Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-001388/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Biljana Borzan (S&D)
According to Article 38 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, ‘agricultural products’ include products of the soil and products of first-stage processing of those primary products. Extra virgin and virgin olive oils are obtained solely by mechanical means, without chemical treatment, suggesting they could be classified as either primary agricultural products or products of first-stage processing.
However, there appears to be ambiguity in how this classification is interpreted across Member States. This has led to inconsistencies in regulatory and tax treatment for olive oil producers, which may create obstacles to the proper functioning of the internal market.
- 1.Can the Commission clarify whether extra virgin and virgin olive oils are considered primary agricultural products or processed products under EU law?
- 2.Are there specific legal acts – regulations, directives or delegated acts – that explicitly define the classification of these oils?
- 3.How does the Commission intend to ensure that this classification is interpreted uniformly across Member States, to avoid distortions in the market?
Submitted: 4.4.2025