free, valid for 5 years, and an indispensable prerequisite for any importation — without it, total blockage.

What is SISCOLE and why is it central?

SISCOLE is the register of laboratories accredited by MAPA for olive oil analysis. The analysis report per lot must come from a lab listed with SISCOLE. A lab from another country already listed is accepted. A non-SISCOLE report triggers sampling and immobilisation.

Is the arrival analysis mandatory for each lot?

Yes. An original physico-chemical analysis report is required for each lot, in 2 original copies (copies refused), fields in Portuguese. Compliant report + SISCOLE lab + complete parameters = no sampling. Otherwise: sampling and costs at the importer's expense.

Is the front nutrition magnifier mandatory in Brazil?

No — it is BANNED on olive oil (Anexo XVI of IN 75/2020). This is not an exemption but a prohibition: applying it constitutes a non-compliance. Plan a Brazil-specific artwork if you also export to Chile or Mexico.

Must the label be in Portuguese?

Yes. Labelling stacks the requirements of MAPA (Portuguese, type on the main face in characters of the same size as the net content) and ANVISA (prohibition on delivering a product labelled in a foreign language to the consumer).

Is there a preferential agreement between Tunisia and Brazil?

No. The Mercosur-Tunisia FTA is only a framework agreement (2014), never entered into force. No preferential certificate of origin can be invoked. Egypt, for its part, benefits from a Mercosur FTA since 2017 — hence the importance of the extra virgin advantage at 0%.

What is the real fiscal cost at import in Brazil?

It is not the customs duty, but the ICMS (state tax, 17–20%, calculated "from within"). The choice of the state of customs clearance changes the economics of the file more than the duty. PIS/COFINS-Importação and the AFRMM (8% of freight) are added.

What is the most common port of entry?

Santos is the main Brazilian port for this traffic (also Rio, Paranaguá). The sea transit from Radès is counted in weeks — to be confirmed with the freight forwarder. Note: ISPM-15 pallets mandatory, under penalty of the entire cargo being turned back.

Can private label be done in Brazil?

Yes. We supply in bulk or packaged under your MAPA/ANVISA-compliant Portuguese label (no front magnifier). The extra virgin category must be secured by analysis to hold the 0% duty. See our private label offer.

Which incoterm to choose for Brazil?

For a first order, FOB Radès is the standard: you control the freight up to loading. CIF Santos delivers a landed port price (freight + insurance included). Given the weight of the ICMS and contributions, estimate the total landed cost with our customs duty checker.

Request your quote for Brazil

Volume, format (flexitank / IBC / drum or packaged), incoterm (FOB Radès recommended), private label or own brand: give us your requirement, and we'll send you a dated quotation with a reference sample and a COA securing the extra virgin category — the crux of holding the 0% duty.

Request a free quote — drawer pre-filled with "Destination: Brazil".

Lead magnet: download our Brazil country sheet (extra virgin 0% vs 9%, MAPA/SISCOLE critical path ~120 days, arrival analysis, Portuguese labelling, front magnifier banned, documentary checklist).