Important- New Olive Oil Standards in the USA

Esteemed Customers and Colleagues,

The USDA Has recently issued their new standards for Grades of Olive Oil, and Olive Pomace Oil within the United States that will go into effect October 24th, 2010. The older standards that were enacted in 1949 will be replaced with these new standards.  Cibaria and its suppliers have been active in voicing the USA’s need for enhanced standards when it comes to olive oil quality.  Initially, the new standards will be used by U.S. Customs to inspect incoming shipments and will be voluntary for those doing business within the United States.  However, we are confident that it is the beginning of the U.S.’s move to stricter standards within the olive oil industry. In an effort to ensure that all olive oils in our marketplace are meeting the International Olive Oil Council’s standards, we believe this new regulation is a small improvement, of hopefully many more, to come from the USDA regarding olive oil.

What this New Standard Means For Your Company, and Your Customers

Cibaria International, Inc. will continue to strictly adhere to these regulations. In accordance with this new USDA policy, Cibaria now encourages you to submit Purchase Orders which include the clause that state “All deliveries must be in accordance with USDA standards”. By including this clause on your verbal or written purchase orders, you are ensuring that the oil you are receiving is exactly what the label states.  Although Cibaria has been clearly and honestly labeling products for years, many companies and distributors don’t practice this crucial process, which leads to increased fraud in the marketplace.

This new regulation is a small step in making companies more aware of the olive oil that they are receiving.  It is aimed at eliminating the mislabeling of products pertaining to the grade of olive oil that it may be.  This new regulation will also bring to light any oils that carry any unknown allergens that may be present in oils that do not meet the new USDA Olive Oil standards.

Vegetable Oil can no longer be blended with Olive Oil without carrying a clear label, which identifies all of the oil’s contents. The previous standards of 1949 did not offer a solution to those misrepresenting varieties of oils. This is truly a step in the right direction to better protect your company, and your customers.

To view the USDA’s document regarding these new standards:   http://www.cooc.com/docs/USDAstandard.pdf

Thank you for your patronage,

Cibaria International, Inc.

1203 Hall Ave.

Riverside, CA 92509

951-823-8490

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