The EU quota for Tunisian olive oil (SICAD & AGRIM)

Q: In brief: how does the 0% EU quota work?

Short answer: the EU opens for Tunisian olive oil a zero-duty (0%) tariff-rate quota of 56,700 tonnes per year (quota TRQ 09.4032 ). On the Tunisian side, access to the quota goes through an authorisation/allocation managed via SICAD . On the EU side, the importer mobilises an AGRIM import licence . This quota is regularly exhausted befor

Q: What is the volume of the EU quota for Tunisian olive oil?

The zero-duty tariff-rate quota is 56,700 tonnes per year (quota TRQ 09.4032 ). Within this quota, the EU customs duty is 0% . This volume is with official sources.

Q: What is the TRQ 09.4032 quota?

It is the reference of the preferential tariff-rate quota opened by the EU for Tunisian olive oil, allowing imports of up to ~56,700 t/year at 0% customs duty. Beyond that, imports go out of quota .

Q: What is the AGRIM licence?

It is the agricultural import certificate that the EU importer mobilises to clear customs within the 0% quota and charge volumes against the quota. Without a valid AGRIM licence (and without an available quota), the import does not benefit from the 0%.

Q: What is the out-of-quota customs duty?

Out of quota, the EU duty is high : a specific duty of around €124.50/100 kg . The gap with the 0% is considerable and changes the whole economics of the operation — hence the value of staying within the quota.

Q: When is the EU quota exhausted?

The TRQ 09.4032 quota is regularly exhausted before the end of the campaign . The precise opening and consumption calendar is. The practical rule: quote and book early in the period.

Q: Do you need a certificate of origin to benefit from the 0%?

Yes. The preferential regime rests on a EUR.1 certificate of origin, attesting to Tunisian origin. Without EUR.1, the customs advantage is lost, even if the quota is still available. See export documentation.

Q: Who must obtain SICAD and who must obtain AGRIM?

SICAD falls to the Tunisian exporter (access to the quota on the Tunisian side); the AGRIM licence falls to the EU importer (charging against the quota on the European customs side). Both must be coordinated with the EUR.1.

Are you exporting or importing Tunisian olive oil to the EU and do you want to benefit from the 0% customs duty? This guide explains the preferential tariff-rate quota (TRQ 09.4032, 56,700 t/year), the SICAD authorisation on the Tunisian side, the calendar of opening and exhaustion, the AGRIM licence on the EU importer side, and what happens out of quota. Exporter and buyer angles. Tables, checklists and mistakes to avoid included.

Free PDF checklist: EU quota, SICAD/AGRIM certificates, calendar and EUR.1 in a one-page tick-box format. Get it by email »

In brief: how does the 0% EU quota work?

Short answer: the EU opens for Tunisian olive oil a zero-duty (0%) tariff-rate quota of 56,700 tonnes per year (quota TRQ 09.4032). On the Tunisian side, access to the quota goes through an authorisation/allocation managed via SICAD. On the EU side, the importer mobilises an AGRIM import licence. This quota is regularly exhausted before the end of the campaign; out of quota, the EU duty is high). Hence the rule: file early. Benefiting from the 0% also requires a EUR.1 certificate of origin.

Preferential access to the EU is one of the major assets of Tunisian origin. But the zero duty is not automatic: it depends on the quota, the certificates and the right timing. The acronyms (TRQ, SICAD, AGRIM, EUR.1…) are defined in the glossary.

Sidebar: the 3 angles of the EU quota

The quota plays out at both ends of the chain — the seller/exporter in Tunisia and the buyer/importer in the EU.

Angle	Who	What the quota changes	Where the site helps
Exporter (Tunisia)	Wants to ship at 0%	Must go through SICAD and issue the EUR.1	This guide + documentation
Buyer (EU importer)	Wants to clear customs at 0%	Must mobilise an AGRIM licence within the quota	Customs tool
Seller	Wants to quote accurately	The "in/out of quota" status changes the landed price	Export cost calculator

Reading rule: the 0% is only secured if the quota is not exhausted and the certificates (SICAD, AGRIM, EUR.1) are in order. A missing document = full duty.

Step 1 — Understand the tariff-rate quota (TRQ 09.4032) at 0%

The EU grants Tunisia a zero-duty tariff-rate quota for olive oil:

Item	Reference	To verify
Quota volume	56,700 tonnes / year	Official volume in force
Reference	TRQ 09.4032	Quota number
In-quota duty	0%	Confirmed on the EU side
Out-of-quota duty	High — specific duty of around €124.50/100 kg	Exact and up-to-date rate
Required origin	EUR.1 certificate	Origin conditions

Key point: the quota is limited and annual. Once the 56,700 t is reached, imports shift out of quota, with a high specific duty that sharply increases the landed cost of oil into the EU.

Step 2 — On the exporter side: obtain the SICAD authorisation

On the Tunisian side, access to the EU quota is regulated: the allocation/export authorisation within the quota is managed via SICAD.

Export authorisation within the framework of the EU quota.
Coordination with the ONH accreditation: the exporter must be accredited (see ONH accreditation guide) and comply with the specifications.
Origin documents to prepare in parallel (EUR.1).

On the exporter side: the exact procedures for obtaining the SICAD authorisation (procedure, calendar, allocation) are **.

Step 3 — Anticipate the quota opening and exhaustion calendar

The quota follows an annual period. In practice, it is regularly exhausted before the end of the campaign, which makes timing decisive.

Opening: the quota opens at the start of the period — the first applications are served first.
Exhaustion: as soon as the 56,700 t is reached, the 0% is no longer available; subsequent imports go out of quota.
Consequence: quoting and booking early protects the margin.

EU quota: the TRQ 09.4032 quota is regularly exhausted before the end of the campaign. Request the certificates early so you don't shift out of quota.

The precise official calendar (opening dates, tranche management) is to be verified with the EU/Tunisian authorities.

Step 4 — On the importer side: obtain the AGRIM licence

On the EU side, the importer who wants to clear customs within the 0% quota mobilises an AGRIM import licence (agricultural import certificate).

AGRIM licence: import title allowing volumes to be charged against the quota.
Charging against the quota: each import within the quota reduces the available balance.
Coordination: the importer must synchronise their licence with the exporter's shipment and the EUR.1.

On the buyer side: without a valid AGRIM licence and without an available quota, your import does not benefit from the 0% — you pay the out-of-quota duty. The procedures for obtaining the AGRIM are **.

Estimate your landed cost according to the "in/out of quota" status with the export cost calculator and check your country's customs sheet with the olive oil import customs tool.

Step 5 — Gather the EUR.1 and the origin documents

Benefiting from the preferential regime rests on proof of Tunisian origin.

EUR.1: movement certificate attesting to the EU-Tunisia preferential origin.
Documentary consistency: EUR.1 aligned with invoice, packing list, bill of lading (B/L) and COA.
Anticipation: the EUR.1 must be issued on time; an oversight forfeits the customs advantage even if the quota is available.

Generate your tailored document list with the export documents checklist. Details on the export documentation page.

On the exporter side: the EUR.1 conditions the 0% — an oversight costs the full duty, whether or not the quota is available.

Step 6 — Calculate the out-of-quota cost and decide

If the quota is exhausted (or if you cannot mobilise an AGRIM licence), the import is made out of quota, at the high specific duty.

Situation	EU customs duty	Effect on the landed price
In quota (SICAD + AGRIM + EUR.1)	0%	Competitive landed price
Out of quota	Specific duty of around €124.50/100 kg	Sharply increased landed price

Key point: the gap between "in quota" and "out of quota" is considerable. This is why planning (SICAD, AGRIM, EUR.1) and timing prevail over everything else for the EU market.

Compare your scenarios with the export cost calculator.

EU quota checklist (SICAD / AGRIM)

Exporter side (Tunisia)

ONH accreditation in order (see ONH accreditation)
Export authorisation within the quota via SICAD
EUR.1 certificate of origin anticipated
Batch ↔ COA ↔ documents consistency

Importer side (EU)

AGRIM licence obtained and valid
Quota TRQ 09.4032 still available
Volume charging verified
Landed cost calculated (in/out of quota)

Timing

Applications filed early in the period
Out-of-quota scenario costed just in case

Mistakes to avoid

Waiting to quote: the TRQ 09.4032 quota often runs out before the end of the campaign — the delay shifts you out of quota.
Forgetting the EUR.1: without a certificate of origin, no 0%, even with an available quota.
Ignoring the AGRIM licence on the importer side: it conditions the charging against the quota.
Confusing overall volume and available balance: what matters is the remaining quota at the time of import.
Underestimating the out-of-quota duty: the specific duty) changes the whole economics of the operation.
Not synchronising exporter and importer: SICAD, AGRIM and EUR.1 must be coordinated.
Relying on undated figures: volumes and duties are to be re-verified.

Golden rules

Quota = 56,700 t/year at 0% (TRQ 09.4032) — limited and annual.
SICAD on the Tunisian side, AGRIM on the EU importer side: both titles count.
EUR.1 mandatory for preferential origin.
File early: the quota runs out before the end of the campaign.
Out of quota = high specific duty.
Date and re-verify every figure with the competent authorities.

Connect this guide to the ONH accreditation and the A-Z guide to importing Tunisian olive oil.

FAQ — EU quota, SICAD & AGRIM

What is the volume of the EU quota for Tunisian olive oil?

The zero-duty tariff-rate quota is 56,700 tonnes per year (quota TRQ 09.4032). Within this quota, the EU customs duty is 0%. This volume is with official sources.

What is the TRQ 09.4032 quota?

It is the reference of the preferential tariff-rate quota opened by the EU for Tunisian olive oil, allowing imports of up to ~56,700 t/year at 0% customs duty. Beyond that, imports go out of quota.

What is SICAD in olive oil export?

On the Tunisian side, access to the EU quota and the export allocation/authorisation are managed via SICAD. The exporter must obtain this authorisation, in addition to being ONH-accredited. The exact procedures are **.

What is the AGRIM licence?

It is the agricultural import certificate that the EU importer mobilises to clear customs within the 0% quota and charge volumes against the quota. Without a valid AGRIM licence (and without an available quota), the import does not benefit from the 0%.

What is the out-of-quota customs duty?

Out of quota, the EU duty is high: a specific duty of around €124.50/100 kg. The gap with the 0% is considerable and changes the whole economics of the operation — hence the value of staying within the quota.

When is the EU quota exhausted?

The TRQ 09.4032 quota is regularly exhausted before the end of the campaign. The precise opening and consumption calendar is. The practical rule: quote and book early in the period.

Do you need a certificate of origin to benefit from the 0%?

Yes. The preferential regime rests on a EUR.1 certificate of origin, attesting to Tunisian origin. Without EUR.1, the customs advantage is lost, even if the quota is still available. See export documentation.

Who must obtain SICAD and who must obtain AGRIM?

SICAD falls to the Tunisian exporter (access to the quota on the Tunisian side); the AGRIM licence falls to the EU importer (charging against the quota on the European customs side). Both must be coordinated with the EUR.1.

How do you calculate the cost according to the quota status?

Compare two scenarios: "in quota" (0%) and "out of quota". The gap on the landed price is major. Use the export cost calculator and the customs tool.

Does the EU quota concern organic oil as well as conventional oil?

The tariff-rate quota covers olive oil of Tunisian origin; organic adds a certification requirement (Ecocert) distinct from the customs regime. The precise charging conditions are according to the nomenclature.

What happens if the quota is exhausted at the time of my import?

Your import is made out of quota, at the high specific duty. You then have to cost whether the operation remains profitable, postpone the shipment to the following campaign, or adjust the destination market. Anticipating avoids this scenario.

Where can I verify the official quota figures?

With the EU customs authorities and the competent Tunisian authorities (ONH, SICAD). The quota volume, out-of-quota duties and calendar evolve: do not rely on any undated figure and re-verify before any commitment.

Take action

You now know how to secure the EU zero duty: SICAD on the Tunisian side, AGRIM on the importer side, EUR.1 and the right timing. The next step: cost your operation and book early.

Request a free quote — a dated quotation, with quota status and landed cost, from an accredited exporter. Drawer pre-filled "EU quota / SICAD guide".

Free PDF checklist (lead magnet): receive by email the "EU quota & certificates (SICAD / AGRIM)" checklist — calendar, documents, EUR.1 and out-of-quota scenario, ready to tick. Simple sign-up (Brevo double opt-in), no spam. Receive the PDF checklist »

To go further, read the ONH accreditation guide, the ONH specifications guide, the export earnings repatriation guide and the A-Z guide to importing Tunisian olive oil.

Regulatory data July 2026, indicative and to be re-verified before any commitment. Sources: EU regulation (TRQ 09.4032 tariff-rate quota, EUR.1, AGRIM licences), Tunisian authorities (ONH, SICAD). Volumes, out-of-quota duties and calendar to be confirmed with the competent authorities.