Are the 7 certificates for imported olive oil incomplete? You may have bought fake products

When Ms. Li picked up a bottle of imported olive oil labeled “Extra Virgin” on the supermarket shelf, she might not have thought that there were 7 “identity cards” behind this bottle of oil that determined its quality. Today, we are going to uncover the truth about these mysterious certificates - they are not only the pass for legal entry, but also a magnifying glass for consumers to distinguish authenticity.

Why does imported olive oil need to “work with certificates”?

According to statistics, China imports over 50,000 tons of olive oil every year, but about 15% of it is returned due to incomplete certificates. Mr. Zhang, an importer with ten - year experience, frankly said, “Without one certificate, the entire batch of goods may be held up at the customs, resulting in losses in the millions.” The 7 certificates for importing olive oil are like seven - layer filters, screening out unqualified products layer by layer:

• Certificate of origin: Reveals whether the “Mediterranean lineage” is pure
• Health certificate: The “medical report” for laboratory testing of agricultural residues and heavy metals
• Component analysis report: Only when the acidity ≤ 0.8% is it truly “Extra Virgin”

Which 3 certificates are most likely to be faked and how can consumers identify them?

The Zhongshitong Testing Laboratory once found that some “imported” olive oils were actually products with labels changed at the border. These three certificates should be carefully verified:

• Quarantine permit: Look for the 18 - digit number that can be checked on the website of the General Administration of Customs
• Packing list/Bill of lading: Direct delivery in the original box is more reliable than the “one - day tour in the bonded zone”
• Test report: Check whether the testing institution has CNAS accreditation

“We have seen ‘Extra Virgin’ blended with soybean oil,” Mr. Zhang showed an authentic test report, “The trans - fatty acid content of genuine products is usually < 0.05%.”

Does a complete set of 7 certificates equal quality assurance? Beware of these hidden traps

Even if the certificates are complete, there are still three gray areas:

• The filling date is 2 years later than the production date? It may have passed the best flavor period
• Labeled as “organic” but without both EU/China certifications
• The acidity is qualified but the antioxidant exceeds the standard

Ms. Li's purchasing experience is: “Check if the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) is marked on the bottle. This is more persuasive than any advertisement.”

Action guide: Three steps to verify your olive oil

You might do the following when purchasing next time:

• Scan the CIQ traceability code (Entry - Exit Inspection and Quarantine mark) on the Chinese back label
• Compare whether the production batches of the original bottle label and the Chinese label are consistent
• Log in to the website of the General Administration of Customs to query the registration list of overseas production enterprises of imported food

When more and more consumers learn to “vote” with certificates, the market will naturally eliminate those shoddy products. Does your family's olive oil really “work with certificates”?