Importing Tunisian olive oil into Russia

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

The duty falls under the common external tariff of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) , of which Russia is a member — it is not set in isolation by Russia. The exact rate applicable to olive oil (HS 1509) is to be verified before any quote; no known Tunisia–EAEU preferential agreement applies to date.

Q: What is the EAC marking and is it mandatory?

The EAC marking is the conformity logo of the Eurasian Economic Union. It is mandatory on the packaging: it attests that the product meets the applicable technical regulations (including TR TS 024/2011 for oils). Without a compliant EAC marking, the product cannot be marketed.

Q: What is "Chestny Znak" (Честный знак)?

"Chestny Znak" ("honest mark") is Russia's mandatory unit-marking system , which assigns each sales unit a traceable identifier in the national system. It is mandatory since October 2024 . It is handled at retail packaging, generally with the importer or a local provider.

Q: What does technical regulation TR TS 024/2011 require?

TR TS 024/2011 is the customs union's technical regulation on edible oils and fats . It requires a declaration of conformity from the importer, backed by testing carried out in an on-site accredited laboratory (physico-chemical and safety parameters). The exact parameters are.

Q: Must "unrefined" be stated on the label?

Yes for extra virgin and virgin. Russian regulations explicitly distinguish unrefined oils (virgin) from refined oils: an extra virgin olive oil must carry the "unrefined" qualification on its Russian label.

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

No known Tunisia–EAEU preferential agreement applies to date. Tunisian olive oil therefore enters under the standard duty regime, at the EAEU common external tariff.

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

Under HS code 1509 : 1509.20 (extra virgin), 1509.30 (virgin), 1509.40 (other virgin oils). The classification follows the Eurasian customs union nomenclature.

Q: What is the most common port of entry?

Novorossiysk (Black Sea) is a natural entry point from the Mediterranean; Saint Petersburg serves the North-West via the Baltic. Transit and connections from Radès are to be confirmed with the freight forwarder .

Q: How can I secure payment with a Russian importer?

Favour a confirmed documentary credit (letter of credit) or a substantial deposit before production/shipment. Given the financial environment, avoid open account for a first order.

Logistics corridor

Sfax · departureRussie

Usual entry requirements

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

How to export Tunisian olive oil to Russia?

To export Tunisian olive oil to Russia, your oil enters under HS code 1509 and falls under the common external tariff of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) — Russia does not set its customs duty in isolation, but within the framework of the customs union it forms with Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. Product conformity requires a declaration of conformity with technical regulation TR TS 024/2011 (oils and fats), the EAC marking applied to the packaging, and — since October 2024 — the mandatory unit marking "Честный знак" (Chestny Znak).

Russia is a volume market: large population, growing consumption in the premium and Mediterranean segment, but a demanding regulatory and financial environment. The main constraint is not so much tariff-related as documentary, marking-related and payment-security-related. Zitouna Export delivers in bulk (flexitank, IBC, drums) and private label, with a certificate of analysis (COA) per lot.

Import data — Russia (olive oil)

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

Item	Data	Note
Typical port of entry	Novorossiysk (Black Sea), Saint Petersburg (Baltic)	By sea, transit to be confirmed with the freight forwarder
HS code	1509.20 (extra virgin), 1509.30 (virgin), 1509.40 (other virgin oils)	HS 2022 revision structure
Customs framework	EAEU common external tariff (Eurasian Economic Union)	Duty set at the customs-union level, rate to be verified
TN preferential agreement	No known Tunisia–EAEU preferential agreement	Standard duty regime
Product conformity	Declaration of conformity TR TS 024/2011 (oils & fats)	Testing in an on-site accredited laboratory required
Regulatory marking	EAC marking mandatory on the packaging	Attests conformity with the union's technical regulations
Unit marking	"Честный знак" (Chestny Znak) — mandatory since Oct. 2024	Unit-level traceability at retail
Category mention	"Unrefined" for extra virgin	Russian labelling requirement for virgin oils
Payment	To be secured (documentary credit, deposit)	At-risk financial environment — see logistics

A volume market, but a technical access. The Russian difficulty is not just the customs duty (set by the EAEU), but the regulatory stack: TR TS 024/2011 declaration with testing in an accredited lab, EAC marking, then unit-level Chestny Znak since October 2024. Each of these milestones must be validated upstream with a Russian importer equipped to handle them.

Estimate your landed cost with our simulator and check the regulatory file with your importer before any commitment.

Customs & regulatory access

Russia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which forms a customs union with Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. In concrete terms:

The customs duty falls under the EAEU common external tariff, not an autonomous Russian tariff. The **exact rate applicable to olive oil (HS 1509) is to be verified ** before any quote; to date, no known Tunisia–EAEU preferential agreement applies.
Product conformity goes through technical regulation TR TS 024/2011 on edible oils and fats. The importer must establish a declaration of conformity, backed by testing carried out in an on-site accredited laboratory (physico-chemical parameters, food safety).
The EAC marking (the union's conformity logo) must be applied to the packaging: it attests that the product meets the applicable technical regulations.
The unit marking "Chestny Znak" ("honest mark") is mandatory since October 2024: each sales unit receives a traceable identifier, reported into the national traceability system. It is a retail-packaging constraint to anticipate with the importer.

To be verified systematically. The EAEU duty rate, the exact terms of Chestny Znak for imported olive oil and the TR TS 024/2011 testing parameters evolve: validate each point with your Russian importer and a specialised freight forwarder before shipping.

Labelling & the "unrefined" mention

Russian labelling follows EAEU rules (TR TS 022/2011 on labelling, in addition to TR TS 024/2011). Structuring points for olive oil:

Label in Russian (product name, category, net quantity in metric units, importer, country of origin).
"Unrefined" mention for extra virgin and virgin: Russian regulations explicitly distinguish unrefined oils (virgin) from refined oils. An extra virgin olive oil must therefore carry this qualification.
Country of origin ("Product of Tunisia" / "Произведено в Тунисе").
EAC marking applied to the packaging.
Chestny Znak identifier on the retail sales unit.

The Russian label and unit marking are generally handled by the importer or a local provider. The Tunisian supplier provides a clean file (COA, specifications, exact category) to feed the declaration of conformity.

Buying culture & expectations of Russian buyers

The Russian olive oil market is a volume and price market, but with a growing premium segment. What sets this market apart:

Consumption is rising, driven by premium and Mediterranean. Olive oil remains an aspirational imported product in the major metropolises (Moscow, Saint Petersburg); demand is growing in the health and Mediterranean-cuisine segments.
Price matters, but compliance comes first. A Russian importer will only commit if the regulatory file (TR TS 024/2011, EAC, Chestny Znak) is under control: a supplier who provides a complete COA and a clear category ("unrefined" for extra virgin) reassures and speeds up the declaration of conformity.
Payment must be secured. The Russian financial environment calls for strong caution: favour documentary credit (letter of credit) or a substantial deposit before shipment. It is a non-negotiable point for a first business flow.
A well-equipped importer makes the difference. The regulatory weight (unit marking, lab testing) implies a structured importer, capable of handling Chestny Znak and Russian labelling. The Tunisian supplier's role is to deliver consistent, documented quality, lot after lot.

Buyer side (RU importer): check the applicable EAEU rate, activate the TR TS 024/2011 declaration with lab testing, prepare the EAC marking and Chestny Znak enrolment, and secure the payment logistics. Seller/exporter side: provide an impeccable quality file (COA, "unrefined" category), secure the payment (L/C or deposit), and don't quote firm before checking the up-to-date regulatory framework.

Logistics & payment security

By sea: from Radès, the oil typically transits to Novorossiysk (Black Sea) or Saint Petersburg (Baltic), in bulk (flexitank, IBC) or packaged. Transit and connections are to be confirmed with the freight forwarder.
Incoterm: for a first business flow, FOB Radès remains the standard (you control freight up to loading). CIF delivers a landed port price. Given the risk, reserve DAP/DDP for established relationships.
Payment to secure: in the Russian context, favour a confirmed documentary credit (L/C) or a deposit before production/shipment. Don't work on open account for a first order.
Tunisia price: our extra virgin olive oil in bulk sits around €3.80/kg FOB Radès at the low end of the range, a competitive positioning against Spanish and Italian origins.

FAQ — Importing Tunisian olive oil into Russia

What customs duty does Tunisian olive oil pay in Russia?

The duty falls under the common external tariff of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), of which Russia is a member — it is not set in isolation by Russia. The **exact rate applicable to olive oil (HS 1509) is to be verified ** before any quote; no known Tunisia–EAEU preferential agreement applies to date.

What is the EAC marking and is it mandatory?

The EAC marking is the conformity logo of the Eurasian Economic Union. It is mandatory on the packaging: it attests that the product meets the applicable technical regulations (including TR TS 024/2011 for oils). Without a compliant EAC marking, the product cannot be marketed.

What is "Chestny Znak" (Честный знак)?

"Chestny Znak" ("honest mark") is Russia's mandatory unit-marking system, which assigns each sales unit a traceable identifier in the national system. It is mandatory since October 2024. It is handled at retail packaging, generally with the importer or a local provider.

What does technical regulation TR TS 024/2011 require?

TR TS 024/2011 is the customs union's technical regulation on edible oils and fats. It requires a declaration of conformity from the importer, backed by testing carried out in an on-site accredited laboratory (physico-chemical and safety parameters). The exact parameters are.

Must "unrefined" be stated on the label?

Yes for extra virgin and virgin. Russian regulations explicitly distinguish unrefined oils (virgin) from refined oils: an extra virgin olive oil must carry the "unrefined" qualification on its Russian label.

Is there a preferential agreement between Tunisia and Russia?

No known Tunisia–EAEU preferential agreement applies to date. Tunisian olive oil therefore enters under the standard duty regime, at the EAEU common external tariff.

Under which customs code is olive oil classified in Russia?

Under HS code 1509: 1509.20 (extra virgin), 1509.30 (virgin), 1509.40 (other virgin oils). The classification follows the Eurasian customs union nomenclature.

What is the most common port of entry?

Novorossiysk (Black Sea) is a natural entry point from the Mediterranean; Saint Petersburg serves the North-West via the Baltic. Transit and connections from Radès are to be confirmed with the freight forwarder.

How can I secure payment with a Russian importer?

Favour a confirmed documentary credit (letter of credit) or a substantial deposit before production/shipment. Given the financial environment, avoid open account for a first order.

Is the Russian market promising for Tunisian olive oil?

It is a volume market with a growing premium segment in the major metropolises. The Tunisian asset is price) and documented quality. The trade-off is a heavy regulatory environment (EAC, Chestny Znak, TR TS 024/2011) and a payment risk to secure.

Can you do private label in Russia?

Yes. We supply in bulk or packaged under your compliant Russian label ("unrefined" mention, EAC marking, Chestny Znak). The unit marking and Russian labelling are generally handled by the importer or a local provider.

Which incoterm should I choose for Russia?

For a first order, FOB Radès is the standard: you control freight up to loading. CIF delivers a landed port price. Given the risk, reserve DAP/DDP for established relationships.

Request your quote for Russia

Volume, format (flexitank / IBC / drum or packaged), incoterm (FOB Radès recommended), private label or own brand, organic or conventional: tell us your requirement, and we will send you a dated quote with a reference sample and COA. We support you on the sensitive points (TR TS 024/2011 declaration, EAC marking, Chestny Znak, payment security) — each **.

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

See also: export markets hub · request a quote.