Olive oil
Throughout its history, olive oil has always been an important product for the Mediterranean diet thanks to its nutritional, health and sensory proprieties. The health and nutritional benefits of using olive oil are today known world wide.
The UK does not grow olives but is a consumer of olive oil with sales growing year on year.
In the context of the European Union, olive oil plays a significant role. The EU produces 80 per cent and consumes 70 per cent of the world’s olive oil. The olive oil trade is constantly monitored and improved as a result of proposals and policies adopted by the European Union and work done by the International Olive Oil Council to improve production and quality. Some promotional work is also funded and supported.
Most of the queries we receive at Defra are very similar. If you have a query, please first see our frequently asked questions section to see if your query can be answered here.
Documents that provide further information or extra help are as follows:
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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1019/2002 as amended, on Olive Oil Marketing Standards and Commission’s Explanatory Note (PDF 180 KB).
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Guidance Note on Olive Oil Marketing Standards Legislation (PDF 30 KB) (revised 25 August 2007)
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Statutory Instrument 2003/2577 which covers the enforcement of the EU marketing standards legislation for the retail sale of olive oil in Great Britain. (Northern Ireland has similar provisions).
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Page last modified:
24 August 2007
Page published: 14 March 2005