1509.40.20.30 - Certified organic 🖩

This HTS classification covers virgin olive oils that meet specific criteria for organic certification and are packaged in containers weighing less than 18 kilograms, including the immediate packaging. Virgin olive oils are defined as oils obtained from the fruit of the olive tree solely by mechanical or other physical means, under conditions, particularly thermal conditions, that do not lead to alteration of the oil. This category specifically excludes olive oils that have undergone any chemical modification or further processing beyond that permitted for virgin olive oil.

The key differentiator for this classification lies in the "Certified organic" designation. While its sibling category, 1509.40.20.90, covers "Other" virgin olive oils weighing under 18 kg (implying non-organic or uncertified organic oils), this category is exclusively for those that have undergone rigorous organic certification processes according to established standards. The weight limitation of under 18 kg is a crucial physical characteristic distinguishing it from larger volume packaging within the broader olive oil classifications.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories to introduce. Classification at this level is definitive based on the product being virgin olive oil, packaged under 18 kg, and possessing certified organic status. Importers and exporters must ensure proper documentation to substantiate the organic certification when utilizing this HTS code.