Greece blocks EU move to restrict Koroneiki olive oil exports

Greek authorities, coordinated by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Foreign Ministry, intervened at the 123rd plenary of the International Olive Council to prevent the adoption of a strict deadline that would have ended the exemption for monovarietal Koroneiki extra‑virgin olive oil. The exemption concerns the oil’s naturally lower total sterol content, which falls below the standard limit of 1,000 mg/kg, and its removal could have affected up to 30‑35% of Greece’s olive‑oil production.

The Greek side argued that imposing a deadline would create unjustified trade barriers for a key Greek product. The decision keeps the special deviation in place until the end of the 2026‑27 oil‑production season, safeguarding the sector. Spyrós Protopsálti, secretary‑general of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, said the outcome “is a substantive vindication of the coordinated effort to protect the Koroneiki olive, the most emblematic Greek variety, and authentic Greek extra‑virgin olive oils.”