Import Tunisian olive oil into France

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

0% , but only within EU tariff quota 09.4032 and with a EUR.1 certificate . Outside the quota, the duty rises to €124.50/100 kg (≈ €1.25/L). On top come the 5.5% VAT (recoverable) and a special tax on edible oils (≈ €20/t).

Q: What is quota 09.4032 and why is it exhausted?

It is the EU tariff quota that allows Tunisian oil to enter the Union at 0%, within a limit of 56,700 t/year . It is exhausted every year within the first weeks of the campaign, and the increase to 100,000 t was refused by Brussels in March 2026 . You must therefore apply for the authorisation as soon as it opens .

Q: Do you need a EUR.1 certificate to import into France?

Yes , to benefit from the 0% duty. The EUR.1 justifies the preferential Tunisian origin under the EU-Tunisia association agreement. Note: the olives themselves must have been harvested in Tunisia . Up to €6,000 per shipment , an invoice declaration is enough (useful for samples).

Q: What is the AGRIM licence and who must hold it?

The AGRIM licence is the import title that allows you to draw on the tariff quota . It is held by the importer , not the Tunisian supplier — to be verified contractually before shipment, failing which the batch risks flipping outside the quota at the full duty.

Q: What VAT applies to olive oil in France?

The reduced 5.5% VAT (food product), generally recoverable by the registered importer. Not to be confused with the special tax on edible oils (≈ €20/t).

Q: What is the most common entry port?

Marseille (and Fos-sur-Mer, Sète) is the natural entry point from Radès for the French market and Southern Europe. The freight of a 20' container is around $650–1,300 .

Q: What is Tunisia's share of the French market?

France accounts for only about 2.4% of Tunisian exports , despite the proximity and the diaspora: the exhausted quota mechanically limits access. It is a high-potential market as soon as you secure the quota or target private label and the diaspora circuit.

Q: Under which customs code is olive oil classified in France?

Under HS code 1509 : 1509.20 (extra virgin), 1509.30 (virgin), 1509.40 (other virgin oils including lampante). The 0% duty applies within quota 09.4032 on presentation of the EUR.1.

Q: Can you do private label in France?

Yes , and it is the leading volume outlet (~39% of the market). We supply in bulk or packaged under a retailer's label. Blocking prerequisite: an IFS Food or BRCGS certification , expected by Carrefour, Leclerc, Auchan and Lidl. See our private-label offer.

Logistics corridor

Sfax · departureFrance

Usual entry requirements

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

How do you import Tunisian olive oil into France?

To import Tunisian olive oil into France, your oil enters under HS code 1509, through a port such as Marseille, at 0% customs duty within EU tariff quota 09.4032 — provided you present a EUR.1 certificate justifying the Tunisian origin. Outside the quota, the duty rises to €124.50/100 kg (≈ €1.25/L), which wipes out any margin. A 5.5% VAT applies (recoverable by the importer) and a special tax on edible oils (≈ €20/t).

The real challenge is not the rate but access to the quota: the 56,700 t/year at 0% are exhausted every year within the first weeks, and the increase to 100,000 t was refused by Brussels in March 2026. The importer must hold an AGRIM licence to draw on the quota. Zitouna Export delivers in bulk (flexitank, IBC, drums) and private label, with a COA per batch.

Import data — France (olive oil)

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

Item	Data	Note
Typical entry port	Marseille (also Fos-sur-Mer, Sète)	Sea route from Radès — 20' freight ≈ $650–1,300
HS code	1509.20 (extra virgin), 1509.30 (virgin), 1509.40 (lampante)	HS 2022 revision structure
Customs duty	0% within EU quota 09.4032	Outside the quota: €124.50/100 kg (≈ €1.25/L)
Preferential document	EUR.1 (or invoice declaration ≤ €6,000)	Tunisian origin = olives harvested in Tunisia
Quota	56,700 t/year, exhausted within the first weeks	Increase to 100,000 t refused in March 2026
Importer licence	AGRIM to draw on the quota	Held by the importer �
VAT	5.5%	Reduced food rate, recoverable by the importer
Special edible-oils tax	≈ €20/t	To be confirmed at the current rate
Private-label certification	IFS Food or BRCGS in practice	Expected by Carrefour / Leclerc / Auchan / Lidl

The quota is the real constraint, not the duty. The duty is zero, but only within the limit of quota 09.4032, exhausted every year as soon as it opens. File the authorisation request as soon as the campaign opens and check that your importer holds their AGRIM licence. Outside the quota, the batch flips to €124.50/100 kg and the margin disappears.

Sample tip. Up to €6,000 per shipment, a simple invoice declaration of origin replaces the EUR.1 — ideal for your micro-batches to validate before the first container.

Calculate your total landed cost (with VAT and the oils tax) with our customs duty checker and the price & margin simulator.

Local demand & market size

France is a net importer of olive oil: marginal domestic production (Provence, Languedoc), consumption far above national supply. The market is mature, competitive and price-driven, dominated by large retail.

Three traits structure French demand:

The shelf plays out between €7 and €15/L on the core of the market. Useful benchmark: Terra Delyssa organic at €7.45/L at Carrefour — a Tunisian brand already established on French shelves.
Private label accounts for ~39% of the market: it is the leading volume outlet, and the natural gateway for a Tunisian exporter via private label.
A strong Tunisian diaspora — around 728,000 people — supports loyal demand in Mediterranean grocery stores, markets and community networks, sensitive to terroir and the taste of origin.

The Tunisian advantage remains objective — bulk price at origin of 3.8–4.0 €/kg against 4.1–4.5 €/kg in Jaén and 6.5–7.0 €/kg in Bari, and 26 awards at the NYIOOC 2024. On a market where private label arbitrates to the cent, this raw-material cost gap is decisive.

Required documents & certificates

In France, compliance falls under EU regulation (Regulation (EU) 2022/2104 on the marketing standards for olive oil) and DGCCRF / customs controls.

Commercial invoice + packing list
Bill of lading (B/L) by sea
EUR.1 certificate (or invoice declaration ≤ €6,000) — key to the 0% duty
Certificate of analysis (COA) per batch, IOC-accredited laboratory (mandatory for Tunisian exports)
Importer's AGRIM licence to draw on the quota
Phytosanitary certificate per requirements
IFS Food / BRCGS certification if you target private label or large retail

Generate your complete file, tailored to France + bulk or packaged, with our export document checklist.

Labelling & regulations (EU standards)

Labelling follows the EU marketing standards and the INCO regulation (EU) 1169/2011:

Exact category and its definition: "extra virgin olive oil — superior category of olive oil obtained directly from olives and solely by mechanical means".
Origin: "Product of Tunisia" (the origin mention is mandatory for extra virgin and virgin).
Net quantity, best-before date, storage conditions (away from light and heat).
Contact details of the operator responsible for the information (importer / responsible party established in the EU).
Nutrition declaration compliant with INCO.
For private label, compliance with the retailer's specifications (often IFS/BRCGS + strict product specs).

Check an EU-compliant mock-up with our label checker.

Buying culture & expectations of French buyers

France is a demanding, rational market oriented towards price/regularity, where the relationship professionalises quickly around the technical sheet and the contract. What sets this market apart:

Price and regularity come first. The French buyer — purchasing centre, wholesaler, importer — arbitrates to the cent and expects stable supply capacity over the campaign. A supplier who falls short on a batch or delays a delivery loses the listing. Secure your volume and your schedule before committing.
Rungis and the HoReCa channel = volume trading. Rungis wholesalers (Epsilon Distribution, SDP Rungis, ABC Peyraud) and HoReCa distributors think in terms of landed price, MOQ and turnover. It is a bulk/packaged channel you enter with a clean offer and reliable logistics, not with the story.
Private label is the leading volume outlet. With ~39% of the market, private label is the royal road for a Tunisian exporter — but it requires IFS Food or BRCGS and an impeccable product file. Listing goes through the retailers' supplier portals (Carrefour, GALEC/Leclerc, Auchan, Lidl).
The diaspora values terroir and origin. On the Mediterranean circuit (grocery stores, markets, community networks), the taste of origin, the Chemlali/Chetoui varieties and the Tunisian story sell — a loyal outlet, more premium and less price-driven than large retail.
Watch out for FOPRODEX. The Tunisian sea-freight support FOPRODEX (50%) explicitly excludes France, Italy and Spain: your landed-cost calculation must not count on this aid for the French market.

Buyer side (FR importer/purchasing centre/wholesaler): rely on the Tunisian raw-material cost gap for your landed price, secure the quota (AGRIM licence + EUR.1) and the per-batch quality (COA + reference sample), and schedule deliveries over the campaign. Seller/exporter side: prepare a clean offer (Marseille landed price, MOQ, tolerances), anticipate IFS/BRCGS to target private label, and play terroir on the diaspora/fine-grocery circuit. Get export training.

Organic box — a structured market

France is a structured and demanding organic market, where Tunisian organic olive oil has already made its place (Terra Delyssa organic in large retail). Our oil is available in Ecocert certified organic (EU 2018/848). Tunisian terroir — arid climate, low pest pressure, extensive olive groves — is naturally suited to organic, and the organic price premium) improves the resale margin.

See our organic olive oil in bulk.

Your tools to import into France

Customs duty checker — quota 09.4032, EUR.1, 5.5% VAT, oils tax.
Price & margin simulator — total landed cost to the port of Marseille.
Export document checklist — EUR.1 + AGRIM + commercial docs file, tailored to France.

FAQ — Importing Tunisian olive oil into France

What customs duty does Tunisian olive oil pay in France?

0%, but only within EU tariff quota 09.4032 and with a EUR.1 certificate. Outside the quota, the duty rises to €124.50/100 kg (≈ €1.25/L). On top come the 5.5% VAT (recoverable) and a special tax on edible oils (≈ €20/t).

What is quota 09.4032 and why is it exhausted?

It is the EU tariff quota that allows Tunisian oil to enter the Union at 0%, within a limit of 56,700 t/year. It is exhausted every year within the first weeks of the campaign, and the increase to 100,000 t was refused by Brussels in March 2026. You must therefore apply for the authorisation as soon as it opens.

Do you need a EUR.1 certificate to import into France?

Yes, to benefit from the 0% duty. The EUR.1 justifies the preferential Tunisian origin under the EU-Tunisia association agreement. Note: the olives themselves must have been harvested in Tunisia. Up to €6,000 per shipment, an invoice declaration is enough (useful for samples).

What is the AGRIM licence and who must hold it?

The AGRIM licence is the import title that allows you to draw on the tariff quota. It is held by the importer, not the Tunisian supplier — to be verified contractually before shipment, failing which the batch risks flipping outside the quota at the full duty.

What VAT applies to olive oil in France?

The reduced 5.5% VAT (food product), generally recoverable by the registered importer. Not to be confused with the special tax on edible oils (≈ €20/t).

What is the most common entry port?

Marseille (and Fos-sur-Mer, Sète) is the natural entry point from Radès for the French market and Southern Europe. The freight of a 20' container is around $650–1,300.

What is Tunisia's share of the French market?

France accounts for only about 2.4% of Tunisian exports, despite the proximity and the diaspora: the exhausted quota mechanically limits access. It is a high-potential market as soon as you secure the quota or target private label and the diaspora circuit.

Under which customs code is olive oil classified in France?

Under HS code 1509: 1509.20 (extra virgin), 1509.30 (virgin), 1509.40 (other virgin oils including lampante). The 0% duty applies within quota 09.4032 on presentation of the EUR.1.

Can you do private label in France?

Yes, and it is the leading volume outlet (~39% of the market). We supply in bulk or packaged under a retailer's label. Blocking prerequisite: an IFS Food or BRCGS certification, expected by Carrefour, Leclerc, Auchan and Lidl. See our private-label offer.

Does organic sell well in France?

Yes, the organic market is structured and Tunisian organic oil is already present in large retail (Terra Delyssa organic ≈ €7.45/L). Our oil is available in Ecocert certified organic (EU 2018/848). See organic olive oil in bulk.

How do you approach a French buyer or wholesaler?

With a clean, professional offer: Marseille landed price, MOQ, acidity tolerances, COA and a reference sample. The market is price-driven and demanding on regularity: bet on stable supply over the campaign. For the diaspora and fine grocery, add the terroir story (varieties, NYIOOC).

Which incoterm should you choose for France?

For a first order, FOB Radès is the standard: you control freight up to shipment. CIF Marseille delivers a port landed price (freight + insurance included). We reserve DAP/DDP for trusted clients. Estimate the landed cost with our price & margin simulator.

Request your quote for France

Volume, format (flexitank / IBC / drum or packaged), incoterm (FOB Radès or CIF Marseille), private label or your own brand, organic or conventional: tell us your need, and we'll send you a dated quote with a reference sample and a COA — and a clear note on the quota and the EUR.1.

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

Lead magnet: download our France country sheet (quota 09.4032 & AGRIM licence, EUR.1, 5.5% VAT, private-label/IFS requirements, documentary checklist, Rungis wholesaler contacts).