Customs and agreements: importing Tunisian-origin olive oil

Q: In brief: what customs duties apply to Tunisian olive oil?

Short answer: Tunisian olive oil (HS code 1509 ) enters at 0% in most major markets — but conditionally : an active preferential agreement, a quota sometimes exhausted, and above all the right origin document . In the EU, the Tunisian tariff quota ( TRQ 09.4032, ~56,700 t/year ) is at zero duty with a EUR.1 ; outside the quota , the speci

Q: What customs duty applies to Tunisian olive oil in the EU?

0% within the Tunisian tariff quota ( TRQ 09.4032 , ~56,700 t/year, SICAD certificates), on presentation of a EUR.1 . Outside the quota, the specific duty reaches €124.50/100 kg .

Q: How much does Tunisian olive oil cost outside the EU quota?

Outside the quota, the EU duty is a specific duty of €124.50/100 kg , i.e. €1.245/kg — more than a third of the FOB price. Hence the value of importing within the quota.

Q: Which origin document to import into the EU?

The EUR.1 certificate (or EUROMED, or origin declaration on invoice depending on thresholds), issued by Tunisian customs and requested for each shipment . Without it, no preferential duty.

Q: How does the GAFTA agreement work for the Gulf?

GAFTA (Greater Arab Free Trade Area) unlocks 0% on Tunisian oil in the member Arab countries, against ~5% of the GCC tariff otherwise. Condition: an Arab certificate of origin , drawn up in Arabic and endorsed by the chamber of commerce.

Q: Which agreement applies for the United Kingdom?

The UK-Tunisia continuity agreement provides a bilateral quota at 0% , not saturated, with a dedicated proof of origin. UK VAT on food is 0% .

Q: And for Switzerland?

Switzerland falls under the EFTA-Tunisia agreement. A preferential line exists but the exact tariff heading is to be confirmed on Tares (Swiss customs tariff). The origin document is the EUR.1 .

Q: What is the customs situation in the USA?

MFN regime (~3.4–5 ¢/kg) plus a fluctuating surtax context (Section 122/301). No free trade agreement on oil. Be sure to verify with a US customs broker before any quotation. See the USA market guide.

Q: Which HS code for extra virgin olive oil?

1509.20 for EVOO. Virgin is under 1509.30 , refined under 1509.90 , pomace under 1510 . The declared code determines the duty: have it confirmed by your freight forwarder.

Are you importing Tunisian olive oil and want to know exactly what customs will cost you — and how to pay 0% rather than the full duty? This guide maps, market by market, the customs duty applicable to Tunisian origin, the agreement that unlocks it (EU, GAFTA, EFTA, UK), the quota to watch and the origin document that unlocks the preference. HS codes, dated tables, pitfalls to avoid and checklists included.

Free PDF version: the "Customs duties & agreements by market" sheet (duty + VAT + origin document, ready to tick). Get it by email »

In brief: what customs duties apply to Tunisian olive oil?

Short answer: Tunisian olive oil (HS code 1509) enters at 0% in most major markets — but conditionally: an active preferential agreement, a quota sometimes exhausted, and above all the right origin document. In the EU, the Tunisian tariff quota (TRQ 09.4032, ~56,700 t/year) is at zero duty with a EUR.1; outside the quota, the specific duty reaches €124.50/100 kg, which wipes out any margin.

Remember the principle: it is not origin alone that gives the 0%, it is origin + agreement + the document proving origin. A forgotten EUR.1, a saturated quota or an erroneous HS code is enough to shift your container to the full tariff. This guide is aimed first at importers and distributors, but also informs the seller (who must provide the proof of origin) and the exporter (who issues it).

Step 1 — Identify the HS code of your oil

The customs tariff is read from the Harmonized System (HS) code. For olive oil:

HS code	Product	Use
1509.20	Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)	Retail, HORECA, premium
1509.30	Virgin olive oil	Mid-range
1509.40	Other virgin olive oils	Depending on market
1509.90	Refined olive oil and refined/virgin blends	Industry, cooking
1510	Olive pomace oils	Industry

The 8- or 10-digit subheadings (EU combined nomenclature, US HTS…) refine the classification in each country. A wrong code = a wrong duty: customs reclassifies and may claim the difference. Always confirm the exact code with your freight forwarder for your precise category.

Buyer's side: it is the code declared at import that determines your duty. Require on the invoice the statement "extra virgin olive oil — HS 1509.20".

Step 2 — Locate the applicable agreement between Tunisia and your market

Tunisia benefits from several trade agreements that unlock preferential duties:

Bloc / market	Agreement	Effect on TN olive oil
European Union	EU-Tunisia Association Agreement	0% within the quota (TRQ 09.4032) via EUR.1
United Kingdom	UK-Tunisia continuity agreement	Bilateral quota 0%, not saturated
Switzerland / EFTA	EFTA-Tunisia agreement	Preferential line — to be confirmed on Tares
Arab countries / Gulf	GAFTA (Greater Arab Free Trade Area)	0% with Arab certificate of origin (vs ~5% of the GCC tariff)
USA	No FTA — MFN regime	MFN duty + surtax context
Canada	No oil FTA — MFN regime	0% (MFN), GST 5%

Key point: the EU, UK and Gulf rely on an origin document (EUR.1 or Arab CO). The USA and Canada have no specific oil agreement, but Canada already applies 0% under MFN. Each agreement has its origin rules: the oil must be wholly obtained in Tunisia to qualify as Tunisian origin — which is the case for a Tunisian EVOO pressed locally.

Step 3 — Check the tariff quota and its depletion status

The costliest point to overlook. The preferential 0% is often capped by a tariff quota (TRQ):

Market	0% quota	Outside quota
EU	~56,700 t/year — TRQ 09.4032, certificates via SICAD	€124.50/100 kg (specific duty)
UK	Bilateral quota	UK duty outside quota
Gulf (GAFTA)	No volume cap (zero duty for members)	~5% of the GCC tariff if origin not proven

EU quota: pitfall no. 1. The TRQ 09.4032 quota (~56,700 t) is regularly exhausted before the end of the campaign. Once saturated, your oil enters outside the quota at the specific duty of €124.50/100 kg, i.e. €1.245/kg — more than a third of the FOB price. The consequence: reserve and file the certificates early, at the start of the campaign.

Track the quota status and the total landed cost with our olive oil import customs tool and the export cost calculator.

Step 4 — Gather the suitable origin document

The preferential duty is activated only on presentation of a compliant proof of origin:

Market	Origin document	Who issues it	What it unlocks
EU	EUR.1 (or EUROMED, or origin declaration on invoice)	Tunisian customs	Quota 0%; otherwise €124.50/100 kg
UK	UK-Tunisia agreement proof of origin	Tunisian customs	UK quota 0%
Switzerland / EFTA	EUR.1 (EFTA)	Tunisian customs	Preferential line
Gulf	Arab certificate of origin (GAFTA), in Arabic	Chamber of commerce and industry	0% instead of ~5% GCC
USA / Canada	Common-law certificate of origin	Chamber of commerce	Origin marking at clearance

The EUR.1 is requested for each shipment to the EU. The GAFTA Arab certificate of origin must be drawn up in Arabic and endorsed by the chamber of commerce. The first request requires a complete supporting origin file filed once (bylaws, customs code, technical file). Documentary details in the export documents guide and definitions in the glossary.

Exporter side: the EUR.1 conditions the 0% EU. An oversight loses the preferential duty on the whole container — a hidden cost that appears in no incoterm.

Step 5 — Calculate duty + VAT + destination fees

The total customs cost is not limited to the duty. Benchmarks:

Market	Customs duty (with TN origin)	VAT / import tax
EU (within quota)	0%	Reduced: FR 5.5%, DE 7%, IT/ES 4%, BE 6%, NL 9%
EU (outside quota)	€124.50/100 kg	same
UK	0% (quota)	0% (food)
Switzerland	EFTA preferential (line to be confirmed)	VAT 8.1%
Saudi Arabia	0% (GAFTA, Arab CO)	VAT 15%
UAE	0% (GAFTA)	VAT 5%
Qatar	0% (GAFTA)	VAT 0%
USA	MFN ~3.4–5 ¢/kg + surtaxes	No federal VAT (MPF + HMF)
Canada	0% (MFN)	GST 5%

USA — tariff situation in flux. On top of the base MFN duty comes a fluctuating surtax context (Section 122 / Section 301 measures). The exact status evolves: be sure to verify with a US customs broker before any quotation to the United States. See also our USA market guide (FDA/FSMA).

Add the destination fees (handling, freight forwarder, MPF/HMF in the USA). The full landed cost is priced with the export cost calculator.

Step 6 — Anticipate the certificates to secure the preference

The tariff preference is lost on an administrative detail. Three reflexes:

File the EU quota certificates early (SICAD) — before the TRQ 09.4032 is exhausted.
Issue the EUR.1 / Arab CO for each shipment, with an up-to-date origin file.
Check the HS code and wording on the commercial invoice — consistent with the lot's COA.

Buyer's side: ask your supplier, in writing, which origin document will accompany the shipment before confirming the order. That is your guarantee of paying 0%.

Mistakes to avoid (the customs pitfalls that cost a container)

Importing outside the EU quota without knowing it → €124.50/100 kg instead of 0%.
Forgetting the EUR.1 (or the Arab CO) → loss of the preferential duty on the whole lot.
Wrong HS code → reclassification and duty recovery by customs.
Arab CO not drawn up in Arabic → refusal at Gulf clearance.
Quoting the USA without a broker → surtaxes ignored, margin wiped out.
Confusing duty and VAT → import VAT (up to 15% in the KSA) weighs on cash flow.
Neglecting the quota certificate deadlines → filing too late, quota saturated.

Why Tunisian origin remains competitive at customs

Three verifiable facts argue for Tunisian origin:

EU access at zero duty within the quota (TRQ 09.4032), where other third-country origins pay full tariff.
0% in the Gulf via GAFTA — an advantage a non-Arab origin (Spain, Italy) does not have.
Low origin price: ≈ €3.80–4.00/kg FOB for an EVOO, before any duty — below the Spanish (4.1–4.5) and Italian (6.5–7.0) levels.

Tunisian origin therefore combines low price + customs preference on the key markets. Conclusion: quote early, reserve the quota early.

Request a free quote — a dated quotation with duty, VAT and origin document for your market. Drawer pre-filled "Customs & agreements guide".

FAQ — Customs and agreements for Tunisian olive oil

What customs duty applies to Tunisian olive oil in the EU?

0% within the Tunisian tariff quota (TRQ 09.4032, ~56,700 t/year, SICAD certificates), on presentation of a EUR.1. Outside the quota, the specific duty reaches €124.50/100 kg.

What is the EU quota TRQ 09.4032?

It is the zero-duty tariff quota reserved for Tunisian-origin olive oil for the EU, of about 56,700 t/year. The certificates are requested via SICAD. It is regularly exhausted before the end of the campaign: file early.

How much does Tunisian olive oil cost outside the EU quota?

Outside the quota, the EU duty is a specific duty of €124.50/100 kg, i.e. €1.245/kg — more than a third of the FOB price. Hence the value of importing within the quota.

Which origin document to import into the EU?

The EUR.1 certificate (or EUROMED, or origin declaration on invoice depending on thresholds), issued by Tunisian customs and requested for each shipment. Without it, no preferential duty.

How does the GAFTA agreement work for the Gulf?

GAFTA (Greater Arab Free Trade Area) unlocks 0% on Tunisian oil in the member Arab countries, against ~5% of the GCC tariff otherwise. Condition: an Arab certificate of origin, drawn up in Arabic and endorsed by the chamber of commerce.

Which agreement applies for the United Kingdom?

The UK-Tunisia continuity agreement provides a bilateral quota at 0%, not saturated, with a dedicated proof of origin. UK VAT on food is 0%.

And for Switzerland?

Switzerland falls under the EFTA-Tunisia agreement. A preferential line exists but the exact tariff heading is to be confirmed on Tares (Swiss customs tariff). The origin document is the EUR.1.

What is the customs situation in the USA?

MFN regime (~3.4–5 ¢/kg) plus a fluctuating surtax context (Section 122/301). No free trade agreement on oil. Be sure to verify with a US customs broker before any quotation. See the USA market guide.

Which HS code for extra virgin olive oil?

1509.20 for EVOO. Virgin is under 1509.30, refined under 1509.90, pomace under 1510. The declared code determines the duty: have it confirmed by your freight forwarder.

Does import VAT add to the customs duty?

Yes, these are two separate levies. Even at 0% duty, import VAT applies: reduced in the EU (FR 5.5%, DE 7%, IT/ES 4%), 5% in the UAE, 15% in Saudi Arabia, 5% GST in Canada, 0% in the United Kingdom.

Does Canada apply a duty on Tunisian oil?

Canada applies 0% under MFN (most favored nation) on olive oil, without a specific agreement needed. The 5% GST remains and a common-law certificate of origin at clearance.

How do you make sure you pay 0% duty?

Three cumulative conditions: (1) import within the quota when one exists, (2) present the right origin document (EUR.1, Arab CO), (3) declare the correct HS code. Check all three with your freight forwarder and our customs tool.

Take action

You know the duty, the agreement and the origin document for each market. The next step: a dated quotation integrating duty, VAT and landed fees for your destination.

Request a free quote — a quotation + an origin document suited to your market.

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To go further: the complete A-Z guide to importing Tunisian olive oil, the country market sheets and the origins comparison.

Market data July 2026, indicative and to be re-checked before any commitment. Reference sources: EU regulation (tariff quota 09.4032, EUR.1), UK-Tunisia and EFTA-Tunisia agreements, GAFTA, IOC/T.15/NC trade standard, ONH/CEPEX (Tunisia).