Articolo disponibile anche in: Italian

Just under a month ago arrived “as a bomb” the news about the tunisian oilive oil, the European Parliament has approved the possibility to import without duties 35.000 tons more per year of olive oil produced in Tunisia.

Apart from the political reasons behind this decision, it is certain that this case has created a great uproar, the controversy came trough every means of communication, and there have been demonstrations and protests in the streets and squares.

But what is the downside? Is there something positive in all this story? In my opinion there are more positive notes, first of all the fact that in any case we talk about it.

The importation without duties of Tunisian oil is not a new thing, the difference is just the increasing of quantities, but probably many of us didn’t know about it. The news has certainly the merit of letting know this at many consumers, that maybe now have become more aware and pay more attention to labels and products’ origin.

Also from many fronts came news of greater controls on imported olive oil and on the produced one, and this can only make us happy given the development of fraud affecting this sector. More checks are equivalent to more protection, both for producers and consumers.

Finally, that is for pure local pride, for fear of the possible use of prohibited substances or just for taste, I believe that many more people will try Italian oil and maybe why not go directly to the producer rather than in big distribution centers.

Especially the high quality extra virgin olive oil producers, such as those selected by AIRO (Italian Association Restaurant of Oil), they no need to fear the big quantity of tunisian olive oil, the comparison is not even imaginable, indeed it will be even more clear the organoleptic superiority and the healthiness of italian olive oils.

Matteo Mugelli