DESCRIPTION :

Olive oil is the oil obtained solely from the fruit of the olive tree (Olea europaea L.), to the exclusion of oils obtained using solvents or re-esterification processes and of any mixture with oils of other kinds.

Virgin olive oils are the 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 alterations in the oil, and which have not undergone any treatment other than washing, decanting, centrifuging and filtration.

Olive-pomace oil is the oil obtained by treating olive pomace with solvents or other physical treatments, to the exclusion of oils obtained by re-esterification processes and of any mixture with oils of other kinds.

ESSENTIAL COMPOSITION AND QUALITY FACTORS

Extra virgin olive oil: virgin olive oil with a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 0.8 grams per 100 grams and whose other characteristics correspond to those laid down for this category.

Virgin olive oil: virgin olive oil with a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 2.0 grams per 100 grams and whose other characteristics correspond to those laid down for this category.

Ordinary virgin olive oil: virgin olive oil with a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 3.3 grams per 100 grams and whose other characteristics correspond to those laid down for this category1.

Refined olive oil: olive oil obtained from virgin olive oils by refining methods which do not lead to alterations in the initial glyceridic structure. It has a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 0.3 grams per 100 grams and its other characteristics correspond to those laid down for this category.

Olive oil: oil consisting of a blend of refined olive oil and virgin olive oils suitable for human consumption. It has a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 1 gram per 100 grams and its other characteristics correspond to those laid down for this category2.

Refined olive-pomace oil: oil obtained from crude olive-pomace oil by refining methods which do not lead to alterations in the initial glyceridic structure. It has a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 0.3 grams per 100 grams and its other characteristics correspond to those laid down for this category.

Olive-pomace oil: oil consisting of a blend of refined olive-pomace oil and virgin olive oils. It has a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 1 gram per 100 grams and its other characteristics correspond to those laid down for this category.