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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
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Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : tidenq@tid.gcn.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/4

12 October 2002

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 203/02

European Union (EU)* :Marketing Standards for Olive Oil

The European Commission (EC) has adopted a Regulation setting out the marketing standards including the labelling rules for olive oil. A copy of the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1019/2002 is appended (pdf format) to this circular for reference.

DETAILS

  1.  

  2. In brief, the Regulation requires olive oil to be packaged and labelled as follows:

    packaging requirements -

    1. presented in packaging of not more than five litres except for cases intended for consumption in restaurants or other similar collective establishments;
       

    2. packaging should be fitted with an opening system that can no longer be sealed after the first time it is opened;

    labelling requirements -

    1. proper labelled, including a proper description on the categorisation of the olive oil;
       

    2. with regard to mixtures of olive oil with other vegetable oils, the presence of olive oil can only be highlighted on the label if it accounts for more than 50% of the blend; and
       

    3. for other foodstuffs, if traders want to highlight olive oil on the label, they must specify the share of olive oil either as percentage of the total net weight of the foodstuff or as percentage of the total weight of fats.

  3. The Regulation will take effect on 1 November 2002 except for products manufactured in or imported into the EU before 1 August 2002. The Regulation, however, allows the above labelling rules to apply in full from 1 November 2003.

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries about the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Sandra SOU)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* : The EU Member States are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.



  • While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.