Document templates for exporting olive oil

Q: What documents do you need to export olive oil?

At a minimum: proforma invoice then commercial invoice , packing list , bill of lading (B/L) , certificate of origin (EUR.1 for the EU, Arab CO for the Gulf), COA per batch (IOC-recognized lab), and depending on the market a health/phytosanitary certificate . A clear sales contract frames the whole. Generate the exact list with the docume

Q: What is a proforma invoice for?

The proforma invoice is a priced offer issued before the firm sale: it frames the category, quantity, packaging, incoterm and port, payment terms, and delivery time. It serves as the basis for the quote and the agreement. Always specify its validity , as prices change with the campaign.

Q: What is the difference between a proforma invoice and a commercial invoice?

The proforma is a preliminary offer (before sale); the commercial invoice is the official proof of the transaction, basis for customs clearance. The commercial one restates the proforma in its final version and must correspond exactly to the packing list and the B/L (weights, quantities, incoterm), on pain of blockage.

Q: What is the EUR.1 certificate and why is it crucial?

The EUR.1 is the movement certificate that proves Tunisian origin for the European Union and opens the zero duty within the tariff quota (quota at 0%). Without a valid EUR.1, or outside the quota, the EU buyer pays the full duty, a hidden cost that wipes out the margin. It is obtained from customs and must be anticipated.

Q: What certificate of origin for the Gulf?

For the Gulf (GAFTA) countries, the Arab certificate of origin opens the 0% duty, versus the GCC tariff applied to non-members. The format and authentication matter: a standard CO may not be enough. Check the exact requirement of the destination country before shipment.

Q: What must a packing list contain?

The number and type of packages (flexitanks, IBCs, drums, cartons/bottles), the net and gross weights per package and in total, the volume, the batch numbers for traceability, and the reference to the commercial invoice. Density reminder: 1 L of oil ≈ 0.913 kg, useful for converting volumes and weights.

Q: What must an olive oil sales contract contain?

The parties and the object, the quality specifications (category and thresholds: extra virgin acidity ≤ 0.80%, peroxide ≤ 20, K232 ≤ 2.50, K270 ≤ 0.22), quantity, packaging, incoterm and port, COA per batch and reference sample , quantified tolerances , payment terms, deadlines, penalties, and governing law . The tolerance clause is essen

Q: Why does an inconsistent documentary file block the goods?

Because customs and the freight forwarder check the concordance among the invoice, packing list, and B/L. Any discrepancy (weight, quantity, category, currency) triggers a control and immobilizes the container at the importer's expense . The rule: all the documents tell the same story, figure for figure.

Q: Who issues the COA and in what format?

The COA (certificate of analysis) is issued by an IOC-recognized laboratory (ONH obligation in Tunisia), per batch. It attests acidity, peroxide, K232/K270, sometimes polyphenols. The format may vary depending on the destination market: a certificate non-compliant with the country immobilizes the goods. Validate it with the quality classi

Q: Can you use the same templates for all markets?

The document structure is stable, but the format and the pieces vary by market : EUR.1 for the EU, Arab CO for the Gulf, FDA/FSVP requirements and US labeling for the USA, a specific COA format for some countries. Always adapt the file to the destination rather than applying a single template.

Are you looking for document templates to export or import olive oil — proforma invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, sales contract — and above all how to fill them in without errors? This guide is an annotated library: what each document is for, what it must contain, the mistakes that block a container, and how to keep the whole file consistent. Seller/exporter angle, with a buyer-side sidebar. Templates described, filling notes, and checklist included.

Free PDF pack: the templates (proforma, packing list, certificate of origin, contract) with filling notes. Get it by email »

Why documents decide a container's fate

Short answer: in an olive oil export, it is not the product that gets blocked at the port, it is the file. An invoice that does not match the packing list, a certificate of origin that is missing or in the wrong format, a COA non-compliant with the market: each inconsistency immobilizes the goods at the importer's expense. A consistent documentary file is therefore as much a sales tool as an anti-dispute insurance.

The golden rule: all the documents tell the same story. Same category, same quantities, same weights, same incoterm, same batch number, from end to end. This guide describes each piece and its filling note. The acronyms (COA, EUR.1, CO, B/L, MOQ, FOB, etc.) are defined in the glossary. The regulatory detail of the documents is in the export documents guide.

The document library at a glance

Document	Role	Issued by	Timing
Proforma invoice	Priced offer before sale	Seller	Before order (basis of the quote)
Commercial invoice	Proof of the transaction	Seller	At order / shipment
Packing list	Packaging, weights, volumes	Seller	At shipment
Bill of lading (B/L)	Sea transport title	Line / freight forwarder	At loading
Certificate of origin	Proves origin (preferential duty)	Authority (EUR.1 customs / CoC for CO)	Before customs clearance
COA	Attests the category per batch	IOC-recognized lab (via ONH)	Per batch
Sales contract	Legal framework of the agreement	Seller + buyer	Before shipment

Generate the exact list for your destination: document checklist.

Sidebar: buyer side / seller side

The same documents serve both parties — issuing them, or requiring them.

Angle	What the documents change for you	Reflex
Seller (exporter who issues)	A clean file shortens the cycle and avoids disputes	Consistent documents, EUR.1 anticipated, COA per batch
Exporter (Tunisia operations)	Their credibility rests on the file	Master the country's format (EUR.1, Arab CO, COA)
Buyer (importer)	An inconsistent file blocks their container	Require before shipment: proforma, COA, CO, clear contract

Issue an impeccable file (seller/exporter side)

Do you want to reassure and save time? Get ahead of the buyer's requests:

Provide upfront a detailed proforma invoice (category, incoterm, port, MOQ, tolerances).
Anticipate the appropriate certificate of origin (EUR.1 for the EU, Arab CO for the Gulf): without it, the buyer loses their preferential duty.
Attach the COA per batch (IOC-recognized lab) and respect the market format (e.g. original certificate for some countries).
Check the consistency among all documents before shipment: this is what avoids the blockage.

Structuring a complete documentary file is part of the quality & certifications and private label support.

Template 1 — Proforma invoice

Role: priced offer that serves as the basis for the quote and the agreement, before the firm sale. What it must contain:

Issuer/recipient, date, offer validity.
Designation: exact category (extra virgin, virgin, organic), variety, origin (Product of Tunisia).
Quantity, packaging (flexitank/IBC/drums/bottles), MOQ.
Unit price + incoterm + port (e.g. "FOB Radès").
Payment terms (30% deposit + balance against documents / LC).
Delivery time and reference.

Note: the proforma commits morally; be precise on the incoterm and validity (prices move with the campaign). Price benchmark: ~3.80 €/kg FOB extra virgin.

Template 2 — Commercial invoice

Role: official proof of the transaction, basis for customs clearance. It restates the proforma in its final version and must correspond exactly to the packing list and the B/L:

Invoice number and date, contract reference.
Designation, category, quantity, net/gross weight, price, total amount.
Incoterm and port, currency, payment terms.
Origin, HS code (olive oil customs nomenclature).

Note: the slightest discrepancy in weight or quantity among invoice, packing list, and B/L triggers a control and a blockage. Check consistency figure by figure.

Template 3 — Packing list

Role: details the physical content of the shipment for customs and the freight forwarder:

Number and type of packages (flexitanks, IBCs, drums, cartons/bottles).
Net and gross weight per package and total, volume.
Batch numbers (traceability), marks and numbers.
Reference to the commercial invoice.

Note: density reminder — 1 L of oil ≈ 0.913 kg. Useful for converting volumes into weights and checking consistency with the invoice and the container's capacity.

Template 4 — Certificate of origin

Role: proves Tunisian origin to obtain the preferential duty. The right format depends on the market:

EUR.1 for the European Union: opens the zero duty within the tariff quota (quota at 0%, which runs out each year). Forgetting the EUR.1 = the buyer pays the full duty, which wipes out the margin.
Arab certificate of origin for the Gulf (GAFTA): 0% with the Arab CO, versus the GCC tariff for non-members.
Standard CO (chamber of commerce) for other markets.

Note: the certificate is obtained from the competent authority (customs for the EUR.1, chamber of commerce for the CO). Anticipate: a missing or erroneous certificate blocks customs clearance.

Template 5 — Sales contract

Role: legal framework that protects both parties. A solid template contains:

Parties and object (category, variety, origin).
Quality specifications: extra virgin (acidity ≤ 0.80%, peroxide ≤ 20, K232 ≤ 2.50, K270 ≤ 0.22), polyphenols if EFSA claim (≥ 250 mg/kg).
Quantity, packaging, incoterm, and port.
COA per batch (IOC-recognized lab) and reference sample as the contractual basis.
Quantified tolerances (acidity/weight deviation tolerated before price reduction/refusal).
Payment terms (deposit, LC), deadlines, penalties.
Governing law and dispute resolution method.

Note: a contract without a tolerance clause turns every deviation on arrival into a dispute. Write down the thresholds and remedies. See the olive oil negotiation guide for the points to lock down.

How to keep a consistent file

The common thread of any export file: one single story, everywhere.

Same figures: identical quantity, net/gross weight, amount, and currency on the invoice, packing list, and B/L.
Same category: the designation (extra virgin, organic) is the same from the proforma to the COA.
Same incoterm and port everywhere.
Batch number traceable from the packing list to the COA.
Market format respected: EUR.1 for the EU, Arab CO for the Gulf, the country's COA format, appropriate labeling.

Check completeness and consistency before shipment: document checklist. Validate the COA with the quality classifier.

Document mistakes that block a container

Discrepancy between invoice / packing list / B/L: different weights or quantities trigger a control.
EUR.1 forgotten: the EU buyer loses the quota's zero duty — a hidden cost that wipes out the margin.
Wrong certificate of origin: standard CO where the market requires the EUR.1 or the Arab CO.
COA in the wrong format: a certificate non-compliant with the country immobilizes the goods.
Contract without a tolerance clause: the slightest acidity deviation becomes a dispute.
Inconsistent category among proforma, invoice, and COA.
Missing batch number: broken traceability, reinforced control.
Non-compliant labeling for the market (language, statements): customs refusal.

Golden rules for export documents

One single story everywhere: same figures, category, incoterm, batch on all documents.
Appropriate certificate of origin: EUR.1 (EU), Arab CO (Gulf), standard CO elsewhere.
COA per batch in the market's format, from an IOC-recognized lab.
Contract with a tolerance clause: written thresholds and remedies.
Consistency checked before shipment: invoice = packing list = B/L.
Anticipate the certificates (EUR.1, health) rather than discovering them at the port.

Document checklist » for completeness, then quality classifier » for the COA.

FAQ — Olive oil export document templates

What documents do you need to export olive oil?

At a minimum: proforma invoice then commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (B/L), certificate of origin (EUR.1 for the EU, Arab CO for the Gulf), COA per batch (IOC-recognized lab), and depending on the market a health/phytosanitary certificate. A clear sales contract frames the whole. Generate the exact list with the document checklist.

What is a proforma invoice for?

The proforma invoice is a priced offer issued before the firm sale: it frames the category, quantity, packaging, incoterm and port, payment terms, and delivery time. It serves as the basis for the quote and the agreement. Always specify its validity, as prices change with the campaign.

What is the difference between a proforma invoice and a commercial invoice?

The proforma is a preliminary offer (before sale); the commercial invoice is the official proof of the transaction, basis for customs clearance. The commercial one restates the proforma in its final version and must correspond exactly to the packing list and the B/L (weights, quantities, incoterm), on pain of blockage.

What is the EUR.1 certificate and why is it crucial?

The EUR.1 is the movement certificate that proves Tunisian origin for the European Union and opens the zero duty within the tariff quota (quota at 0%). Without a valid EUR.1, or outside the quota, the EU buyer pays the full duty, a hidden cost that wipes out the margin. It is obtained from customs and must be anticipated.

What certificate of origin for the Gulf?

For the Gulf (GAFTA) countries, the Arab certificate of origin opens the 0% duty, versus the GCC tariff applied to non-members. The format and authentication matter: a standard CO may not be enough. Check the exact requirement of the destination country before shipment.

What must a packing list contain?

The number and type of packages (flexitanks, IBCs, drums, cartons/bottles), the net and gross weights per package and in total, the volume, the batch numbers for traceability, and the reference to the commercial invoice. Density reminder: 1 L of oil ≈ 0.913 kg, useful for converting volumes and weights.

What must an olive oil sales contract contain?

The parties and the object, the quality specifications (category and thresholds: extra virgin acidity ≤ 0.80%, peroxide ≤ 20, K232 ≤ 2.50, K270 ≤ 0.22), quantity, packaging, incoterm and port, COA per batch and reference sample, quantified tolerances, payment terms, deadlines, penalties, and governing law. The tolerance clause is essential.

Why does an inconsistent documentary file block the goods?

Because customs and the freight forwarder check the concordance among the invoice, packing list, and B/L. Any discrepancy (weight, quantity, category, currency) triggers a control and immobilizes the container at the importer's expense. The rule: all the documents tell the same story, figure for figure.

Who issues the COA and in what format?

The COA (certificate of analysis) is issued by an IOC-recognized laboratory (ONH obligation in Tunisia), per batch. It attests acidity, peroxide, K232/K270, sometimes polyphenols. The format may vary depending on the destination market: a certificate non-compliant with the country immobilizes the goods. Validate it with the quality classifier.

Can you use the same templates for all markets?

The document structure is stable, but the format and the pieces vary by market: EUR.1 for the EU, Arab CO for the Gulf, FDA/FSVP requirements and US labeling for the USA, a specific COA format for some countries. Always adapt the file to the destination rather than applying a single template.

How do you obtain a certificate of origin?

Depending on the type: the EUR.1 is obtained from customs (on proof of preferential origin); the standard or Arab certificate of origin is generally obtained from the chamber of commerce. Anticipate the request: a missing or erroneous certificate blocks customs clearance on arrival.

Where can I find ready-to-fill templates?

This guide's PDF pack (lead magnet below) gathers the annotated templates: proforma, packing list, certificate of origin, and sales contract, with a filling note. For a file adapted to your market and verified by an approved exporter, request a free quote with a sample documentary file.

Build a flawless documentary file

You know each document (proforma, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, sales contract), what it must contain, and how to keep the whole consistent. The next step: retrieve the templates and check your file before shipment.

Document checklist » then quality classifier ».

Request a free quote — dated quotation, sample COA, and sample documentary file (proforma, packing list, CO, contract template) from an approved exporter, adapted to your market. Drawer pre-filled with "Document Templates Guide".

Free PDF pack (lead magnet): receive by email the "Olive oil export document templates" pack — proforma, packing list, certificate of origin, and sales contract template, with a filling note. Simple sign-up (Brevo double opt-in), no spam. Receive the PDF pack »

To go further, read the first order guide, the olive oil negotiation guide, the export documents guide, and the incoterms guide.

Data July 2026, indicative and to be re-verified before any commitment. Sources: EU regulation (EUR.1/tariff quota), IOC trade standard COI/T.15/NC (categories/COA), international trade practices (incoterms, packing list, B/L), ONH export approval (Tunisia).