Importing Tunisian olive oil into the United States: FDA

Q: In brief: how do you import olive oil into the USA?

Short answer: importing olive oil into the United States involves six formalities: (1) register the production facility with the FDA, (2) designate a US agent , (3) set up an FSVP on the importer side, (4) file a Prior Notice before each shipment, (5) classify under the right HTS 1509 code , (6) check the tariff situation with a US broker

Q: Do you need an FDA registration to import olive oil into the USA?

Yes. The production facility must obtain a Food Facility Registration with the FDA (free, biennial renewal). Without it, no Prior Notice is possible and the cargo cannot enter.

Q: What is the FSVP and who must set it up?

The FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) is an FSMA program that requires the American importer to verify that its foreign supplier meets equivalent food safety standards. The exporter must provide the evidence (COA, food safety plan, certifications).

Q: What is the Prior Notice?

It is the mandatory advance notice sent to the FDA before the arrival of each food cargo, stating the registered facility, the product, the quantity, and the port of entry. A missing or erroneous Prior Notice leads to refusal or holding at the port.

Q: What customs code for olive oil in the USA?

The HTS 1509 : 1509.20 for EVOO, 1509.30 for virgin, 1509.90 for refined and blends. The 8-10 digit subheading and the current tariff situation set the exact duty.

Q: What is the customs duty on Tunisian olive oil in the USA?

A base MFN duty (~3.4–5 ¢/kg) plus a context of surcharges in flux (Section 122/301), without federal VAT but with MPF and HMF . The status changes: check with a US customs broker before quoting.

Q: Does the importer or exporter bear the FDA formalities?

Both share them: the exporter registers its facility, appoints the US agent, and provides the evidence; the US importer bears the FSVP and often files the Prior Notice. Each of these pieces blocks the goods if it is missing.

Q: What labeling statements to sell at retail in the USA?

Nutrition Facts in the American format, statements in English, identified US responsible party, origin declaration ("Product of Tunisia"), without any unauthorized health claim. For bulk, retail labeling is borne by the local bottler.

Are you targeting the American market — the 3rd destination for Tunisian oil — and want to import without risking a refusal at the port or an unexpected surcharge? This guide details the FDA / FSMA formalities (facility registration, US agent, FSVP, Prior Notice), the HTS 1509 classification, and the tariff situation in flux that you must absolutely verify before quoting. Steps, dated tables, mistakes to avoid, and checklists included.

Free PDF checklist: the FDA/FSVP/Prior Notice formalities, ready to tick, with who does what on the exporter side and the US importer side. Get it by email »

In brief: how do you import olive oil into the USA?

Short answer: importing olive oil into the United States involves six formalities: (1) register the production facility with the FDA, (2) designate a US agent, (3) set up an FSVP on the importer side, (4) file a Prior Notice before each shipment, (5) classify under the right HTS 1509 code, (6) check the tariff situation with a US broker. Olive oil is not a low-acid food subject to process registration, but it falls fully under the FSMA.

The United States absorbs a significant share of Tunisian exports. The market is open but procedural: the FDA can refuse a cargo for a missing registration, a late Prior Notice, or an absent FSVP. This guide clearly separates what falls to the Tunisian exporter (registration, agent, documents) from what falls to the American importer (FSVP), because both block the goods if they are missing.

Tariff situation: to be verified without fail

First things first: the US customs duty on olive oil is in flux.

Base MFN duty: ~3.4–5 ¢/kg depending on the subheading.
Surcharges: a context of additional measures (Section 122 / Section 301) may be added to the MFN and changes regularly.
No federal VAT, but fees: MPF (Merchandise Processing Fee) and HMF (Harbor Maintenance Fee) on entry by sea.

Never quote the USA without confirmation. The exact status of the surcharges changes; a quotation based on an outdated duty wipes out the margin. Check the total duty at the shipping date with a US customs broker. General tariff benchmarks in our customs & agreements guide and our customs tool.

Step 1 — Register the facility with the FDA

Every plant that manufactures, processes, packs, or stores food destined for the United States must obtain a Food Facility Registration with the FDA.

Who: the Tunisian production facility (the exporter).
Cost: FDA registration is free.
Renewal: biennial (even years), on pain of suspension.
Result: an FDA registration number, indispensable for the Prior Notice.

Without this valid registration, no shipment can be announced to the FDA. Compliance details on our FDA / FSMA certification page.

Exporter side: check the renewal date. An expired registration blocks all your US shipments simultaneously.

Step 2 — Designate a US Agent

Every registered foreign facility must appoint a US agent physically present in the United States.

Role: FDA point of contact, communication relay, assistance in case of inspection or query.
Who: a third party based in the USA (often a specialized provider, the importer, or a firm).
Mandatory: yes, the FDA registration is incomplete without a designated agent.

Buyer side (US importer): you can play this agent role, or direct your supplier to a provider. Clarify it before the first shipment.

Step 3 — Set up an FSVP program on the importer side

The FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program), a pillar of the FSMA, requires the American importer to verify that its foreign supplier produces to equivalent food safety standards.

Who bears the obligation: the US importer (not the exporter), but the exporter must provide the evidence (analyses, HACCP/food safety plan, certifications).
Content: hazard evaluation, supplier verification, documentation retained.
Penalty: a cargo without an identified FSVP importer can be refused.

Buyer side: designate a clearly identified FSVP importer (with a DUNS number) for each product. It is your legal responsibility, but it blocks the goods if it is missing. Exporter side: facilitate the FSVP by providing COA per batch, food safety plan, and certifications — this speeds up entry.

Step 4 — File the Prior Notice before each shipment

The Prior Notice is the mandatory advance notice transmitted to the FDA before the arrival of each food cargo.

Element	Detail
When	Before arrival, within the FDA windows (depending on mode: sea, air, etc.)
Who	The filer (importer, broker, or agent)
Content	FDA identity of the facility, product (FDA product code), quantity, shipper, consignee, port of entry
Penalty	Cargo refused / held at the port if the Prior Notice is missing or erroneous

The Prior Notice relies on the FDA registration (step 1): the two are linked. An error in the facility's identity invalidates the notice.

Exporter side: transmit on time to the filer all the Prior Notice data (FDA number, product code, quantities). A delay = a container held.

Step 5 — Classify the goods under the right HTS 1509 code

In the United States, the tariff is read in the HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule), which breaks down HS 1509:

HTS base	Product
1509.20	Extra virgin olive oil
1509.30	Virgin olive oil
1509.40	Other virgin olive oils
1509.90	Refined olive oil and blends

The 8-10 digit HTS subheadings specify the packaging (bulk vs containers) and determine the exact duty and the fees (MPF/HMF). It is this code, and the current tariff situation, that set your total duty — hence the importance of the broker (step 6).

Buyer side: require on the invoice the wording "extra virgin olive oil — HTS 1509.20" consistent with the batch's COA.

Step 6 — Check the tariff situation with a US broker

The last step, but a decisive one for your margin: have the total duty at the shipping date confirmed by a US customs broker.

Base MFN duty + possible surcharges (Section 122/301).
MPF and HMF applicable.
Verification of the FSVP importer and the Prior Notice before arrival.

Then cost the full landed cost (FOB + freight + duty + US fees) with the export cost calculator.

US labeling: the pitfall that blocks entry

A non-compliant label = FDA refusal. For olive oil sold at retail in the USA:

Nutrition Facts in the American format (servings in US measures).
Statements in English, name and address of the US responsible party.
Origin declaration ("Product of Tunisia").
No health claim not authorized by the FDA.

For bulk destined for local bottling, retail labeling is borne by the US bottler — but the COA and traceability remain required.

Mistakes to avoid (the pitfalls of the US market)

Quoting on an outdated duty → surcharges ignored, margin wiped out. Go through a broker.
Expired FDA registration (biennial renewal forgotten) → all shipments blocked.
No designated US agent → incomplete registration.
FSVP importer not identified → cargo refused.
Late or erroneous Prior Notice → container held at the port.
Approximate HTS code → wrong duty, reclassification.
Nutrition Facts in a non-US format → blockage at entry.
Untreated wood pallets → refusal (see the phytosanitary & fumigation guide).

Why the US market is worth the preparation

Three verifiable facts:

Major outlet: the USA is among the top destinations for Tunisian oil.
Competitive origin price: ≈ 3.80–4.00 €/kg FOB for a Tunisian EVOO, before duty — an advantage over more expensive origins.
Quality recognition: Tunisia collects a growing number of medals at the NYIOOC (New York competition), a strong argument with American buyers.

The market is procedural but very accessible once the FDA/FSMA formalities are in place. Conclusion: prepare the file early, quote with a broker.

Request a free quote — dated quotation for the USA, FDA/FSVP file, and document checklist. Drawer pre-filled with "US Market Guide".

FAQ — Importing olive oil into the USA

Do you need an FDA registration to import olive oil into the USA?

Yes. The production facility must obtain a Food Facility Registration with the FDA (free, biennial renewal). Without it, no Prior Notice is possible and the cargo cannot enter.

What is the FSVP and who must set it up?

The FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) is an FSMA program that requires the American importer to verify that its foreign supplier meets equivalent food safety standards. The exporter must provide the evidence (COA, food safety plan, certifications).

What is the Prior Notice?

It is the mandatory advance notice sent to the FDA before the arrival of each food cargo, stating the registered facility, the product, the quantity, and the port of entry. A missing or erroneous Prior Notice leads to refusal or holding at the port.

Do you need a US Agent?

Yes. Every foreign facility registered with the FDA must designate an agent based in the United States, the FDA's point of contact. The registration is incomplete without one.

What customs code for olive oil in the USA?

The HTS 1509: 1509.20 for EVOO, 1509.30 for virgin, 1509.90 for refined and blends. The 8-10 digit subheading and the current tariff situation set the exact duty.

What is the customs duty on Tunisian olive oil in the USA?

A base MFN duty (~3.4–5 ¢/kg) plus a context of surcharges in flux (Section 122/301), without federal VAT but with MPF and HMF. The status changes: check with a US customs broker before quoting.

Does the FDA require a process registration for olive oil?

No. Olive oil is not an "acidified" or "low-acid" food (LACF) subject to process registration. It falls under the general FSMA rules (facility registration, FSVP, Prior Notice).

Does the importer or exporter bear the FDA formalities?

Both share them: the exporter registers its facility, appoints the US agent, and provides the evidence; the US importer bears the FSVP and often files the Prior Notice. Each of these pieces blocks the goods if it is missing.

What labeling statements to sell at retail in the USA?

Nutrition Facts in the American format, statements in English, identified US responsible party, origin declaration ("Product of Tunisia"), without any unauthorized health claim. For bulk, retail labeling is borne by the local bottler.

Do you need USDA organic certification to sell organic in the USA?

Yes, to claim "organic" in the United States, a USDA NOP certification is required. EU organic certification (Ecocert) alone is not enough for the "organic" claim on the American market.

How long does FDA compliance take?

FDA registration itself is quick (online, free). Above all, allow time to designate the US agent, build the FSVP on the importer side, and get the Prior Notice filing running smoothly. Anticipate well ahead of the first shipment.

Do wood pallets pose a problem at entry into the USA?

Yes. Wood packaging must comply with ISPM 15 / IPPC (treatment + marking). An untreated pallet can cause the cargo to be refused. See our phytosanitary & fumigation guide.

Take action

You have the complete map of the US market: FDA, agent, FSVP, Prior Notice, HTS, and tariff situation. The next step: a dated quotation confirmed with a broker.

Request a free quote — US quotation + sample FDA/FSVP file.

Free PDF checklist (lead magnet): receive by email the "Importing olive oil into the USA" checklist — FDA, US agent, FSVP, Prior Notice, HTS, and labeling, with who does what. Simple sign-up (Brevo double opt-in), no spam. Receive the PDF checklist »

To go further: the United States market page, the customs & agreements guide, and the FDA/FSMA certification page.

Market data July 2026, indicative and to be re-verified before any commitment. The US tariff situation (Section 122/301) is evolving — confirm with a US customs broker. Reference sources: FDA (FSMA, FSVP, Prior Notice, Food Facility Registration), US HTS, IOC standard COI/T.15/NC, ONH/CEPEX (Tunisia).