Frequently Asked Questions

Olive oils have strict country-of-origin labeling requirements that are enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “Product of XX” refers to the origin of the oils in the bottle, meaning the olive oil was extracted from the olives in that country. “Imported from XX” or “Packed in XX” refers to where the oil was shipped or bottled; it does not mean the olive oil was produced in that country. All labels must include a “Product of” declaration to comply with the law, whether they include a “bottled in” or “packed in” statement or not; if olive oils from several countries are blended in the product, then each of the countries must be listed on the label as the countries of origin. (NOTE: NAOOA’s labeling guide recommends that where an “Imported from” or “Packed in” statement is made on the label, it should be in immediate proximity to the country-of-origin statement to avoid confusion.)

All olive oils produced in European Union member states, which includes more than 80% of the olive oil consumed in the U.S., are required to undergo risk analysis and controls to check for authenticity and conformity with labeling rules at every stage of marketing, including before they are exported.