Spain's olive oil market under scrutiny as import controls disputed and new marketing rule proposed

The Andalusian growers' association COAG has accused Agriculture Minister Luis Planas of overstating Spain's ability to control olive oil imports, citing a European Court of Auditors report that found controls at the EU border to be "inexistent or very limited." COAG also alleged that the Agency for Food Information and Control (AICA) altered market data within hours, potentially facilitating an artificial drop in olive‑oil prices. The association warned that the continued use of a 56,000‑tonne Tunisian oil contingent could further depress prices and called for safeguards to protect producers.

Separately, Spain's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has launched a public consultation on a draft marketing regulation for the 2026/2027 olive‑oil campaign. The measure, permitted under EU law, would allow authorities to withdraw excess product or redirect it to non‑food uses if an oversupply threatens market stability. The consultation runs until 3 July, with the regulation aiming for approval by 31 October 2026, contingent on confirmed excess production.